Enhancing Nurses’ and Midwives’ Competence in Providing Spiritual Care (eBook)

This book is the first of its kind, addressing key issues in the teaching and learning of spirituality and spiritual care in the context of nursing and midwifery practice. The content is based on the outcomes of a European-wide project (EPICC) that brought together leading nursing and midwifery educators and practitioners from 21 countries. It highlights the importance of ensuring student nurses' and midwives receive sufficient educational preparation to provide spiritual/person-centred care.

In turn, the book puts forward an innovative and creative approach to the teaching of spiritual/person-centred care, based on an evaluation of best practice across Europe. The content and activities presented will enable nursing and midwifery educators to acquire new knowledge/skills for learning about and teaching on the personal, religious and spiritual aspects of person-centred care. Both interactive and engaging, it will equip nursing and midwifery students to holistically address the needs of the people they care for.

The book has the potential to transform the nursing and midwifery workforce of the future by ensuring they are prepared to face the global challenges that are impacting international nursing and midwifery practice.

Wilfred McSherry is a Professor of Nursing. He works jointly in the Department of Nursing, the School of Health and Social Care, Staffordshire University and the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust United Kingdom. He is also a part-time professor with VID University College Norway (Bergen and Oslo). He has published extensively in the field of Spirituality, with several books and articles dealing with different aspects of the spiritual dimension. He is a founding and executive member of the British Association for The Study of Spirituality (BASS) and a senior member of the Higher Education Academy. In 2012, he was named a Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing for his unique contribution to nursing in the areas of spirituality and dignity. Wilfred McSherry co-led the EPICC project which has established an International network for midwives and nursing educators to share knowledge and skills in spiritual care.

Adam Boughey works as the EPICC Project Manager, supporting Prof. Wilfred McSherry and other strategic partners. He has worked for over 10 years in both primary (community) and secondary (acute) care settings. As a Registered Adult Nurse, Adam is aware of the importance and positive impact of providing spiritual care in clinical contexts.  Adam began his training as a Specialist in Health Psychology, and obtained a Master of Science degree in 2012. He started a Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology (DHealthPsy) and will graduate in 2019.

Dr Josephine Attard is Head of the Midwifery Department and lecturer at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta. Josephine obtained post-graduate certificate in education in 1991 from the University of Malta, MSc in Nursing/Midwifery education in 1999 and Doctoral Degree from the University of South Wales UK in 2015. Her PhD on the design and evaluation of a competency framework addresses the need for a rigorous and validated competency framework in spiritual care to guide the education and practice of nurses and midwives. Dr. Attard is currently teaching and supervising midwifery and nursing students at Degree, Master's and PhD level, and coordinator of the Erasmus+ Midwifery Programme.