Religion and professional experience: Are they predictors of nurses’ spiritual intelligence? Cross-sectional study

Zeladita-Huaman, Jhon Alex; Cuba-Sancho, Juana Matilde; Martina-Chávez, Martha Brigida; Zegarra-Chapoñan, Roberto; Castillo-Parra, Henry

doi:10.1590/0034-7167-2024-0217

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE • Rev. Bras. Enferm. 77 (6) • 2024 • https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2024-0217 linkcopy

Religion and professional experience: Are they predictors of nurses’ spiritual intelligence? Cross-sectional study

Religião e experiência profissional: Serão preditores da inteligência espiritual dos enfermeiros? Estudo transversal

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Objectives: to analyze the relationship between religion and professional experience with spiritual intelligence in nurses

Methods: cross-sectional and analytical study carried out in 2021, with the participation of 544 nursing professionals working in health facilities in Peru during the COVID-19 pandemic. Multiple regression analysis and Pearson’s correlation were used to analyze the data.

Results: in nurses, a healthy level of spiritual intelligence predominated (42.8%). Those who did not profess a religion were more likely to have a lower spiritual intelligence score (global scale and dimensions); however, experienced nurses were more likely to have higher spiritual intelligence (global scale and dimensions) than novice nurses (p<0.05).

Conclusions: spiritual intelligence in nurses was predicted by religion and professional experience. This finding suggests that spiritual intelligence in nursing is consolidated through religious practices and during professional practice.

Descriptors:
Intelligence; Religion; Spirituality; Nurses; Daily Activities.

Característica	n	%
Sex
Male	92	16.9
Female	452	83.1
Professional experience (years)
Under 5	210	38.6
From 5 to 10	148	27.2
From 11 to 15	80	14.7
From 16 to 20	36	6.6
Over 20	70	12.9
Type of workplace
Hospital or clinic	425	78.1
Health centers	88	16.2
Other care center*	31	5.7
Does remote work
No	472	86.8
Yes	72	13.2
You have been diagnosed with COVID-19
No	314	57.7
Yes	230	42.3
Service
Emergency	212	38.9
Hospitalization	120	22.1
Primary care	76	13.9
Intensive care unit	55	10.2
Other service†	81	14.9

	Mean ± SD	Minimum - Maximum
Dimension 1: Spiritual experience in practice	19.92 ± 3.38	10 - 24
Dimension 2: Existential thinking	19.80 ± 4.10	7 - 28
Dimension 3: Transcendental consciousness	15.10 ± 2.87	5 - 20
Total spiritual intelligence	54.82 ± 9.54	28 - 72

Indicators	Nothing real for me	Something real for me	Very true for me	Totally true for me
Indicators	%	%	%	%
Dimension: Spiritual experience in practice
2. No matter the place or circumstance, I always act according to my principles.	0.7	9.7	34.6	55.0
5. When I am dedicated to the noble mission of my nursing practice, my strength multiplies.	1.5	14.7	33.3	50.6
8. I believe that taking care of my body and the bodies of patients is a sacred duty.	0.6	15.6	30.0	53.9
11. When a patient needs me, I always find the time to help.	0.4	12.1	40.1	47.4
14. Beyond the human plane, there is a higher being with whom we can relate.	2.4	17.6	41.7	38.2
17. I'm sure that helping others or showing solidarity with patients is my mission in life.	1.1	17.3	33.8	47.8
Dimension: Existential thinking
1. I believe that everything in life has a profound meaning.	2.6	24.3	38.4	34.7
4. When I think of the miracle of my existence, I am filled with joy.	5.0	17.8	32.0	45.2
7. My mind calms down when I reflect on a spiritual text.	5.5	25.2	41.4	27.9
10. I often reflect on the meaning of events in my life.	1.5	24.1	49.6	24.8
13. I am able to reflect deeply on what there may be beyond death.	7.9	31.8	39.0	21.3
16. I am aware that there is a deeper connection between other people and me.	8.1	27.6	33.8	30.5
Dimension 3: Transcendental consciousness
18. It's hard for me to think of anything beyond the physical and material world.	32.9	35.7	23.0	8.5
3. My moments of spiritual practice renew my physical strength.	2.6	19.1	37.1	41.2
6. In my free time, I like to enjoy nature, such as a garden, park or rooftop.	6.6	34.0	33.8	25.6
9. When I experience failure, I can still find meaning in it.	2.0	29.2	46.9	21.9
12. I define myself by my deepest self, not by my physical self.	0.7	18.4	49.3	31.6
15. I often see situations and options more clearly when I meditate, pray.	2.4	18.0	42.8	36.8

	Spiritual intelligence		Spiritual living in practice		Existential thinking		Transcendental consequence
	b	B	b	B	b	B	b	B
Intercept	54.78*	-	19.86*	-	20.11*	-	14.80*	-
Sex (female)	-0.91	-0.04	-0.39	-0.04	-0.55	-0.05	0.03	0.00
Work experience (5 to 10 years)	0.39	0.02	0.15	0.02	0.20	0.02	0.04	0.01
Work experience (11 to 15 years)	2.11	0.08	1.31†	0.14	0.21	0.02	0.58	0.07
Work experience (16 to 20 years)	4.42†	0.12	1.49‡	0.11	1.60‡	0.10	1.34†	0.12
Professional experience (over 20)	2.58‡	0.09	0.98‡	0.10	0.40	0.03	1.21^**	0.14
Profess a religion (non-religious)	-9.65*	-0.16	-2.91†	-0.14	-3.80*	-0.15	-2.93*	-0.16
R²	0.05*		0.05*		0.03†		0.06*

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[TFN1] ^*
Includes private clinics, specialized care centers, among others; †Includes pediatric and oncology services, among others.