Keywords

African American, concept analysis, culturally competent care, nursing, spirituality

 

Authors

  1. Newlin, Kelley MSN, C-ANP
  2. Knafl, Kathleen PhD, FAAN
  3. Melkus, Gail D'Eramo EdD, C-ANP

Abstract

Culturally competent care for African Americans requires sensitivity to spirituality as a component of the cultural context. To foster understanding, measurement, and delivery of the spiritual component of culturally competent care, this article presents an evolutionary concept analysis of African-American spirituality. The analysis is based on a sample of multidisciplinary research studies reflecting spirituality of African Americans. Findings indicate that African-American spirituality involves quintessential, internal, external, consoling, and transformative attributive dimensions. Findings are considered in relation to previous conceptual analyses of spirituality and suggest that defining attributes of African-American spirituality are both global and culturally prominent. Implications for practice and research are discussed.