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)

Get Connected!

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When I was new grad RN fresh out of nursing school and working my first job,  I discovered a local NCF group. I was ecstatic to discover a place with nurses who had the same passion for nursing AND Jesus as myself. Amazingly, this was 20 years ago and the group is still in place.

The group has gone through much transformation through the years with change in leadership. At times I equate our participant list to a McDonald’s drive through, where nurses and/students come in get supported and refreshed and then go on their way. Our meeting times, days and even frequency has changed based upon need and availability. We have done bible studies, books, and devotions. There are many stories to tell regarding the group, the nurses that have come to our time of fellowship, as well as answered and unanswered prayers. I will say the “cornerstone” of the group has been two nurses who met at a nursing retreat, started the group and still keep it going. Carol and Kathy really get the blessing of being committed to the group no matter what!

If you are not connected in some way with other Christian nurses–Get Connected! You will be encouraged and have the blessing of encouraging others.

Get ideas of connecting with others in the article Get Connected! in July/September, 2012 issue of Journal of Christian Nursing

Innovations in Faith-Based Nursing–June 18-21, 2012

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Innovations in Faith Based Nursing Conference at Indiana Wesleyan Conference
June 18-21, 2012

This conference looks like it is going to be a great place to hear from wonderful Christian Nursing Experts!

http://www.indwes.edu/Nursing-Innovations/


Hope to see you there!

Scrubs of Excellence

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As the author of “Scrubs for Excellence,” I am the first to confess my short-comings with kindness, gentleness, and patience. And, even though I know the Lord has led me to be a nursing instructor, I struggle with contentment. Scripture reminds us the perfectness of Jesus Christ and the love and grace he provides for all of us as we grow in his likeness. This Easter weekend, I am reminded not to be too hard on my self; and like Peter who denied our Lord three times, to accept the reconciliation of love he provides and move on in grace (John 21:15-17)
Blessings for He has Risen!
Carrie

NCFI conference in Chile!

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NCFI Conference November 2012    Previously, I had posted about working with NCFI (Nurses Christian Fellowship International) in creating “The Art and Science of Spiritual Care.” This wonderful project is continuing with Amy, Swee Eng, Grace and myself. We will be teaching this track in November, 2012 in Santiago, Chile. I know I can speak for all of us in welcoming your prayers and support for the conference, the speakers, the participants and the work our Lord is doing around the world.

Being with hundreds of people from around the world in Manila who love Jesus and love patients was an amazing experience! It was a “bucket list” experience for myself andI am sure Chile will be the same.

Sign up and plan on attending and then be sure to come and say “Hi!”

Our Purpose in Christian Nursing

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Purpose in Christian Nursing



            One look at health care reveals an industry filled with chaos, clutter, and seemingly not very purposeful. The regulations seem to continually change, the staffing and workload is on a continuum and nurses are constantly trying to keep up with the newest diseases, newest treatments and newest technologies. The calm in this storm is Jesus. I know it sounds like a cliché, but it is true. God is in control and knows exactly what is happening and is actually working out His will for today and tomorrow. Hebrews 13:8 says that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Exodus 15:18, says the Lord God will reign forever and ever. God does not change, respond as in crisis mode, nor suddenly have new and emerging ideas. Now I do need to stop and laugh, as children of God we may enjoy our new and innovative smart phones with apps; but God’s purpose hasn’t changed–it just becomes hi-tech.


            Changes have been fast and furious in the profession and practice of nursing. It is easy to get lost in the flurry and leave our purpose in Christian nursing behind.  Judith Allen Shelley and Arlene B. Miller wrote a wonderful text entitled “Called to Care: A Christian Theology of Nursing.” In the chapter entitled, “A Christian Worldview for Nursing,” they state, “The actual tasks of nursing may vary as needs, contexts and resources change, but Christian is always a faithful response to God’s gift of salvation. We love others because God first loved us. That love is lived out in compassionate action toward our neighbors.” (page 68, 2nd Edition, 2006). In other words, our purpose is to bring grace, truth, and love to our patients and to our colleagues.


            We discover a more specific purpose when God takes our passion (as we have discussed in a previous SBAR) and uses it for His purpose.  Here is an example of 3 Christian nurses with different purposes: A retired nurse providing nursing care for men at a homeless shelter in a recovery center; a nurse researching the implications of prayer in patient care; finally a nursing student who provides supervised childcare for disabled children so their parents can attend church service. All of these nurses are using their unique passion and talent to meld with God’s purpose in nursing. Just as our passion may not be specific the same is true for our purpose. We shouldn’t sit back and wait for a “divine plan” to be laid out before we feel we are being used by God. Instead, we are to continuously devote our careers to God’s purpose and will.


            Another thing I want to mention, is remember the nurses that I shared with you? One was a student, while another one was retired. This brings up two key points: if you are a student don’t think God is waiting for you to become a nurse before he can use you; or if you are retired, don’t assume God is done with you. Oh, no! God uses all of us all the time in furthering His kingdom. Our job description may change, but God’s purpose is constant.


            I am excited to hear about your purpose in nursing, so please tell your story!