Association Between Length of Work Experience and Spiritual Intelligence Among Adult Medical–Surgical Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study Open Access

Authors

  • 1 Heru Suwardianto Department of Critical and Emergency Nursing, STIKES Baptist Hospital Kediri, East Java, 64102, Indonesia
  • 2 Teguh Santoso Dr . Kariadi Central General Hospital, Semarang, Central Java, 50244, Indonesia
  • 3 Tata Mahyuvi Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Surabaya, Surabaya, Indonesia – Rumah Sakit Islam Surabaya, Surabaya, Indonesia
  • 4 Ahmad Guntur Alfianto Program Studi Profesi Ners, STIKES Widyagama Husada Malang, East Java, Indonesia
  • 5 Octavio Daniel Bria Amaral Escola Superior de Enfermagem. Faculdade de Medicina e Ciência de Saúde Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa'e (UNTL), Timor-Leste
  • 6 Joaquim Pinto Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, National University of Timor Loro Sa'e, Timor-Leste
  • 7 Sesha Kumar Primary Health Centre, Ramapuram, Andhra Pradesh, India

https://doi.org/10.55018/ihc.v12.21 Published: 2025-12-21

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Abstract

Background: Spiritual Intelligence (SI) is essential for nurses caring for critically ill surgical patients. Previous studies suggest work experience may influence SI, but the extent and specific dimensions affected remain unclear. This study addresses this gap by analyzing the relationship between work experience and four SI dimensions: Critical Existential Thinking (CET), Personal Meaning Production (PMP), Transcendental Awareness (TA), and Conscious State Expansion (CSE)

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 35 nurses working in adult surgical wards at two public hospitals in Kediri, Indonesia. Inclusion criteria were registered nurses with at least six months of experience in surgical wards; exclusion criteria were nurses on leave or with incomplete data. Purposive sampling was used. Independent variable: work experience (years); dependent variable: spiritual intelligence measured using the Spiritual Intelligence Self-Report Inventory (SISRI-24). Data analysis followed the STROBE guideline and was performed using Lambda tests with α < 0.05. Descriptive statistics were reported for key variables, including mean work experience

Result: The mean work experience of participants was 7.3 ± 4.1 years. Work experience was significantly associated with Personal Meaning Production (PMP) (p = 0.034) and Conscious State Expansion (CSE) (p = 0.007), indicating that nurses with longer experience are better able to find life meaning and expand spiritual awareness. No significant relationships were observed for Critical Existential Thinking (CET) and Transcendental Awareness (TA).

Conclusion: Work experience positively influences certain SI dimensions (PMP and CSE) but not others (CET and TA). These findings suggest that additional factors, such as education, personal experiences, and workplace environment, contribute to SI development. Practical implications: Healthcare institutions should implement spiritual reflection and mindfulness training to support nurses’ well-being. Future research should include larger samples and explore cultural and intervention-based influences on SI development.

Keywords:

Spiritual Intelligence, Nurses, Work Experience, Surgical Nursing

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Copyright (c) 2025 Heru Suwardianto, Teguh Santoso, Tata Mahyuvi, Ahmad Guntur Alfianto, Octavio Daniel Bria Amaral, Joaquim Pinto, Sesha Kumar (Author)

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How to Cite

Suwardianto, H. ., Santoso, T. ., Mahyuvi, T. ., Alfianto, A. G. ., Amaral, O. D. B. ., Pinto, J. ., & Kumar, S. . (2025). Association Between Length of Work Experience and Spiritual Intelligence Among Adult Medical–Surgical Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study. International Journal of Health Concord, 1(2), 151-161. https://doi.org/10.55018/ihc.v12.21

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