Discussion Board helps you dig deeper into JCN content, offering ideas for personal or group reflection with other nurses-great for Nurses Christian Fellowship student chapters or nurse fellowship groups!
Rising to "The Highest Morals" - The Rich History of Nursing Ethics
Fowler and Schoonover-Shoffner, pp. 86-95.
1. According to the authors, what is the "essence of nursing ethics"? Do you agree? What have you personally experienced or witnessed that leads you to your conclusion?
2. Name and briefly explain the four principles of bioethics. What is the foundation of bioethics?
3. The authors describe early nursing leaders having a "massive emphasis on moral character, moral formation, and moral courage." How do you see these virtues represented in both the historical and current examples of nursing given in this article? Ask and listen to God about how you can encourage these virtues in your work or study setting.
4. Name the five nursing relationships central to the American Nurses Association (2015) Code of Ethics for Nurses. Share a personal example of an ethical challenge you have faced in one of these relational categories and what you learned from this experience.
5. Read the Sermon on the Mount as recorded in Matthew 5:3-12. Considering your nursing experience, what resonates most with you and why? How do you feel about Nightingale's statement that "A good nurse should be the 'Sermon on the Mount' in herself"? Express your emotions to God. What are you hearing from him? How do you sense that God desires to encourage or challenge you through this portion of Scripture?
Religious Sisters in Health Care: The Conspicuous Love of Jesus
Read White & Beach, pp. 116-121.
1. Review the different calls of the religious orders whose work helped found Catholic healthcare. How are these calls similar or different to your own calling to be a nurse?
2. What stands out to you from the changes that Vatican II brought to the Catholic church and the lives of the religious sisters? Describe how your faith community and your participation in your faith community influence your life and work.
3. Reflect on Sister Rita Mary's statement, "We were told where to serve and we obeyed." What thoughts and feelings surface for you? Take these to God and pay attention to how he responds to you. Is God nudging you to do anything? How and when will you do this?
4. Sister Dorothy Thum instructed, "Meet the needs of people with Jesus's love." How easy or difficult is this for you, and why?
5. The authors suggest that we can "learn from the sisters' example of drawing their strength by soaking up Jesus' love." Within the busyness of your life, reflect on Jesus' command to "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest" (Mark 6:31, NIV). Identify one way you can spend more time in quiet rest with Jesus.
Interprofessional Hand Blessing
Read Dunlap et al., p. 132.
1. What healthcare professionals do you interact with? What are the similarities and differences in the ways nurses and these other professionals use their hands in their work?
2. Have you ever received a hand blessing? If so, what impact did it have on you? If not, would you be open to receiving a blessing of the hands? Why or why not?
3. What was most meaningful to you as you read this piece?
4. Might God be prompting you to bless your colleagues or fellow students who have a different focus to their work or studies? Would an interprofessional blessing of the hands be appropriate? Is some other activity coming to mind?
5. Read Psalm 90:16-17 as your personal prayer to God. In what ways has God already answered this prayer for you? Thank God for what he has been doing in your life, and share with him your heart's desires for other specific ways you seek for this prayer to be answered.
Compiled by Margaret De Jong, Contributing Editor