Discussion Board helps you dig deeper into JCN content, offering ideas for personal or group reflection-great for teaching and for Nurses Christian Fellowship student or nurse group meetings!
Fostering Resilience in Nursing Through R.E.S.T.
Read Rajamohan et al., pp. 20-27.
1. What percentage of new nurses leave nursing within the first 2 years? In 2022, what percentage of nurses were planning to leave their current job? What individual, educational, and organizational factors are contributing to nurses facing burnout?
2. How do the authors define resilience? What components of resilience are identified in the mnemonic R.E.S.T.? How would you rate your self-care practice in each of these components? Using the R.E.S.T. mnemonic, identify one practical intervention for each component that you can do to strengthen your personal resilience.
3. The authors pointed to findings of "a consistent inverse relationship between religion/spirituality and negative mental health outcomes (including burnout) in nurses" (Harris et al., 2021). How have you experienced these findings personally or witnessed them in your workplace?
4. What trauma have you encountered in the workplace? Have you undergone "post traumatic growth?" What spiritual practices can help attain this growth? Ask and listen to God about a spiritual practice he wants you to focus on in this season.
5. How can resilience be built in both work and educational settings? Consider your place as leader, educator, staff nurse, or student. What first step can you take to help your organization with resilience-building?
6. Read the guidelines for personal protective equipment (PPE) for your soul in Romans 12:2 and Isaiah 40:31. What cultural and work influences make it hard to follow God's directions for soul PPE? How do you desire to put on this soul PPE within the next month?
A Faith-Based Intervention to Address Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults
Read Blevins, pp. 28-35.
1. How does social isolation affect the health of older adults? What specific health concerns have been associated with loneliness in this population?
2. The author writes, "Traditionally, a large portion of older adults find church and faith-based practices to provide sufficient social interaction." How can churches and faith leaders use faith practices to maintain and/or increase social interaction for older adults who may be susceptible to isolation even in nonpandemic times?
3. Whether at church, in the community, or at your work setting, how often do you ask older adults if they are lonely? If an elderly person tells you he or she feels socially isolated, what can you do to connect that person with others?
4. What information in this article was most significant for you and why? What emotions surfaced as you considered loneliness among older adults?
5. Consider Isaiah 46:4 and James 1:27. What do we learn from these passages about God's heart for the elderly? How is God directing you related to older persons with whom you interact professionally and personally?
In the Valley
Read Bilog, p. 65.
1. Reflect on a spiritual lesson you have learned from one of your patients. How has that lesson impacted you?
2. What valley have you recently experienced in your work or your personal life? Compare your valley to the author's valley. How are they similar? How do they differ?
3. How can you better understand your patients because of your own valley experience?
4. Think about a prayer that God did not answer as you expected. What did you learn about God in the process? What did you learn about yourself?
5. Read and meditate on Psalm 13. What word or phrase jumps out to you? How does that word or phrase relate to current events in your life? What is God asking you to do? How do you desire to respond to God?
Compiled by Margaret De Jong