RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Nurses include spirituality in holistic nursing care of persons in pain. However, there is a lack of awareness of spiritual suffering and the role of chaplains and spiritual care in pain management. AIM: The purpose of this pilot is to report hospital chaplains' qualitative report of spirituality and pain management in an acute care setting. METHOD: This qualitative inquiry pilot involved guided interviews of hospital chaplains on their role in pain management. A thematic analysis was performed. RESULTS: Spiritual suffering in people in pain was the dominant theme. This included spiritual fear, and nurses suffering as a witness to pain. Chaplain interventions was a theme that involved spiritual support to persons in pain. CONCLUSIONS: Spiritual suffering can occur in people in pain. An early consultation with hospital chaplains can augment pain management. A person in pain may experience spiritual suffering and a chaplain can provide the appropriate assessment and intervention.
