Transcending the physical: spiritual aspects of pain in patients with HIV and/or cancer

Spirituality is an important though often neglected aspect of pain in patie nts with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and/or cancer, for both patient s and nurses. The spiritual domain involves: (1) meaning, (2) hope and (3) love and relatedness. The author examines spiritual aspects of pain in pers ons with HIV and/or cancer, as supported by the literature, Understanding s piritual aspects of pain carries implications for nursing. One of these imp lications is that it is important for the nurse to be closer to his/her own spirit in order to be there for the patient in pain. Other nursing implica tions include spiritual assessment and interventions, such as presence, att entive listening, acceptance and judicious self-disclosure, for promoting c omfort and diminishing pain.