Objectives: To review assessment of spiritual needs of family caregivers and four core interventions by nurses in addressing spirituality: presence, deep listening, bearing witness and compassion in action.
Data sources: Literature review.
Conclusion: Spirituality is increasingly recognized as a key domain of quality of life and essential to quality cancer care. In addition to the needs of patients, family caregivers also experience enormous spiritual needs throughout cancer diagnosis and treatment. Nurses can provide valuable spiritual assessment of family caregivers and support them as they seek support services to address spiritual needs.
Implications for nursing practice: Family caregiving can be a time of growth and meaning when support is provided by nurses and their colleagues.
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