I Love Nursing!

Being a nurse is not what I do, but it is who I am. Helping people live to their full health potential really floats my boat! What could be more awesome than that! I believe nursing is all encompassing as true nursing deals with ministering not only to the body, but the mind and soul as well! One must inspire in their patient the hope of a better day and attribute worth and value to the one who may be struggling with that very core issue. We are so much more than any disease we may have to fight! If there is any message I feel compelled to share with the hurting in body or soul, it is the message that your life is still worth living in spite of your limitations and challenges!

One of the most graphic pictures of this truth was sealed upon my mind when I was at a mega church in Phoenix 10 years ago. I saw a man in a wheel chair that he controlled with his mouth. He was a quadriplegic due to an accident in which he was crushed in a logging machine inadvertently turned on by his Dad who didn’t know he was in it. He had been an athlete, and now he was totally disabled as a young man. He didn’t give up on life even though that was the temptation, but got rehabilitated and did incredible paintings with his mouth and also did motivational preaching. He got married to a beautiful woman and had a little 3 year old girl that was sitting on his lap in the wheel chair!

I believe two main things achieved this amazing outcome for this man. He had an incredible Christian faith and support system, and he had excellent medical care! His life still had value and meaning!

Nursing and caring for the sick go so well with a Christian world view where we value each life as made is the image of God and worth caring for and saving! The story of the Good Samaritan illustrates beautifully the qualities of compassion, caring and self sacrifice which are synonymous with good nursing! Can we forget the example of Jesus Himself Who spent his life healing and doing good for suffering humanity because He was moved with compassion. Acts 10:38 says "…how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." Yes, He was the Messiah and Matthew 8:16 states, “ He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.” Also, when we do it to the least of these, we are doing it unto Jesus. Matthew 25:37 states, “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

Wow! Do you see it? The Christian example for dealing with hurting and suffering humanity is to recognize it, to be moved with compassion, and then finally to do something about it! Talk about being pro-active! Contrast this with other world views on suffering. Sins supposedly committed in a past life in a Hindu world view acount for one's present suffering. Only the strong should survive in a Darwinian world view. These ideologies will result in a very different protocol for dealing with the challenges of the infirm and disabled! I believe respect for human life in all its stages and challenges is the only humane and truly human way of giving care!

Ultimately, for me nursing is not so much a profession as it is a high calling to bring dignity, healing and respect to the afflicted and that is what I have to bring to the “proverbial table”! At a time when healthcare is potentially taking a vastly different path to treating the sick, may we be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Lori