Transpersonal care and nurses' perception of spiritual assistance to elderly patients in palliative care

Objective: to understand the perception of nurses about spiritual care for elderly patients in palliative care. Methods: a descriptive study with a qualitative approach, carried out with 27 care nurses at the University Hospital of Brasilia in 2018. The interviews were conducted through a semi-structured script and submitted to content analysis. The technique of structuring the discourse of the collective subject was carried out. Results: it was possible to construct five discourses of the collective subject and grouped into two categories called 1) Spiritual care offered by the nurses, and 2) Factors favorable and unfavorable to the offer of spiritual care for elderly patients. From the central nuclei present in the reports, respondents consider spiritual assistance and family participation in palliative care important. However, they attribute the role of intervening in spirituality mainly to religious volunteers and the family. Conclusion: the study shows that even in the face of difficulties in providing spiritual care, family support, moments of listening and the execution of activities that motivate inner peace are significant for a greater response of the spiritualityelderly patients.