International Journal of Nursing Knowledge

PURPOSE. To describe the spiritual care activities of nurses as subsequently identified in the Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC) labels.

METHODS. Data were taken from a larger study that used a multiple triangulation research design to describe spiritual perspectives, interventions, and attitudes of 1,000 Sigma Theta Tau International members. Data analysis included descriptive and multivariate statistics for quantitative items, and content analysis for responses to questions.

FINDINGS. 97 respondents reported providing 32 spiritual care activities. Ten NIC labels actually mapped the nurses' spiritual care activities.

CONCLUSIONS. Spiritual care activities involve a broad spectrum of interventions that may be unique to each patient. The 32 spiritual care activities described by the nurses provide new knowledge regarding core spiritual care activities. The use of NIC labels can facilitate documentation of spiritual care activities in diverse practice settings.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. This study supports greater specificity in describing spiritual care interventions to a level that allows replication and advancement of knowledge.

Search terms: Nursing activities, nursing interventions, spiritual care

PURPOSE. To describe the health needs presented by workers in a small industrial setting, describe the occupational health nursing (OHN) services provided, and examine the effectiveness of these services.

METHODS. Data were abstracted from 491 employee records accumulated over a 7-year service period. Standardized nursing languages were used to describe employee needs and nursing interventions.

FINDINGS. Data revealed 1,368 needs were identified and 3,193 nursing interventions were administered. Health-seeking behaviors, knowledge deficit, collaborative problems, risk of infection, and impaired tissue integrity seemed most amenable to change in the context of OHN services. Altered health maintenance was the problem that seemed least amenable to change.

CONCLUSIONS. Findings present a dynamic picture of OHN services provided in an OHN program and their effectiveness. Standardized nursing languages were effective and appropriate in describing the health issues managed and interventions applied.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. Further use of standardized nursing languages in occupation health can establish core functions and knowledge base.

Search terms: Nursing diagnosis, nursing interventions, nursing outcomes, occupational health nursing