Dimensions in Learning

Now More Than Ever Before

We Are Called . . .

Our communities--our world--is experiencing acute health disturbance. The need for intervention is laid out for us nurses. We are called to capitalize on caring, on collaboration, on leadership skill-building, on continuity, on innovation. We live in a globalized society. We not only can lead in health-related interventions, we share in the world’s woes such as terrorism and rapid transmission of disease, and we see our complexion changing with an increasing stream of several migrating populations. We face significant challenges. And now we, as a country, have been reforming health care delivery. The nursing profession has been preparing for perceived changes to come and trying to imagine what is not yet clear.

So, the door is open to nurses in the church/faith community to create care delivery systems that work. Faith communities reach many individuals in need of education about health and prevention, of consultation about health concerns, of physical assistance, of chronic disease or disability management.

The Faith Community Nurse is the “called” professional servant to a unique service for communities already committed to the ministry of Christ in making man “whole.”

Reflections on Loving God in Nursing

Completely loving God in nursing with all our being becomes

the basis of our calling. What does it mean to love God with “heart, soul,

mind, and strength”?

Spiritual Care: Evangelism at the Bedside?

Dr. Elizabeth J. Taylor explores the “ethics” of providing spiritual care to the patients we serve. She responds to questions of appropriateness, in that, should the subject be raised if the patient has not raised it first? Is it “evangelizing” of one’s own faith? Could it be conceived as manipulative? Is it being arrogant? What is “witnessing”? Guidance is given in the approach, the presentation of spiritual ideas, the attitude and language, the follow-through. Inspiring!

They are below . . .