Association between psychological capital and spiritual care competencies of clinical nurses: A multicentre cross-sectional study.

AIMS

To investigate the status of spiritual care competencies among clinical nurses and their relationships with psychological capital.

BACKGROUND

Limited knowledge is about the influence of positive personal characteristics on nurses' spiritual care competencies.

METHODS

A multicentre cross-sectional study. A total of 1717 nurses were recruited from nine separate Chinese hospitals. Online questionnaires were delivered through a local nursing association to assess socio-demographics, spiritual care competencies and psychological capital of nurses.

RESULTS

Nurses had mild-to-moderate levels of spiritual care competencies and moderate levels of psychological capital. Psychological capital and its two metrics (self-efficacy and hope), spiritual care education, professional qualification and shift work were the main predictors of spiritual care competencies (each p < .05).

CONCLUSION

The findings of the study show a positive relationship between psychological capital and spiritual care competencies of clinical nurses. Strengthening nurses' psychological capital could improve their spiritual care competencies.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGERS

Nurse managers and hospital administrators should better understand the value of psychological capital for nurses' capacity development. Effective interventions need to be implemented separately or combined with spiritual care education programmes to improve nurses' psychological capital and spiritual care competencies.