Exploring Spiritual Awareness Among Nurses in Advanced Palliative Education: Insights From a Qualitative Study

Spirituality is increasingly recognized as a core element of holistic nursing care, yet its personal meaning and application in clinical practice remain underexplored—especially among nurses pursuing advanced postgraduate training. This qualitative study aimed to investigate how nurses enrolled in a Postgraduate First-Level Master’s Degree in palliative care and pain therapy perceive and interpret spirituality in relation to their professional roles. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 20 nurses working in diverse hospital and community care settings. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, following Braun and Clarke’s methodology. Five key themes emerged: (1) conceptualizations of spirituality, highlighting self-awareness, existential reflection, and openness to patients’ needs; (2) the relationship between spirituality and religion, revealing both overlapping and distinct perspectives; (3) pathways to connect with personal spirituality, including self-exploration and life experiences; (4) the role of education and clinical practice in fostering spiritual development; and (5) the perceived role of spirituality in alleviating suffering and supporting patients at the end of life. Findings emphasize the importance of structured educational programs and reflective practice to foster spiritual competence in palliative nursing. These insights can inform educators and health care leaders to better integrate spirituality into advanced nursing education and clinical care.