From Called to care by Shelly & Miller (2006), p. 91, "As nurses who are mortal beings, we have committed ourselves to choosing life in its fullness for ourselves and those in our care. We work toward health and healing. We fight death as an enemy. At the same time we recognize our limitations, knowing that we are not able to control all circumstances, but remaining confident that we can know and trust the One who does."
Do you agree? Why or why not? What would you add? Does the Bible support these thoughts? How do you know? Do you have a nursing "story" or example to illustrate these comments?
About Me
- Kris Haldeman
- Married for 25 years on October 1, 2008 (to Bill) Three great kids! Mitch will be 21 in December. Leigh is 17 and Susan (in picture) 16.
31 comments:
Yes, I believe this quote is a fairly accurate description of what a nurse is trying to accomplish. As Christian nurses, I believe we are fighting not only physical death, but spiritual death. Through our ministries, I hope that we will be able to bring eternal life to our patients.
in some parts I do agree with the statment. I do not see nursing as fighting death though. I belive that nursing is providing the apropriet care for the pt. In some cases, it is to coumphort the pt through death not to fight it. I have been a part of treoge in the army and expectant is a catigory some pt's do fall in. I think that is the time when medicin stops and what I would consider nursing begins.
Romans 8:11 (New International Version) 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
When I read this verse what struck me was the words our "mortal bodies." It made me think of Romans 8:11 and the amazing gift I have been given in Christ. I am not just a mortal being who is a nurse, I am a spiritually alive and full of the Spirit of God being who is a nurse. I understand that Miller and Shelly were merely pointing out the limitations we have as humans and nurses, but I felt encouraged that as a Christian I am give the privilege of having the Greatest Healer as my guide. I may not be able to tell each patient and co-worker I enact with about Christ, but I hope to be able to show them, through my competence, confidence, and compassion that through our physical bodies may decay and death may surround us there is life in Christ.
According to what i feel, Yes, as nurses we are mortal beings. When we first decided that we would be nurses, i guess at that very point we decided to commit ourselves to God's calling for our lives and that is to care for the sick amd suffering. With the knowledge imparted to us and the skills that we acquire, we are able to give the utmost care to our patients. As humans we do have limitations and cannot figure out everything, but there is a God above and for Him all things are possible.
In the Bible there are several passages where we encounter the sick and the suffering. Whenever Jesus came across them, He healed them not only physically, but also spiritually. He cared for the sick and the dying and there are several instances in the Bible where we read how God raised the the dead. We as humans cannot fight death, but trust that God can.
Working as a nurse in India, i saw several patients dying and i wondered why could'nt God heal them. Small children dying of Thalasemia, leukemia who did'nt even know what the world was like. Such situations are out of our control, but as Christians we know that God is in control and that He knows why things happen even when we fail to understand. Our duty as a nurse is to treat our patients with love and care and leave the rest upon God.
I agree with what is said about what a nurse is. I think it is very important that as nurses we are dedicating our lives to better other peoples lives but we need to be sure to take time to take care of ourselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I do not agree that we are “fighting death”. As a nurse we are to support our patients and make them as comfortable as possible if it were in surgery recovery, illness, or death. As nurses with a religious background we know that even in death we are protected. I have had to opportunity to travel to Mexico many times for mission/service trips and it was there that I learned to see God in every person. I have known I wanted to be a nurse for a very long time but it was in the dumps of Mexico that I saw that God and his words, the bible, are in full support of what nurses are to a scared stranger walking into a hospital. When somebody has had serious surgery, given birth, or had a prolonged hospital stay it is the nurses they remember and who made their time at such a dreaded place so much more bearable. This is why I want to be a nurse. I want to be that ray of hope to a stranger, a friend, or a co-worker.
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When it comes down to the very fundamentals of nursing or perhaps more like the foundation of what my practice in nursing will be, I view nursing as a practical way to love people. I think the most important part of a person is the soul and most people would think that this would lead me to be a pastor or missionary since they focus on a person's soul. A nurse on the other hand (especially one working in the U.S.) will probably devote most of his or her efforts towards a peron's physical needs. In the end, though, the nurse can love people in an intamate and practical way that few other disiplines can. Many people during their darkest hours of illness or tragedy depend on the nurse for nearly everything. I, as a nurse, am surrendering the soul of a person almost completly to God's care an proding. He must prepare their hearts to ask the first question while I must simple love. I guess it comes back to what was "the greatest command"....to love people.
Well yes I do agree with the statement that we as Nurses are here to care for the sick and suffering. It is true that as nurses, death and illness are our biggest enemies and we try our best to fight against them. Yet, as mortal beings we are limited to the fact that, this is all we can do because ultimately it is in God’s hand. We cannot heal the sick but we do believe that God can because there is nothing impossible for Him. We as nurses can not only heal our clients physically, but spiritually as well. As a nurse, we might be the last person to encounter the dying patient and in those few moments we could do so much to change the destination of their dying soul. They might be afraid of death but what can be better than letting them know through God they would find eternal life.
I believe Nursing as a calling and not a profession. We are called to care for the sick and needy and though our powers are limited, yet we can do as much as possible for them and reflect out faith through our work. By choosing to become a Nurse, I have committed my life in loving and caring for God’s people because sometimes physical care is not all they need…sometimes they are looking for more and as Nurses we are able to give them what they are longing for.
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I tend to agree with the definition from Shelly & Miller. We have indeed chosen a career path that requires us to be conscious of life itself, and life as a gift. Nurses fight to extend that gift with love and care. We may know nothing of a patient's life, but we have chosen to help them, take care of them, and do our very best to 'fix' them. There will times where all we can do is make a patient comfortable during their trying time, but God is the ultimate healer. That is a very important fact to remember.
I agree with this statement. God is the only one who created us. He gave us many examples and let us choose what we want to be because we are free in God. He called us to be Christian nurses and he wants us to fight death and illness. Of course we have limitations since we are human and not God. However, we have the authority to fight death as an enemy and we have power to keep working toward health and healing because we are His sons and daughters. Fighting means not only having strong minds but also giving love to sick people just like Jesus did. For example, Jesus tells Peter to care for his sheep. We as nurses have to care for God's people. We need to love and take care them as well.
I agree with the authors. I especially appreciate Shelly and Miller noting that we cannot control all circumstances. It is so important to trust God and not ourselves.
However, I would add an element of salvation to their statements. My ultimate mission as a Christian is to bring others to Christ. Thus, as a nurse my ultimate concern for my patients is that they know Christ. My service to them is part of my testimony of Christ's power.
I believe the Bible supports these thoughts. The story that came to my mind was Hezekiah's illness in 2 Kings 20:1-12. Hezekiah became ill and pleaded with God to spare his life. He did not want to die and it is clear here that God holds everyone's lives in His hands. As nurses, we work to return our patients to health; we work against disease and death. However, in the end, each situation is in God's hands.
I don't have a story to illustrate since I haven't had much experience.
Yes, I agree. The definition recognized the call that we, as nurses, have to care for those that cannot care for them selves. We also need to care for ourselves in order to properly help others. I believe it is imperative to recognize that we do have limitations but we have hope-we can place our trust in the Lord. He knows what we can handle and He will not leave us, He will guide us. For myself it is important to remember from whom my confidence comes form. It is from the Lord. As Christians we have the privilege of experiencing the freedom of Christ's love and grace and to be an example of Christ's love to those that we meet. Especially those that are in physical distress and have no one else to turn to.
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I agree with Shelly & Miller to a point. As Christian nurses, we work towards health and healing for our clients from a holistic perspective; providing care beyond the just the physical body.
Where I differ from Shelly & Miller is the comment about fighting death as an enemy. While I feel that death can sometimes be viewed as an enemy, I don't feel that it is always the case. It’s complicated to work out the distinction between fighting death and choosing not to fight, but there are times when a person is ready to leave this world. Our work as nurses may entail easing one's suffering as they near death, as in hospice care. In some cases death brings relief from earthly suffering in a way that medication could not.
Rev. 21:4 states, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
We do need to recognize that we cannot do all things in all circumstances. God's love and unfailing compassion will not leave us or our patients. As nurses, we are privileged to share this love as our ministry and profession. Situation may arise where we fail to see God's compassion, but David's assured faith in Psalm 28: 13-14 can be our encouragement. "I am certain that I will see the LORD's goodness in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be courageous and let your heart be strong. Wait for the LORD."
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It's an interesting place to be; a nurse who knows the great Physician and works diligently for Him. I agree with this statement save for one assessment. Shelly & Miller state because we are nurses that we choose life to it's fullness. I choose life to it's fullness because i am a follower of Christ, not because im a nurse. If one who is in the service of God forgets that he is a Christian before he is a nurse, then his goal is dreadfully misaligned.
Above all - as a Christian i work to life's fullness to heal others spiritually, physically, and mentally. To offer advice, service, and education to every person i meet (verbal or not). And within it all, pointing to the very reason i am a nurse: To Glorify God.
I do like the thought that I fight death as an enemy. This is far more true than i tend to realize. However, i lean more towards the realization that i dont fight against death as much as i fight FOR LIFE. I am not against death, i am for life. But beyond physical death or life, i move towards spiritual death and life. I fight to show spiritual life. I fight against death that spiritual sin brings.
The battle cry has been sounded, we are in a war for people's souls. There is an enemy that wants to steal, kill, and destroy every person. Ephesians paints the glorious picture of suiting up to go into battle. This is my battle cry, to put on the helmet, breastplate, shoes, belt, sword, and shield. I am a follower of Christ and i am fighting because "The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor."
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I would have to agree with what Shelly and Miller are saying. Nurses are just mortal beings who can't fix every problem that a patient has. Our job is to do everything we possibly can to provide the care needed for each individual client. I wouldn't necessarily say that death is our enemy because everyone has to die someday. That's what makes us human. However, I would say that our enemy is disease. Part of our goal as nurses is to keep people as healthy as we can. God is the ultimate one who brings healing to the patients. We, as nurses, are just supposed to provide the love, support, and comfort to those that we come into contact with. When we can't give them the healing that they need, then we as Christians can leave it in God's hands because we know that He is the Healer.
Shelly and Miller’s description of nursing is mostly accurate in my opinion. Nursing involves the primary acts of love and service. Without these two actions, nursing would only meet the client’s physical needs, failing to provide multidimensional holistic care. Jesus is the ultimate example of someone who loved and served those around him, especially the underprivileged and marginalized. I agree with what several people said about the “fighting death” comment in the previous quote. Death is inevitable and it is our responsibility not to fight death but provide proper care and assist clients in accepting the cycle of life.
I totally agree with this description of nurses. The only thing I would change is to add that nurses work as hard as they can towards health and healing. I have been reading in Proverbs a lot about the importance of hard diligent work. We must all work especially in this nursing program. I feel that nurses are fighting death but at the same time the main thing we can do is trust God. I feel that the bible supports these ideas with verses that describe Jesus dying to give us eternal life, such as the John 3:16 and verses such as Proverbs 20:24 are about God's plans.
Nurses devote their lives to promoting the health and well-being of others. Being a nurse, more specifically a Christian nurse, means to recognize the image of God in others and consequently treat all people with honor and respect. While I agree with the majority of the Called to Care definition of nursing I do not agree with the belief that we “fight death as an enemy.” Death is a natural conclusion to life. We do, however, fight premature or unjust death. We understand every human life as a treasure - and that humanness consists of more than physical existence. With that understanding we can deliver that best care possible to all people, either pursuing wellness or preserving dignity. My understanding of nursing was profoundly impacted by a summer I spent in Guatemala. For a portion of the trip I worked in an AIDS hospice for children who had acquired the syndrome at birth. One of my duties was to care for a young girl who was dying of an AIDS-related infection. I wanted knowledge or training that would enable me to help her, but I came to the realization that no amount of medical expertise could prevent her death. Physical death was inevitable. All I could do at that point was care for her emotionally and spiritually, providing comfort and peace. Nurses function as servants of God, as ambassadors for the ultimate caregiver and healer.
I certainly agree with Shelly and Miller's overarching depiction of what a nurse is. I appreciate their emphasis on the clear difference between us as "mortal beings" depicting our vulnerability and flaws, in comparison to God and His perfect character. I agree with the statement that was made about choosing to live life in its fullness and the Bible makes it clear that service is our responsibilty.Matthew 25: 35- Jesus describes those "blessed by the Father" as those who gave food to those who were hungry, clothed those who were naked and took care of those who were ill. He also says- "whatever you do for the least of these you do for me".
Holding fast to these words and taking them quite literally, I consider it pure joy to be able to serve in this profession.
I appreciate the "mortal" scope Shelly and Miller alluded too, and realize its important to ask God for guidance every day, and gain confidence in His will, not my own abilities or limitations.
Releasing control and trusting the Lord with this grand task will be an intentional "must" for everyday functioning as a good nurse.
I do not necessarily agree with Shelly and Miller when they say "we fight death as an enemy". Although in the physical sense I will do everything I can do to keep someone alive, I would much rather help the person embrace what comes after, and incorporate a spirit of hope into my service, because for many who are ill- death is an upgrade.
I am looking forward to learning about how to give complete and holistic care- maintaining a perspective of treating every patient as if they were Jesus himself.
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I agree with the statement by Shelly and Miller. We as nurses are called by God to care for others. God has given us this direction so we could fulfill his calling for us. In Matthew 4:23 it states how Jesus went throughout Galilee and healed every disease and sickness among the people. From this verse I learned that being a nurse I will not be able to save everyone but I know with God’s help anything is possible.
I am unsure how I feel about the statement of death as an enemy. I know as nurses we are fighting to save people’s lives. But I also know if the person is saved after death they will be in Heaven and live eternally with God.
There may be circumstances where we may not be able to help people, so we just need to put the situation into God’s hands. An experience from my life I can think of is my grandfather’s death. We found out that he had end stages of cancer. Since we found out that he had cancer so late there was nothing we could do to completely heal him of the disease. The main goal of the nurses was to make him comfortable during the last stages of his life. My family’s goal during this time was to make sure he knew Jesus.
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I also agree with this quote from Called to Care. I believe as nurses we are supposed to fight against death and illness. We also acknowledge that there are somethings that we are unable to control and that there are circumstances that we will not expect. But since we are to be Christian nurses, we place all of our trust in God, for he has a plan in everything that we do and the events that we will encounter. And through our faith in God, perhaps we will bring more people to God.
Not only is nursing is an action of our faith toward God, it is also helps shows our love for others as we help them through any illnesses or concerns that they may have. Just by showing our love and concern toward someone could really change someone's perspective toward life and the acknowledgment of the knowledge that there is really a God that cares for them.
So not only are we placing everything in the hands of God, we are also placing in God's hands the hope that more will be able to come to him through the care and love in our nursing that we have given to others.
Shelly and Miller identified clearly the mindset of a Christian nurse, which I agree with. We have chosen life because we chosen Christ. We are mortal beings even though we have already died; the only difference is that we know we’ll have eternal life and we know that death is nothing to fear, because our Savior has already defeated death. I understand categorizing a nurse as a Christian nurse is supposed to be descriptive enough on how the nurse acts and behaves. On the other hand, if we were to combine all the details of nursing from ANA and what Shelly and Miller have to say, then the nurse could be classified as the Good Samaritan, who bandaged and poured oil and wine on the wounds of the man who was robbed and beat. Which to answer the question: does the Bible support these thoughts about nursing? Certainly! The Bible is about a Man who has come to save the world from the death.
This summer I realized what some of the tasks of nursing are. For our church youth camp this summer, I was the staff girl with the First-Aid kit, the one that had the bandages and peroxide. What I realized during camp was that, when teenagers got hurt and I would have to bandage their wounds, they sought gentle care, a lifting spirit, and someone to tell them it was going to be okay and that the wound won’t get infected if they kept it clean. As Christian nurses, I believe we set the standard high for other nurses; by the way we act and behave at our jobsites.
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I fully agree with the description given by the authors. True nursing that comes from the heart isn't about the money but the giving of ourselves for others. The goal of nursing is to help people through their struggles - physical, spiritual, etc, and to be a constant presence in their lives and uplift them with words of encouragement. It's difficult to accomplish this goal if it's not done from the heart. Nursing can be compared to the life of Jesus and what He accomplished while being on this earth. He came to do the will of God. That will was to spread the Gospel. However, it's important to note how He accomplished that and it wasn’t simply through the messages that He gave but also through the example of showing God’s love. He enjoyed spending time with people, bonding with them (wedding at Cana – John 2:1-11). He enjoyed being one on one with others, and encourage them with words and promises of God (story of Mary and Martha – Luke 10:38-42). Jesus is the perfect example of what nursing should be like – to show God’s love to all of those we encounter by being attentive to all of their needs and not just provide them with physical relief but also being open to listen to their other needs.
“Kindness has converted more sinners than zeal, eloquence, or learning.” Frederick W. Faber. My prayer is to be a nurse that speaks God’s love not through my words but through my actions.
I agree with Shelly and Miller’s description of a nurse. I believe we are mortal beings that have committed ourselves to choosing life in its fullest. That means not merely getting our patients to function again, but to improve their well being in a holistic manner. This includes their emotional and spiritual life as well as their physical life. Another big part of being a nurse is choosing health for our own bodies. That means devoting our lives to maintain a healthy diet, exercise, and make sure to take the time to relax and enjoy our lives as nurses. To better help others, we must first take care of ourselves. I believe we fight death as our greatest enemy, but along with death, we also fight diseases in general, whether they are the common cold, a chronic disease, or a fatal disease. To me the last phrase is one of the most important things to remember about nursing: we cannot control all circumstance, but we do not stress, because we trust a loving God who can. I know if I did not live by this faith, I would be so tired, stressed, and depressed because indefinitely I would feel always insufficient to be a nurse. I would feel as though I was a complete failure with every person who passed away or with every sickness not healed. But then I remember that I serve a God who is in control over all circumstances. He is a loving, kind God, whose thoughts are higher than mine, and I ultimately give every person, and every situation to Him.
I believe that the Bible supports these thoughts time and time again. First of all, I know that a characteristic of God is that He is a healer. Jesus came to this earth and healed many people. He fought death and infirmities as an enemy, restoring people back to health, as well as even bringing people back to life. But he did more than become a “miracle physician.” His healing and miracles were tools for his ministry and to show his abounding love. As I am going through nursing school my goal is to become a nurse that mimics my Father. I want Jesus to shine through me with every person I touch or encounter. I don’t want to only heal a person’s physical being, but I want to bring that person to better health in all levels or his or her life. I will not do this by my power but by showing them the One who can.
I completely agree with Shelley & Miller with their description of what they think a nurse should be and accomplish. I agree for several reasons. First, their designation that as nurses we "committed ourselves to choosing life in its fullness for ourselves and those in our care" for me, describes the whole point of nursing. We need to strive for the absolute best conditions we can achieve for ourselves and for those we look after. If this is our goal, then the care we provide will be ultimately superior in every aspect.
Secondly, I agree and I believe the Bible supports the fact that as human beings we are not perfect and we have many limitations. There is no possible way we can achieve all that we want or do whatever we want without His help. Recognizing this is important, for it places our trust in God who shoulders our cares and needs, and bolsters us in ways that no other human being could ever do.
I believe that as nurses we do fight death as an enemy, and even though eventual death is inevitable, we must do everything we can to prolong our patients' lives. Anything but persevering in this is (I believe) sin, for we aren't doing our best, nor our duty to protect and provide.
I like the statement and some of the images that it gives me. But I think that it’s incomplete until you read the first sentence of the next paragraph. “Being human makes us glorious beings who reflect the nature of God.” That’s the thing that enables us and allows us to care for people. That’s the thing that draws us towards a profession of selflessness and healing. That’s the thing that gives purpose to our efforts. We are a reflection of God being made to bear His image. And God is life.
We fight against death as an enemy because God is life. We do that through health and healing within the parameters of nursing practice, but we’re not limited to just the things that we’ve seen or learned. I believe God wants to touch people through Spirit-filled medical professionals and allow them to feel Him during some really difficult and frightening situations. I know that facilities and settings will have regulations about sharing faith verbally, but people will know us as Christians by our love. And I think that as image-bearers, if we’re really called to nursing and not just drawn to it, we’ll go into situations and circumstances of nursing as a representative and ambassador for Him.
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I agree with the quote in Called to Care by Shelly & Miller in principle at least.
But like others before, I struggle a little bit with the phrase about fighting "death as an enemy." Deep down, I do agree with this statement as abortion and euthenasia seem so clear cut to me. But I am young in the nursing field, and I know that there will be situations where death can be a welcome relief from pain and suffering.
I strongly agree with the phrase about trusting the One who controls circumstances and recognizing our own limitations. I believe my mission as a nurse will be to honor God by providing care for people. I will only be fulfilled as a nurse if I make my mission to serve God.
In conclusion, a verse from Dueteronomy 30:19-20 that supports these thoughts came to my mind.
"This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life..." I do believe that we as nurses are called to choose life.
Nice blogging, students! You are off to a good start. The blogs that clearly answered the questions were appreciated for the clarity, such as "I agree or disagree and here is why...". Also, thank you for the illustrations, if there was one available to you. And the Bible verses, too! Keep up the good work!
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