How To Be a Christian Nurse in A Secular World

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How To Be a Christian Nurse in A Secular World

by Natalie Emert

Istumbled upon my calling to be a nurse when I was a sophomore in high school. I knew from the second God called me into nursing that this calling would be more than just a career. Nursing would enable me to have a profound impact on others by being an example of God’s love, loving on all of my patients as God would. Working as a nurse, you encounter people during the best and worst times of their lives. You see families grieving over the loss of their loved ones. You see patients receiving life-altering diagnoses. You see patients lose their ability to perform tasks they once performed without a second thought. You see parents welcome their first-born child, and you also see parents mourning the unexpected loss of their newborn. All of these experiences provide a unique opportunity to witness to others, whether that be by rejoicing in times of jubilance or providing a comforting touch in times of immense sorrow.

To care for our patients during these difficult or exciting times, we must care for them holistically (meaning physically, emotionally, mentally, socially, and most importantly, spiritually). Taking care of our patients’ spiritual needs can sometimes take a back-burner position amongst all of their physical needs; however, providing spiritual care can be just as important as addressing physical concerns. This concept has been heavily addressed during my time in the nursing program at Lee University. Lee ensures that all their students have the skills and resources needed to properly address our patients’ spiritual needs. Through studying at Lee, I have learned how to appropriately ask my patients if I can pray with them or for them. This skill did not come naturally to me, but it is extremely important and can provide much-needed comfort for my patients. However, this is a skill that may not be adequately addressed at other secular universities. Had I not attended Lee University, I may not have had the same opportunity to grow in my relationship with God and become more comfortable sharing my faith with others. Since my faith is one of the biggest reasons that I chose nursing, I am grateful I get the opportunity to learn in an environment that places the focus on God and teaches me to not only be a successful nurse but also how to incorporate my faith in everything I do.

I hope to carry this knowledge with me as I progress through my career. I hope it will enable me to have a positive impact on others. There are several ways in which I can accomplish this, both with my patients and my coworkers. With my patients, this can mean asking them if they have a certain

religion or belief system that they follow. If they say no, this is an opportunity where I can ask them if they are interested in learning about God or if they would like me to pray for them. Additionally, I can witness to my patients by ensuring I am not only providing the best care I can but also by treating them as human beings instead of yet another task on my ever-growing to-do list. In addition to my patients, I can witness to my coworkers by consistently showing up to work with a positive and encouraging attitude. While this may not always be easy, spending time in the Word and praying can help to ensure that I show up to work with a friendly smile on my face. These are just a few of the ways that I hope to put all that I have learned during my time at Lee University into everyday practice.

About The Author Natalie Emert is originally from Knoxville, TN, and is a junior nursing student at Lee University School of Nursing. She has a passion for helping others and hopes to work in the NICU once she graduates college next May.

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