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Journal of Holistic Nursing
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Spirituality in Nursing and Health-Related Literature

A Concept Analysis

Loralee Sessanna, DNS, RN, CNS

The State University of New York, University at Buffalo, ls33{at}buffalo.edu

Deborah Finnell, DNS, APRN, BC, NPP, CARN-AP

The State University of New York, University at Buffalo

Mary Ann Jezewski, PhD, RN, FAAN

The State University of New York, University at Buffalo

Spirituality has become an increasingly popular concept among the nursing and health-related literature. The purpose for conducting this concept analysis, guided by Walker and Avant's methodology, was to (a) examine how spirituality has been used within the current body of nursing and health-related literature, (b) clarify the meaning of spirituality by discovering what this concept's current critical attributes/characteristics are, and (c) propose a definition of spirituality based on the concept analysis findings. A total of 90 references were reviewed, including 73 nursing and health-related references. Concept analysis findings revealed that spirituality was defined within four main themes in the nursing and health-related literature: (a) spirituality as religious systems of beliefs and values (spirituality = religion); (b) spirituality as life meaning, purpose, and connection with others; (c) spirituality as nonreligious systems of beliefs and values; and (d) spirituality as metaphysical or transcendental phenomena.

Key Words: spirituality • concept analysis • nursing • health-related literature

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Journal of Holistic Nursing, Vol. 25, No. 4, 252-262 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0898010107303890
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Commentary on "Spirituality in Nursing and Health-Related Literature: A Concept Analysis"
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