Perceptions and Practices of Spiritual Care Among Nurses: A Qualitative Study in a Mission Hospital in Ghana

Background Spiritual care is a recognized dimension of holistic, patient-centered nursing. Despite a growing global consensus on its importance, nurses in many sub-Saharan African countries, including Ghana, face persistent barriers to integrating it into clinical practice. This study explored the perceptions and practices of spiritual care among nurses working in a mission hospital in Kumasi, Ghana. Aim To explore the perceptions and practices of spiritual care among nurses at a mission hospital, with the following specific objectives: (1) explore nurses' perceptions of spiritual care and its importance; (2) examine current practices and approaches to spiritual care integration; (3) identify factors influencing nurses' decision-making regarding spiritual care; (4) investigate the perceived impact of spiritual care on patient outcomes; (5) identify challenges and barriers to spiritual care provision; and (6) examine the role of nurses' personal beliefs and spirituality in spiritual care delivery. Methods A qualitative phenomenological design was employed. Fifteen purposively sampled registered nurses from the Church of Christ Mission Hospital (CCMH), Bomso, Oforikrom Municipality, Ashanti Region, Ghana, participated in individual, face-to-face, semi-structured, audio-recorded interviews between October and November 2023. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's reflexive thematic analysis framework. Results Five overarching themes emerged: (1) Perceptions and Understanding of Spiritual Care, (2) Integration of Spiritual Care into Nursing Practice, (3) Barriers and Challenges to Spiritual Care Provision, (4) Personal Experiences, Reflections, and Faith Influence, and (5) Recommendations for Enhancing Spiritual Care Integration. Conclusions Spiritual care in CCMH remains aspirational rather than systematic. Dedicated curricular inclusion, workplace education, standardized assessment tools, interdisciplinary collaboration, and enabling institutional policies are essential to bridge the gap between nurses' recognition of spiritual care and its consistent, equitable delivery. Ethical Compliance: All procedures were performed in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.