Foundations of Spiritual Care

Chika Iheanacho – Deputy Sister & Spiritual Link Nurse

Chika attended the course in May 2026

Before attending the course, I had recently become the Spirituality Link Nurse. Although I knew spiritual care was an important part of patient care, I wanted a deeper understanding of how to recognise spiritual needs and build confidence in supporting patients, relatives, and colleagues.

One of the things I noticed was that spiritual care wasn’t always documented. I wasn’t sure whether staff lacked confidence in providing it, or whether they were already doing it without recognising it. I felt that before I could support others, I needed to develop my own knowledge and confidence first.

Since attending the course, my confidence has grown tremendously.

In fact, I describe it as the best course I have attended. I realised that I had already been providing spiritual care without fully recognising it. The course helped me understand that spiritual care is not about having all the answers. Sometimes, what matters most is creating the opportunity for meaningful conversations and allowing patients the space to share what is important to them.

I now feel more confident recognising when patients are talking about their values, beliefs, relationships, hopes, or concerns. I have become more aware of these moments and feel better equipped to respond to them.

My biggest “aha” moment was learning that spiritual care is so much more than religion.

Before the course, I often associated spirituality with faith and religious beliefs. The course challenged that view and helped me understand that spirituality is about what makes us who we are. It includes our personal values, what gives us meaning, what matters most to us, and how we make sense of life’s experiences.

Understanding this has changed the way I approach conversations with patients. It has also made me passionate about helping others understand that spirituality belongs to everyone, regardless of faith, culture, or background.

How has the course influenced my practice?

Since attending the course, I met with our chaplaincy team to discuss ways of raising awareness of spiritual care within my workplace. I am now developing teaching sessions for colleagues and creating resources that will help staff feel more confident discussing spirituality with patients and families.

One of my goals is to help anyone understand that anyone can support spiritual care.

I also want to improve how these conversations are recognised and documented, so that spiritual care becomes a visible and valued part of holistic patient care.

The impact this course has had on me goes beyond increasing my knowledge. It has changed the way I see and deliver spiritual care every day. I feel more confident in my role as a Spirituality Link Nurse and more prepared to support both patients and colleagues.

The course has inspired me to continue developing my skills, and I have already applied for the next level of spiritual care education (Enhancing Spiritual Care)

I absolutely recommend this course. This course has genuinely changed the way I see and deliver spiritual care. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to better support patients, families, and colleagues, and to gain confidence in having meaningful conversations about what matters most to people.

We will run this course again in 2027! Date to be confirmed