The word spirituality derives from the Latin word spiritus,which refers to breath or wind.Today,spirituality can be described as which of the following?

A) Transcendence beyond self,everyday living,and suffering.
B) Less important than coping with the patient's illness.
C) Patient centred and having no bearing on the nurse's belief patterns.
D) Equated with formal religious practice and having a minor effect on health care.

Today,spirituality is often defined as a connectedness with self,others,a higher power or nature,or a combination of these;a sense of meaning in life;and transcendence beyond self,everyday living,and suffering.Spirituality is an important factor that helps individuals achieve the balance needed to maintain health and well-being and to cope with illness.It positively affects and enhances health,quality of life,health promotion behaviours,and disease prevention activities.Nurses need an awareness of their own spirituality to provide appropriate and relevant spiritual care to others.The concepts of spirituality and religion are often discussed interchangeably,but spirituality is a much broader and more unifying concept than religion.The human spirit is powerful,and spirituality has different meanings for different people.