Characteristics of spirituality, assessment, and prayer in holistic nursing.

There is a rediscovery and interest in spirituality at the outset of the third millennium. The challenge will be to harness the spiritual energy naturally available so that patients may be healed and not necessarily cured. Engaging in a patient's own healing process, nurturing a spirituality of life, learning the tools of spiritual assessment, developing ways of praying, being attentive to developing caring relationships so as to be an "Anam Cara" or soul friend, and networking with other spiritual care professionals are useful resources for the holistic nurse.