In: Nursing
analysis of Prayer circles and the perception of work environment.
Background for the study that analyse prayer circle and perception of work place Spiritual care for healthcare providers has been vital for stress reduction and cohesiveness among professionals. Following an oncology patient's difficult death in fall 2016, a small group of healthcare members decided to meet for a brief group prayer before the start of the day shift. The group prayer gathering continued as attendees wanted to maintain this practice of brief morning prayer. Purpose Identify how group prayer may have influenced healthcare workers' perceptions regarding the work environment. Method A convenience sample of 28 healthcare team members took part in the study over 1 month. Data were gathered with a 10-item questionnaire, voluntarily completed after the experience. The information was reviewed and analyzed by the research team. This study was approved by an associated university's Institutional Review Board and the hospital review board. Results Interesting findings emerged regarding the positive psychological and emotional experiences of project participants. Data also indicated the timing of the group prayer was important. Conclusion Prayer may be a valuable tool for healthcare team members as part of self-care. It may contribute to better employee relationships, cohesive working groups, and enhanced patient care.