靈性及靈性照顧本身的定義及內涵非常不容易明確界定，或談各種宗教的生死觀，或分解死亡過程與靈魂，或談不同工具對病人身心靈的影響。種種只要與病人思想情緒或照顧有關，不分心理精神、宗教或靈性，都被放進這個籃子裡。靈性內涵概括了整體個人的身心靈，它不只牽動個人的社會心理活動，也會影響個人身體及疾病照顧行為。因此，靈性照顧的範圍應該包含那些層面，是否也應該包括身體及心理的範疇呢？本文將列舉臨床實例說明靈性在個人疾病調適中的角色，闡述靈性照顧的定義與目的，同時，說明人類靈性的需求與照顧的內涵。希望本文對護理人員自身靈性之成長及護理全人照顧之實務有所助益。

　　　　　The essence of spirituality and spiritual care is too complex for clear definition. Topics of personal religious belief about life and death, an understanding or sensing of the process of dying, and the various means of influencing a patient’s body and mind may all be implied by the term “spiritual care”. All care involving the patient's thoughts or emotions tends to be put in the same basket, without any distinction between psychic needs, spiritual nature and religious belief. Spirituality connotes a person's wholeness (body, mind and soul). Spirituality not only affects the individuals psychosocial activities, but also his or her physical condition and behavior. So, what is the scope of spiritual care? Does it include physical and psychological elements? Using clinical examples, the author seeks to clarify the role of spirituality in the process of adapting to a disease, and to expound a definition and goals of spiritual care. In addition, human spiritual needs and the elements of spiritual care are also outlined. It is hoped that this article will be helpful to nurses in their spiritual growth and to those who practice holistic care.