Training the Spiritual Intelligence and Changing its' Components in Critical Care Nurses

Spiritual intelligence as a capability of behaving with sympathy and wise along with internal and external peace is the key part in confronting with stressor challenges in critical care units. Indeed, nurses can utilize that in the best way to manage stressful situations related to units and patients. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effect of training on spiritual intelligence and its' components.

This quasi-experimental was conducted on 82 nurses (40 nurses in experiment group and 42 nurses in control group). Sampling was done in convenience method in critical care units of affiliated hospitals to Lorestan University of Medical Sciences (Shahid Rahimi and Shahid Madani hospitals). King spiritual intelligence scale was used for data gathering which its validity and reliability were confirmed. This scale was fulfilled by participants three times (before study, immediately and one month after study). Eight training sessions was held for experimental group as a workshop. There wasn't any intervention for control group. Data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics and software SPSS15. (p=0.05)

The covariance analysis (by adjusting the effect of the base values of spiritual intelligence) showed that the main effect of intervention on the mean scores of spiritual intelligence was significant (p<0.05), so that after the study in the experimental group the mean scores of spiritual intelligence reached from  3.37 before the study to 78.50 after the study. Also, the covariance analysis revealed that the main effect of intervention on the mean scores of four dimensions of spiritual intelligence were significant (p<0.05), so that the training results in significant increase of the mean scores of them in the experimental group.

Based on the results that the spiritual intelligence of nurses was at the medium level before training and the training of spiritual intelligence increased their spiritual intelligence, so by using protocols for educating and improving the spiritual intelligence in nurses, their stress in their work places and life would be reduced and finally the quality of care will be progressed.