individuals and groups for whom spiritual matters are an integral part of their identity, and exacerbate the risk of treatment failing to respond to the overall needs of patients. Equally, given some recent disciplinary cases, nurses may want clarity within the Code about the appropriate extent of spiritual care in nursing practice. The Reverend Dr Chris Swift, head of Chaplaincy Services, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
HEED THE EVIDENCE ON PLACE OF SPIRITUAL NEEDS IN HEALTH CARE We welcome the engagement from the NMC about making explicit reference to the word spiritual within the new Code. However, the response from NMC chief executive Jackie Smith (Letters May 13) demonstrates a very narrow, religiously oriented understanding of spirituality, and implies that the NMC is not aware of the groundswell of international evidence generated by nurses and other health and social care professionals, as well as patients and their families, over the past three decades. This evidence shows that spiritual issues matter to patients and to the nurses who care for them, and it affirms the fundamental role that spirituality plays in maintaining health and wellbeing. The Code expects nurses to ‘practise in line with the best available evidence’. We urge the NMC to acknowledge the evidence on the spiritual aspects of care by extending point 3 in the Code to read: ‘Make sure that people’s physical, social, psychological and spiritual needs are assessed and responded to’. Omitting spirituality from the Code only promotes a reductionist, tripartite model of nursing that does not reflect contemporary nursing practice. We would welcome the opportunity for further discussion with the NMC on this matter. Wilfred McSherry and Linda Ross, via email
IT’S TIME TO STOP EQUATING THE SPIRITUAL WITH THE RELIGIOUS I am bemused by NMC chief executive Jackie Smith’s response (Letters May 13) apparently explaining the omission of spirituality from the new Code. By equating spirituality with religion, she is perpetuating the misconception that pervades the health service that these are synonymous. Spirituality is a concern for people with no religion, too. It is about making meaning and sense out of their worlds, and living with illness, disability and change. At its very core, our role as nurses is to support people to make meaning out of their suffering. Laura Middleton-Green, lecturer and researcher in palliative care, University of Bradford
SELFLESS EBOLA NURSES DESERVE TO HAVE THEIR OWN SPECIAL AWARD It is always a pleasure to read about those who enter the Nursing Standard Awards, and the inspiration and ideas they give to others (News, Features and Reflections May 6). It would also be nice to see more recognition given to the British nurses who practise in parts of the world where they do not have the resources that we take for granted in the UK. The brave and selfless nurses who care for Ebola patients spring immediately to mind. Nurses like Will Pooley, along with organisations such as Médicins Sans Frontièrs, worked hard to get the World Health Organization and countries including the UK to sit up and take notice of the serious loss of life and severe lack of resources in the West African countries affected by Ebola. Will Pooley was working in a hospital where doctors, nurses and others had fled because of the high risk of death if they caught the virus. Will’s selflessness, dedication and skills were praised by the prime minister. A special award for this nurse and his colleagues would not be out of place in 2015. Michael Owen, via email
TWEETS OF THE WEEK Specialist nurses, consultants, practitioners etc are the way forward but musn’t neglect bedside nurse skills #NScomment @MsNaughtyCheese
Post-Francis, management and board levels seem unaffected by scathing criticism. Why are nurses targeted? #NScomment @edfreshwater
Don’t think the problem is branding. The problem is part media publishing myths. Need to get on with job @NA_Thompson1
Working with means together as equal partners. Not just telling carer what will happen. Involve and include #wenurses @clairesurr
Hospitals are scary, people with dementia confused; carers are experts in experience, their anchor @FrenchNicci
@rwatson1955 speculated high attrition rate due to financial incentive of bursary but no evidence @maxwele2
Indeed, it is speculation but one thing for sure is the bursary is not solving attrition rates @rwatson1955
“No intention of making this an official complaint..I do not have the mental and emotional energy to do so” t.co/96X6f31WAl @PO_Scotland
Follow Nursing Standard @NurseStandard and join the #NScomment chat on Thursdays at 12.30pm
NURSING may No 20 other :: voluses 29 no 38 ::permission. 2015 33 DownloadedSTANDARD from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Dec 03, 2015. For personal use only. without Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
HEED THE EVIDENCE ON PLACE OF SPIRITUAL NEEDS IN HEALTH CARE We welcome the engagement from the NMC about making explicit reference to the word spiritual within the new Code. However, the response from NMC chief executive Jackie Smith (Letters May 13) demonstrates a very narrow, religiously oriented understanding of spirituality, and implies that the NMC is not aware of the groundswell of international evidence generated by nurses and other health and social care professionals, as well as patients and their families, over the past three decades. This evidence shows that spiritual issues matter to patients and to the nurses who care for them, and it affirms the fundamental role that spirituality plays in maintaining health and wellbeing. The Code expects nurses to ‘practise in line with the best available evidence’. We urge the NMC to acknowledge the evidence on the spiritual aspects of care by extending point 3 in the Code to read: ‘Make sure that people’s physical, social, psychological and spiritual needs are assessed and responded to’. Omitting spirituality from the Code only promotes a reductionist, tripartite model of nursing that does not reflect contemporary nursing practice. We would welcome the opportunity for further discussion with the NMC on this matter. Wilfred McSherry and Linda Ross, via email
IT’S TIME TO STOP EQUATING THE SPIRITUAL WITH THE RELIGIOUS I am bemused by NMC chief executive Jackie Smith’s response (Letters May 13) apparently explaining the omission of spirituality from the new Code. By equating spirituality with religion, she is perpetuating the misconception that pervades the health service that these are synonymous. Spirituality is a concern for people with no religion, too. It is about making meaning and sense out of their worlds, and living with illness, disability and change. At its very core, our role as nurses is to support people to make meaning out of their suffering. Laura Middleton-Green, lecturer and researcher in palliative care, University of Bradford
SELFLESS EBOLA NURSES DESERVE TO HAVE THEIR OWN SPECIAL AWARD It is always a pleasure to read about those who enter the Nursing Standard Awards, and the inspiration and ideas they give to others (News, Features and Reflections May 6). It would also be nice to see more recognition given to the British nurses who practise in parts of the world where they do not have the resources that we take for granted in the UK. The brave and selfless nurses who care for Ebola patients spring immediately to mind. Nurses like Will Pooley, along with organisations such as Médicins Sans Frontièrs, worked hard to get the World Health Organization and countries including the UK to sit up and take notice of the serious loss of life and severe lack of resources in the West African countries affected by Ebola. Will Pooley was working in a hospital where doctors, nurses and others had fled because of the high risk of death if they caught the virus. Will’s selflessness, dedication and skills were praised by the prime minister. A special award for this nurse and his colleagues would not be out of place in 2015. Michael Owen, via email
TWEETS OF THE WEEK Specialist nurses, consultants, practitioners etc are the way forward but musn’t neglect bedside nurse skills #NScomment @MsNaughtyCheese
Post-Francis, management and board levels seem unaffected by scathing criticism. Why are nurses targeted? #NScomment @edfreshwater
Don’t think the problem is branding. The problem is part media publishing myths. Need to get on with job @NA_Thompson1
Working with means together as equal partners. Not just telling carer what will happen. Involve and include #wenurses @clairesurr
Hospitals are scary, people with dementia confused; carers are experts in experience, their anchor @FrenchNicci
@rwatson1955 speculated high attrition rate due to financial incentive of bursary but no evidence @maxwele2
Indeed, it is speculation but one thing for sure is the bursary is not solving attrition rates @rwatson1955
“No intention of making this an official complaint..I do not have the mental and emotional energy to do so” t.co/96X6f31WAl @PO_Scotland
Follow Nursing Standard @NurseStandard and join the #NScomment chat on Thursdays at 12.30pm
NURSING may No 20 other :: voluses 29 no 38 ::permission. 2015 33 DownloadedSTANDARD from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Dec 03, 2015. For personal use only. without Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
