The ICN Code of Ethics for Nurses includes 4 principal elements that outline standards of ethical conduct. In the presentation, I supported each element with biblical scripture and Christian nursing resources. Watch the presentation and then feel free to respond to the following questions.
Element #1 Nurses and Patients, other people requiring service. Luke 10:33-37 or The Good Samaritan
Element #2 Nurses and Practice. Colossians 3:12-17
Element #3 Nurses and the Profession. 1 Peter 4:7-11
Element #4 Nurses and global health. Originally I chose Proverbs 3:27-28. I would change it to Matthew 25:35-40.
I would love to hear which one of the elements is the most difficult to live out as a Christian nurse.
Is it providing compassionate, empathetic nursing care to difficult patients?
Do you lack the moral courage to speak up with conscientious objection?
Have you been unkind and/or unprofessional to your colleagues at work?
Are you blind to the health inequities within your area of nursing or health care?
If you prefer, you can email me your response at nurses4him@gmail.com
In October of 2022, at the NCFI PACEA (Pacific and East Asia) Regional Conference I had the wonderful honor to be one of the conference presenters. I used this opportunity to encourage Christian nurses to live out biblical scripture in fulfilling each element of the ICN Code. I have included the abstract, the video presentation, and a link to the ICN Code for your reference. Enjoy!
Abstract
The ICN Code of Ethics for Nurses defines ethical values, responsibilities, and professional accountabilities to nurses in all areas of practice. Each principal element of the code is a framework for the application of ethical conduct with patients, within nursing practice and the profession, and most recently for global health. Christian Nurses use a biblical worldview based upon the life and teachings of Jesus Christ to guide ethical nursing practice. The application of scripture to each element of the ICN Code of Ethics provides a basis for godly excellence in nursing.
“The Good Samaritan” teaching in Luke 10:33-37 supports Element #1: Nurses and Patients or Other People Requiring Service. In the passage, the Samaritan (or nurse) reached across racial/societal barriers to implementing person-centered nursing care. The compassionate nurse promoted human rights while striving for equitable and respectable health care through Christ’s teaching of “love thy neighbor.”
Element #2: Nurses and Practice speak to the identity and role of the nurse. Colossians 3:12-17 reminds nurses they are God’s chosen ones clothed in kindness, humility, and patience. The Spirit of love, peace, thankfulness, and joy form a solid ground of competence and dignity so that everything the nurse says and does is in the name of Jesus.
Christian nurses live out Element #3 Nurses and Profession by contributing to research, managing disasters, and improving organizational environments. 1 Peter 4:7-11 is the basis for collaborating with professionals and using godly gifts to contribute to nursing. Professional characteristics of prayer, self-control, sound judgment, love, and hospitality distinguish the use of gifts to serve and glorify God.
Proverbs 3:27-28 speaks to Element #4: Nurses and Global Health. Christian nurses should make every effort to do good and give to others. Our neighbors, especially those across our borders, have needs and we should not delay in providing for them. At the same time, we can actively advocate against evil in exploitation and abuse.
Godly excellence is defined by the application of scripture to each element of The ICN Code of Ethics defines by implementing compassionate evidence-informed nursing care, upholding personal and professional standards, engaging in the advancement of the nursing profession, and contributing to the health of all peoples.
Here is the presentation:
Defining Godly Excellence through Applying Scripture to The ICN Code of Ethics
As nurses and midwives, we are in the business of waiting. Whether our patients are waiting for surgery, an upcoming test, healing from an infection, or for an update on their condition, nurses wait with their patients. As nurses, we not only wait with our patients, but we also wait for physicians to see our patients and update their plans of care. We wait for the multidisciplinary team to visit our patient and provide services. We also wait on other nurses. We wait for a report from the previous shift or another facility, or at the end of our shift or day, we wait for the next nurse to take over our assignment.
The Advent Season is a time of waiting also. We seek to find time to quiet our hearts from the busyness of the season to spiritually wait for the anticipated birth of our Messiah. Since we are living in the post-coming of the Messiah, we also equate our spiritual waiting with His future coming (Revelation 22:20).
During these final weeks of Advent, let’s turn our physical waiting into spiritual waiting. We can do this for both ourselves and our patients. Turn the time of inactivity while you are physically waiting with your patient into a time of contemplative waiting. Take those few moments to praise the Lord with the angels from Luke 2:14, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Or repeat from Mary’s praises, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” Luke 1:46-47.
If you are waiting with your patient, then quietly pray for your patient following Zechariah’s proclamation in Luke 1:78-79, “the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” You can also spend time waiting with your patient and sharing how as Christians, our time of waiting is over. As believers, we boldly join Simeon in proclaiming:
“Lord, now You are letting your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation that You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.”
Carrie Dameron 