Synchronicity and dissonance: nursing, spirituality and contemporary discourse

AbstractSpirituality is a particularly intangible concept to define. Exploration and explanation of what is meant by spirituality result in varied discourses that can confuse by their differing use of similar terminology. As a result, despite the altruistic intent to provide clarity, understanding is further clouded. Therefore when complementary and alternative medicine are described as ‘holistic spirituality’ and a means of articulating ‘nursing spirituality’ (Heelas, 2006) this may erroneously be confused with ‘spirituality as a perspective of holistic nursing care’ (Greenstreet, 2006). This paper considers similarities and difference between these two discourses. A comparison of descriptions of the concept of spirituality within each discourse is followed by consideration of issues related to nurses' spirituality. Acknowledgement and interpretation of political and social drivers of nursing spirituality together with commonalities and difference in relation to spiritual care culminate in the conclusion that spirituality, as a perspective of holistic nursing care, is a wider, more comprehensive concept within which complementary and alternative medicine, or ‘holistic spirituality’, may provide an example of spiritual care. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.