Nursing in the late 20th century reached a consensus that the best care of patients is realized through focusing on the whole person, not only on the body and mind. An interest in the spiritual dimension of humankind and the relationship of spirituality to human health and well-being thus began to receive greater attention, both in practice and in academia (van Dover and Pfeiffer 2006; Deal 2008).

As nursing entered the 21st century, addressing the spiritual needs of patients became an important goal. The role of spirituality in promoting health and improving the patient’s response to illness began receiving greater attention. Scholars consider spirituality as a part of nursing care and that through a spiritually based approach, nurses can care for the whole person (Vance 2001; McClain 2008; O’Brien 2011; McSherry and Jamieson 2010). Since nurses spend more time with patients than any other health care providers, the role of spirituality and spiritual care in nursing practice becomes paramount (Barlow 2008; Deal 2008).