Spirituality and Health Care (NS0012)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : HEA-3-SpirHC

Until quite recently 'spirituality' as a topic was largely absent from the nursing curriculum, and perhaps from the workplace. Now, however, the volume of literature on spirituality in nursing and in helathcare is increasing, as is the range of methods and approaches to inquiry on this topic. The quality of argument in the literature is developign accordingly. A continuing theme is the claim by some writers that nurses hsould, and do/but do not, take account of patients' 'spiritual needs' and a 'spiritual dimension'. Other writers have challenged the way the topic is being developed in nursing and healthcare discourses. In additon, the Scottish Health Department has initiated a process in which Trusts and other care providers need to demonstrate how they are tiaking account of and responding to needs for spiritual care. In light of these developmetns, debates and disputes, this course presents the topic as a matter for discussion. Students taking the course will explore the substance of the conflicting views, which offer a 'case study' in the development of, and contesting of a 'new' topic in nursing discourse, practice and education. The principal aim of the course is to provide opportunities for investigating how 'spirituality' is related to nrusing and health care practice.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : Nursing 1, Nursing 2, Health & Society 1A, Health & Society 1B, Health & Society 2A, Health & Society 2B, Research and Inquiry, Nature of Nursing, Pathology and Patient Care, Organisation and Management of Health Care, OR Nature of Mental Health Nursing, Therapeutics and Patient Care, The Politics and Management of Mental Illness

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Nursing Studies, (School of Health in Social Science, Schedule D)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Full Year (Blocks 1-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	14:00	15:50	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

Evaluate cirtically arguments based on research in the field; relate the claims made in the literature to practice in general or in a particular area of nursing or other health care practice; appraise the implications for practice of literature in this field; and critically analyse individual texts and synthesise views from various literature.