SPIRITUALITY

IN
NURSING

COL. ESTELITA T. GALUTIRA, MAN

National President
Mother and Child Nurses
Association of the Philippines
SPIRITUALITY?
Relationship

With a higher power

With
Withone’s
others
self
or divine source
SPIRITUALITY?

RATHER

Does not refer to a

Itspecific
can be defined
religiousas
the core of a person
affiliation
 SPIRITUALITY?

Development is an ongoing and lifelong process

FOWLER’S STAGES OF FAITH
Infant

Undifferentiated Faith

Trust, hope and love

compete with
environmental
inconsistencies or threats
of abandonment
 Preschool

Toddler

Intuitive – Projective Faith

Imitates parental behaviors and

attitudes about religion and
spirituality

Has no real understanding

of spiritual concepts
Mythical – Literal Faith

Accepts existence
of a deity.

Religious and moral

beliefs are symbolized
by stories.

Appreciate others
viewpoints.

Accepts concepts of
reciprocal fairness.
School Age Child
 Adolescent

Synthetic – Conventional Faith

Questions values and

religious beliefs in an
attempt to form own
identity
Late Adolescent and Young Adult

Individuative – Reflective Faith

Assumes responsibility for

own attitudes and beliefs
Adults
Conjunctive Faith

Integrate other
perspective about faith
into own definition of
truth

Universalizing Faith

Makes concepts of love

and justice tangible
 Spiritual Dimension

Spirit is derived from

the Latin word
meaning breath, air,
and wind.

Thus spirit refers to

whatever gives life to a
person

Characterized by a sense of
personal meaning
The Florence Nightingale Pledge
 I solemnly pledge myself before GOD and
in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life
in purity and to practice my profession
faithfully.
I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and
mischievous, and will not take or knowingly
administer any harmful drug.
I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate
the standard of my profession, and will hold in
confidence all family affairs coming to my
knowledge in the practice of my calling.
With loyalty will I endeavor to work closely with
the health team, and devote myself to the
welfare of those committed to my care.
GOD’S REPRESENTATIVE IN NURSING

Nursing is a calling from

GOD to serve him in
society and to be what he
wants us to be in the
situation where HE has
placed us
What kind of representatives
does GOD wants us to be?

1. Matthew 5:1-16
Sermon on the Mount
 POOR IN SPIRIT

Blessed are the poor in spirit for

theirs is the kingdom of GOD

Acknowledgement of
spiritual poverty leads
to total dependence in
GOD
 MEEKNESS

Blessed are the meek for they shall

inherit the earth.

Humble spirit may mean

doing what is generally
considered the lowly and
humble jobs.

Gentle in dealing with

people.

Meekness is not
weakness.
 MERCIFUL

Blessed are the merciful for they will

be shown mercy.

Having the ability to

forgive those who have
wronged us

The twin sister of mercy

is compassion

Compassion is the ability

to enter into experiences
of people who are
suffering and in pain
 PURE IN HEART
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they
will see GOD.

Inward purity and sincerity

PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS SAKE
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of
righteousness, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven

In the face of
persecution, we are not
to compromise or run
away from the situation
but respond with
wisdom, strength and a
Christ-like manner
 SALT OF THE EARTH
Let our conversation and our life be
always with grace, seasoned with salt.

GOD has put us in

nursing to hinder the
process of the
deterioration of
standards and values

Maintain a high level of

professional standard
 LIGHT OF THE WORLD

May we, as GOD’s representative in nursing

possess a Christ-like inward character with an
outward influence

Light dispels darkness

Radiate spiritual light

to dispel spiritual
darkness

Light also means good

works to be seen by
men.
What kind of representatives does GOD
wants us to be?

2. COMMITTED

We believe and value what we do

as nurses

Pledge to take our responsibilities

with whole-hearted devotion and
dedication until the patient
regains normal health
What kind of representatives does GOD
wants us to be?

3. Faithfulness or Fidelity

Keeping up promises

Faithful to the word caring.

What kind of representatives does GOD
wants us to be?
4. Altruism (A man for others)

Do all power to maintain and elevate

the standards of nursing profession.
What kind of representatives does GOD
wants us to be?

5. Confidentiality

Hold in confidence
all personal matter

Bill of Rights

Health Records must

be kept private
What kind of representatives does GOD
wants us to be?

6. Loyalty
CHRISTIAN VALUES IN NURSING

The Value of Man

 Christian beliefs form the basis
for Christian values

Believe that man is

created in the image
of GOD
What we believe in -Genesis 1:27

is what we value
“Means that man
has worth and
honor in the eyes of
God.”
 Do we see our patients as men
and women of value and worth?

If we do…

Challenge to consider each

patient as individual, to give
personalized care and see to
the needs of the whole
person.
 Do we see them as GOD sees them –
lost in sin, yet precious in his sight??

If we do…

Will take every opportunity

to tell them of GOD’s love
and provision for salvation
through Christ Jesus
In other words we will give some
priority to spiritual care
 If we believe
that man is of
value then the
way we care for
patients should
reflect this
belief even
though they
may be difficult
and unpleasant
to look after.
CHRISTIAN VALUES IN NURSING

The Value of Compassion

Compassion comes
from an awareness
of one’s
relationship with
other human
beings and causes
one to enter into
the experiences of
another
Sensitive to the
pain, fear and
anguish of
another and to
go where it
hurts.
Compassion is not a skill that can be mastered
through training, rather, it is a personal quality
arising from being one with the human race.
The Christian nurse is in a
privileged position to help
people in need.

She can feel deeply for the

patients, understand their
suffering, be tender-
hearted and shown mercy
to those who cry for
mercy.
Nursing is a caring service not a
cold profession.
CHRISTIAN VALUES IN NURSING

The Value of Service

 Remind ourselves of the Christian value of
service, of being a servant.

The Lord Jesus emptied himself by taking the form

of a servant…humbled himself and became
obedient into death, even death on the cross.
 NURSING

Service

GOD MAN
Make ourselves available and useful
-Matthew 34:40 Golden Rule

Servant hood also teaches us to

be obedient and submissive to
those who have authority over us,
unless of course, it is contrary to
what GOD have us do.

Superior – subordinate relationship:

“The greatest among you should be
like the youngest and the one who
rules like the one who serves. (Luke
22:26)
CHRISTIAN VALUES IN NURSING

The Value of Relationship

 WORK AS A TEAM

As Christian Nurses, our behavior and

conduct should contribute to good
working relationship
 1. “If it is possible, so far as it
depends on you, live peacefully
with all.” (Romans 12:18)

2. “See that none of your repays evil,

but always seek to do good to another
and to all.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:15)
“Do not avenge yourselves, but leave
it to the wrath of GOD." (Romans
12:19)

3. Admonish the idlers, encourage the

faint – hearted, help the weak, be
patient with them all.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:14)
4. “We are to work hastily.” (Colossians 3:25)

Working hard, being competent and

maintaining a high standard of nursing
care will command trust and respect.

Uphold Christian ethics at work

 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind! Then
you will be able to test and approve what GOD’s will is, His
good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:12)
 We will only know the difference between the
world’s values and Christians values if we know
what we believe. Whether or not we act on what
we believe depends on how much we value our
relationship with GOD
 Uphold Christian Values in nursing
because we are “a chosen people…a
chosen profession, holy – belonging to
GOD that you may declare the praises of
HIM who called you out of darkness into
his wonderful light.
- 1 Peter 2:9
Nurse’s
Prayer
 O Lord, my GOD, I
dedicate myself to Thee
for this great work I
undertake for Thee.

Take thou mine eyes,

and teach them how to
see the clearest way to
nurse the sick for Thee.
My hands, guard them, and
show them how to prove how
kind and gentle is a nurse’s
love

Guide thou feet, give swiftness

to their tread in answering
every call from the poor
sufferer’s bed.
 Touch thou lips, guard thou
my tongue, uttering only
words of kindness to each one.

Gird me with strength, that I

may bear the task, help me to
play part in life without fear.
And when I am a night nurse,
please guide my actions, be
near my patients, and watch
by my side.

O Lord, I ask thee, hear me

while I pray. Be in me,
through me, and with me all
the way
AMEN...
Thank you…