Enhancing Nurses’’ and Midwives’’ Competence in Providing Spiritual Care: Through Innovative Education and Compassionate Care

Wilfred McSherry is a Professor of Nursing. He works jointly in the Department of Nursing, the School of Health and Social Care, Staffordshire University and the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust United Kingdom. He is also a part-time professor with VID University College Norway (Bergen and Oslo). He has published extensively in the field of Spirituality, with several books and articles dealing with different aspects of the spiritual dimension. He is a founding and executive member of the British Association for The Study of Spirituality (BASS) and a senior member of the Higher Education Academy. In 2012, he was named a Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing for his unique contribution to nursing in the areas of spirituality and dignity. Wilfred McSherry co-led the EPICC project, (http: //www.epicc-project.eu/) which has established an International network for midwives and nursing educators to share knowledge and skills in spiritual care.

Adam Boughey works as a Lecturer in Nursing in the Department of Nursing, School of Health and Social Care Staffordshire University. He was the EPICC Project Manager, supporting Prof. Wilfred McSherry and other strategic partners in the delivery of the EPICC project. He has worked for over 10 years in both primary (community) and secondary (acute) care settings. As a Registered Adult Nurse, Adam is aware of the importance and positive impact of providing spiritual care in clinical contexts. Adam began his training as a Specialist in Health Psychology, and obtained a Master of Science degree in 2012. He started a Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology (DHealthPsy) and will graduated in 2019.

Dr Josephine Attard is Head of the Midwifery Department and lecturer at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta. Josephine obtained post-graduate certificate in education in 1991 from the University of Malta, MSc in Nursing/Midwifery education in 1999 and Doctoral Degree from the University of South Wales UK in 2015. Her PhD on the design and evaluation of a competency framework addresses the need for a rigorous and validated competency framework in spiritual care to guide the education and practice of nurses and midwives. Dr. Attard is currently teaching and supervising midwifery and nursing students at Degree, Master’s and PhD level, and coordinator of the Erasmus+ Midwifery Programme.