Christian Ethics and Nursing Practice. Richard B. Steele

an instance where he and his family were frustrated with his care and confused as to what was happening. I pushed the residents to come speak to the family, which then became a care conference.

      Cindy Mato: Situational connections to faith

      I have never thought much about my decision-making process related to nursing interactions from a spiritual standpoint. I can honestly say that when I am caring for a difficult or angry patient, I rarely think of God or the Bible. Situations where I lean on God are often related to a critically ill patient—praying for them and asking God to grant me the skill, knowledge, and tools to help the dying patient. During further reflection, I believe my spiritual beliefs and nursing practice are intertwined when I am volunteering. I feel happy and close to God when I am participating in an activity that gives me a sense of purpose, such as volunteering. I can see how the four strands of Law, Holiness, Wisdom, and Prophecy are braided together during these times. I may be helping the oppressed (Prophecy) by using my nursing knowledge and skill (Wisdom) to do something that many others would not be willing to do (Holiness).

      Inbok Wee: Holistic care and collaboration

      The highlight of nursing is that we care for people with a holistic approach, not only for their physical needs but also for their emotional, mental, and social needs as a way to promote their well-being. I had a male patient admitted with malignant hypertensive urgency due to noncompliance of antihypertensive medications. There was not sufficient information about why and how long it had been since he had not taken the medications. One day after his symptoms were relieved, before treatment was completed, he wanted to go home. Once all the detailed information was given to the patient regarding his current condition, treatment, and the risks of incomplete treatment, he got upset and anxious. Later in the day, he opened up to me. He had recently divorced and lost a job, and stated he was depressed. I offered emotional support with therapeutic listening and coordinated with the provider and social worker to provide extensive support for follow-up care, charity medications, medical bills, and counseling. As a primary nurse, I promoted the patient’s rights and health with compassion and respect by providing the patient with information and assertive communication regarding his condition, treatment, and risks. By notifying care team members and collaborating with them about my patient’s emotional crisis and situation, I made a prompt decision and took accountability to provide optimal care for my patient’s health.

      Being a nurse, a member of the most trusted profession (Brenan, 2017), is very hard work. It is very much heart work, too. As nurses continue to pour themselves into caring for people who are at their most vulnerable, it is our hope that the connections between ethically strong nursing care and Christian Scripture provide a resource for thinking about practice and how nurses may approach the challenges that come on a daily, if not moment-by-moment, basis.

      Keywords

      1.Canon

      2.Holiness

      3.Interpretive statement (of the ANA Code)

      4.Law

      5.Prophecy

      6.Provision (of the ANA Code)

      7.Strand (of biblical moral discourse)

      8.Wisdom

      Reading Comprehension

      1.What is the aim of this book, and who are its intended readers?

      2.How, in general terms, does the book propose to accomplish its aim?

      3.What are the four strands of biblical moral discourse, and what are the specific provisions in the ANA Code, which this book will correlate with each strand?

      4.Summarize the six “points of clarification” offered above.

      5.Summarize the two “cautionary notes” offered above.

      Making Connections

      1.Nursing is now widely recognized as one of the “professions,” along with medicine, law, ordained ministry, etc. This book assumes, however, that, at least for those who self-identify as Christians, it is also a “vocation,” that is, a way of putting their faith into practice. How do you react to that assumption?

      2.The ANA Code claims to be a “nonnegotiable” ethical guideline for nurses. How do you understand that claim? Have you ever been in a situation that required you to act in a way that was contrary either to the Code or to your own conscience? Explain.

      3.What are your initial feelings about reading a book that relates Christian Scripture and theology to your chosen profession? Did this introduction address your concerns?

      1. In the Revised Standard Version (RSV) translation of 1 Kings 1:1–4, we read of a young woman who was hired as a “nurse” for the elderly King David. But the Hebrew term used there, sākan, is better translated as “attendant,” per the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV). Her assigned duties include those of a “concubine,” although David’s impotence prevents her from exercising them. We therefore exclude this passage from the list of biblical references to “nurses,” though we mention it here in passing because older concordances sometimes cite it.

      2. The Old Testament also refers several times to midwives (Hebrew: meyalledet; Greek: maia). These were women whose chief responsibility was to assist pregnant women in childbirth (Gen 35:17; 38:28; Exod 1:15–22). Those named in the Bible as midwives do not seem to have performed any other “nursing” functions, nor is midwifery listed as a function of those who are named as nurses. It is possible, of course, that some ancient women served both as nurses and as midwives, but there is no direct textual evidence to that effect.