A Review of Prayer within the Role of the Holistic Nurse

Abstract

Prayer is an integral component of the spiritual life of mankind. It is a two-way dialogue with God. Clients in crisis may need prayer for encouragement, comfort, and support. Holistic nurses may use prayer with clients to positively influence how they cope with anxiety relative to illness. Addressing the spiritual needs of clients is an important element of care and the use of prayer is supported by both informal client responses and scientific research. Additionally, the active use of prayer may provide added value and enrichment to the holistic nurse-client interaction.