Author: Carrie Dameron

NCFI Cares: Hands and Heart

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Welcome to the first edition of NCFI cares: Caring Across Regions with Encouraging Scripture. I am excited to be part of the hands and heart of NCFI. The president, board, staff, and members recognize nurses scattered across the globe need encouragement. We are working hard to care for patients, supervise staff, and educate students. And, like many nurses, we are also busy in our churches, connecting with communities, and volunteering with our fellowships. And even though we connect with other Christian nurses during our local and regional fellowships, it may not be enough to sustain us. 50 years ago Pat Ashworth and other pioneers for NCFI recognized that “nurses need sources of continuing strength and refreshment and of spiritual health and growth; especially if we are to function fully as effective nurses.” (A History of Nurses Christian Fellowship International: The first 50 years page xv)

Today, I think Christian nurses need more strength and refreshment than ever before. Thus, we all need the encouraging hands and warm heart of NCFI to reach across the regions (1Thessalonians 4:18).

El Centro de Espiritualidad Loyola

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Unlike a journal that discusses day by day occurrences, I am going to arrange this blog by topics!  Thus this posting is about the conference center, El Centro de Espiritualidad Loyola. The conference center was at one time a working monastery. There was a main chapel for mass, and little chapels scattered around the 3 floors. There was also meeting or class rooms and little “day rooms” or “sitting areas”. The sleeping quarters were monk cells which consisted of a small twin size bed, sink and desk. Some of the rooms that were for 2 or 3 people came with a private bathroom. I had an individual cell, so like a dorm-room my bathroom was down the hall with toilets and showers. I enjoyed the simplicity of the room—with furnishings. I was quite creative with the limited space. I hung my clothes up all over the room using the back of a chair, hooks on the door, and draping pants over the desk.

There was beautiful art work all over the place and I took many pictures. My favorite was a Jesus on the cross carved into a single piece of wood. There was a huge mural of the last supper in the dining hall. There were many flower gardens on the grounds. Denia and I took a stroll one evening and found a huge walkway covered with grape vines—it was amazing. It was hard to capture the magnitude of the length with a camera. At the end of the long walkway was a cemetery with many names on a memorial wall.

The most disappointing part of the conference center, is not being able to read the signs and posters written in Spanish to learn more about his beautiful place.

We had our room key and name badge on a lanyard labeled “El Centro de Espiritualidad Loyola”. I wanted to keep the lanyard as a souvenir, so with the help of Denia and some Chilean pesos I purchased one.  I now wear it at work. It holds my office keys and my work name badge. I still have the centro close to my heart.

To see pictures go to nurses4him.org

Our Faithful Journey in Nursing

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       Welcome to Our Faithful Journey in Nursing blog. I am excited to share your journey as we discuss faith, compassion, prayer, and excellence in Christian nursing. Each sections includes an indepth discussion of the concept and then applicable questions helping you delve into the application of scriptural, nursing knowledge to your professional practice. This booklet is available on Amazon as an ebook for only $1.99.  OR send me a email for a printed copy of the booklet–same price + shipping! carrie@carriedameron.com

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Join the discussion!

Grace & Peace,
Carrie

What About Me?

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This issue of Christian Nursing 101 ask the simple question: What about me? The articles discusses how nurses need to provide self care. Just as we teach patients to eat healthy, exercise regularly, and grow in our faith, we need to care for our self.  The article has ideas on how to make healthier choices for lunches, using the stairs, and even taking a day-off from work AND family responsibilities.

I am currently struggling with exercising! I know it is amazing…I usually run or walk at least 3 days a week, but I have been so overwhelmed with work, that I have stopped.
How about you? Do you have trouble finding time to exercise? Or maybe it is those chocolate cravings that grab you, LOL.

Anyway, back on topic, what about having a true day off (I am not even going there). The article reminds us of the  blessing of a Sabbath rest. In 2007, I wrote an article for JCN on looking at the blessing of Sabbath rest differently. If you have a JCN subscription, you can access the online article.

Enjoy the new year and take care of YOU!

 

Prayer Request: New Book

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As I begin 2013, I am working on a new project and need your prayer. A year ago, I wrote 4 Christian nursing articles and bible studies. They were written in English and then translated into Norwegian by Tove Giske, the editor of Tidsskrift for fag og tro (Journal of faith and profession) a Christian Nursing professional journal during 2012.

Tove has always had the vision of compiling the 4 articles and bible studies into a booklet or small book for international distribution. I am currently working on revising the articles for international nurses and formatting the book: Our Faithful Journey in Christian Nursing.  She will be leaving for Sierra Leone in early January (yes..NOW) and would like to provide a high-quality teaching for my fellow nurses!

Stay tuned….May the Lord continue to equip us for his work, amen.

Amazing!

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My first NCFI conference was truly an amazing experience. I don’t even know where to begin…except to begin and share with you some of my experiences…

I flew 10 hours to Santiago and am constantly amazed at these red-eye flights that feed you! Am I the only one who feels weird boarding a plan at midnight, getting comfortable to watch movies and catch some Z’s only to have them serve dinner? And not just a snack, but a full course meal with an entree and desert.

I really scored with my seat this time, for I chose the first row, thus I had lots of leg room. I also like to sit on the aisle for I can get up and do laps around the plane. I would say it is the med/surg nurse in me that cannot sit that long, but then again my father has always been pretty active.  These red-eye flights are a great way for me to catch up on movies and learn the art of sleeping sitting up.

We arrive in Santiago at 10:00 am and the weather is warm and dry, spring time for them. Later on I find out, that this dry, warm weather is their typical pattern. For anyone who has been in Southern California, this is exactly what Santiago reminded me of, with their Mediterranean climate and morning fog rolling in from the coast.

After immigration and customs, I made my way to the baggage terminal and found a sign saying “Christian Nurses Conference” which was a wonderful sight. Waiting for the bus was a large group of nurses from all over the world, Australia, Norway, Canada, USA, and Philippines. While I was waiting, I recognized a nurse from Manila, she had been to the Spiritual Care class that Tove, Swee Eng and myself had taught. Her name was Denia and we become buddies!

They were having us wait until we got to 20 people before the call went out for the bus. There was quite a bit of confusion, but with the help of a van we all made it to the conference center.

When we arrived at the conference center it was lunch time, so we went into the dining hall and upon our entry, a huge round of applause and excitement burst forth. Come to find out, this was how they welcomed all the bus loads of nurses arriving at the conference. This constant theme of brotherly and sister love enveloped the entire time. It is truly amazing to immediately enjoy and love complete strangers from around the world–this connection was our hearts in Christ molded and shaped for His work with patients–Amazing!

Presence in Nursing

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JCN coverAs Christian nurses we can experience the Presence of the Holy Spirit. This is more than just attentively listening and communicating with a patient as with “being present.” This is being used by God to connect with patients.  The Holy Spirit’s indwelling is a wonderful blessing and part of our relationship with Jesus Christ. It is also how we can connect with others as part of God’s work in their lives and our own.

One such special time was with a difficult patient. I was struggling to feel like my work as a med/surg nurse really mattered and that I was being used by God. One day a call light came on for a patient that I was not assigned to, but new very well. He was considered a “frequent flyer” because of his chronic disease and difficult behavior. I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to answer his call light, which I did. That moment began a long relationship of seeing this patient beyond my med/surg nurse eyes and heart. I knew the Holy Spirit was intervening for this man, because my eyes and heart were opened in a way that I could not of otherwise seen. Actually, one of my indicators now, that the Holy Spirit is working in my heart, is when I notice, see or feel things that are beyond me or outside my normal feelings.

I would enjoy hearing your stories of how you experience the Holy Spirit in your work.

Read the article: Presence in this month’s JCN. There I give a great example of the difference between “being present” and the Holy Spirit’s presence in nursing. There is also a snap-shot of the Bible’s teaching on the unique person of the Trinity, called the Holy Spirit.

NCFI: Art and Science of Spiritual Care

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I have been on a whirlwind journey with NCFI nurses from around the world.

Around Jan, 2011 I joined NCFI to partner with international nurses to create an educational module for spiritual care. Thanks to Skype we were able to work through 4 time zones and busy nurses schedules to create a 4-session educational presentation. The team included myself and Amy from the USA, Tove from Norway, and Swee Eng from Singapore. All of us, except Amy, met and taught the content to international health care providers at the 75th jubilee conference for HCFI in Manila, Philippines in September, 2011. 

We came home and connected with Grace from Colombia and supported Swee Eng’s move to a leadership presentation. Once again, through Skype, we endeavored to create a final presentation with workbook, as well as translation into Spanish. We will be meeting once again in Chile to teach the content at the NCFI conference in Santiago, Chile.

Before we get the idea that the project is completed, Amy, Tove, and myself have submitted an abstract to present a 80 minute symposium at the International Council of Nurses (ICN) conference in May, 2013.


Prayer Room in Taipai airport


The Lord continues to work amazingly, as we endeavor to educate and support nurses around the world in bringing cross-culturally spiritual care to our patients, clients, and residents.

For more pictures, go to      nurses4him facebook link

Unshakeable Job

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Being a nurse can sometimes be disheartening. As a nursing instructor, I hear the disappointment from graduating seniors with no prospective job. I encounter nurses struggling with the constant change and complexity of acute care nursing. As well as, potential students who wait years to be accepted into nursing programs, pay exorbitant price for a private school and then graduate with huge student debt.

Personally, as an instructor for an associate degree program, I am disheartened by the lack of job opportunities for ADN grads and the difficulty these grads have with transitioning into BSN programs. As one of many state funded educational programs, I am frustrated with the lack of funding for education as a whole. With unemployment high, appropriately funding nursing and other “job training” programs should be a priority.

All of this to say, that currently there is much to be discouraged about in health care and education. Yet, through the words of the worship pastor, I was reminded of which kingdom I work for and whom I depend upon. Even though I am part of the health care industry and the educational system, I am God’s workforce and his kingdom is unshakable.

Hebrews 12:28, reminds us that God’s kingdom is unshakable. No matter how unsure the economy, hopeless the job market, tenuous our nursing career, or chaotic health care industry, our confidence is in God! Jesus Christ is our confidence and through him we are assured of a future.

Now I will admit, what we currently see as our future, is guaranteed to be inline with the future God has for us. But, I do know this, we can depend on Jesus to be with us today and tomorrow. (Hebrews 13:8)