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!

SBAR: Start the New Year with Truth!

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    I recently submitted an article for a Norwegian Christian nursing journal entitled Our Faithful Journey in Nursing. To prepare for this article, I spent some time researching Postmodernism in both our culture and in nursing, and its impact on our faith. The final analysis Christians need to really get Truth solidified into our hearts and mind.  Also, what has added to this is I am doing a bible study with my friend and prayer partner regarding Spiritual Warfare, and one of the weapons, both offensively and defensively is truth. All of this to say, I suggested to my fellow Norway nurses and to you, to start the 2012 year with a commitment to memorize the Nicene Creed. This faith statement has such rich truth, but also historical significance for the Christian faith. There are links below with more information on the Nicene Creed. Follow me on Twitter for weekly phrase updates with Scripture

 

Ibelieve in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, and of all things seen and unseen.

 

       And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages; God of God,1 Light of Light, true God of true God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made.

 

       Who, for us all for our salvation, came down from Heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, in accordance with the Scriptures; and ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

 

       And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father; 2 who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.

 

     And I believe in one holy universal3 and apostolic Church. 4  I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.           

 

                                       Amen.

Nicene Creed with scripture references

Nicene Creed info on Wikipedia

Influence Your Practice: Pray!

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    Prayer is such an important part of our personal and our professional life! We know that, yet all of us struggle to pray more. We do so many things to assist us in our prayer life: memorize scripture, listen to sermons, attend bible studies, read books, join prayer ministries… YET, we still lack a life and a nursing practice pulsating with prayer.  Let’s
follow the sports logo of Nike:

For help, read the article and choose one of the suggestions: to pray for yourself, your workplace, colleagues, and/or patient to implement prayer into your nursing practice.

Journal of Christian Nursing “Christian Nursing 101”

Our Calling, Loving God in Nursing Part I.

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    In the article, we explored loving God with all heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind  (Luke 10:27). All our heart is found when we make God that center of not only our personal lives, but our professional lives, as well. All our soul, can be found when all our decisons are in an obedient response to God’s leading in nursing. Loving God with our mind, is really back-to-basics of submitting all our thought patterns to the Lord, as well as bathing our education and practice in truth. Finally, loving God with all of our strength, is when we give all our talents, gifts, etc to be used for the body of nursing in Christ. 
    There is much overlap, yet it is important for us to explore places we may fall short on in expressing the love of God in nursing. Which one is more challenging for you as a Christian nurse? 
    For me personally, my challenge is being obedient to God in where he is taking me. I am type A, planner, etc type and I always want to come up with the plan and then ask God to bless it. I have been working on letting God come up with the plan and me following. 
    Share with me, your struggle so that we can all grow in faith and love.

Journal of Christian Nursing–online