A Leap of Faith: Creation of an Online Undergraduate Spirituality Course

Kendra L. Ford, University of Kansas

https://doi.org/10.9743/JEO.2025.22.4.5

Abstract

The integration of spiritual care within nursing practice underscores the significance of spirituality in comprehensive patient care. While spirituality encompasses diverse perspectives, its inclusion in nursing education remains a topic of scrutiny. This paper discusses the implementation of a novel approach to address this concern at a prominent Midwestern university school of nursing. Recognizing the need for deeper engagement with the concept of spirituality, faculty members initiated the development of an online elective titled Spirituality in Healthcare. This paper explores the rationale behind this initiative and highlights its potential to enrich nursing curricula by fostering meaningful discussions and enhancing spiritual care competencies among students. The introduction of such elective courses signifies a proactive step towards bridging the gap in spirituality education within nursing programs.

Keywords: spirituality, nursing, online learning, holistic care, healthcare, spiritual care