Remembering Wartime Experiences: The Role of Spirituality Among Retired Military Nurses

Little is known about whether spirituality and religious beliefs were mechanisms of coping and support for nurses serving in the military during a war and if and how these beliefs changed over time. A qualitative study using a phenomenological approach yielded four distinct themes for military nurses serving during World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. These themes were caring, connections, compartmentalization, and adaptability. Although religious ritual was not important to the nurses who were interviewed, spirituality, as defined by a connections model, played an important part in helping military nurses cope with the stressors of active duty during war.