Self-Reported Frequency of Nurse-Provided Spiritual Care in Oman: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey of Registered Nurses

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This study aimed to describe how frequently registered nurses (RNs) in Oman provide spiritual care therapeutic interventions in referral hospitals. A nationwide cross-sectional design was employed using the Nurse Spiritual Care Therapeutics Scale (NSCTS) to collect data from 1,469 RNs working in referral hospitals across Oman, excluding operating theater and psychiatry units. Descriptive and correlational analyses were conducted to assess the use of spiritual care interventions and their association with nurses’ religiosity and spirituality. All 17 spiritual care therapeutic interventions were reported in practice. On average, RNs provided each intervention at least three times within their most recent 72 to 80 working hours. The most frequently used interventions included actively listening to patients’ stories, facilitating quiet time, engaging in conversations about spiritual concerns, assessing patients’ spiritual beliefs, and maintaining a caring presence. The least frequently used were documenting spiritual care, arranging clergy visits, and discussing spiritual needs during shift reports. NSCTS scores showed small negative correlations with self-rated religiosity ( r = −.101, p < .001) and spirituality ( r = −.135, p < .001), indicating higher religiosity/spirituality associated with more frequent spiritual care provision. Findings highlight that RNs in Oman routinely provide various forms of spiritual care, though documentation and interprofessional communication remain less frequent. Enhancing education, institutional support, and system-level integration may strengthen nurses’ competencies and optimize the delivery of holistic spiritual care in Oman.