Nursing - Unchanging Values in a Changing World

A couple of months ago, a number of nurses met together at our regular London Refreshment Dinner where a retired nurse shared her experiences of nursing in the UK during the years of 1971 – 1996.

What was it like nursing in the 1970’s?

 I vividly remember my first day! On arrival a porter took my bags to my bedroom, where I found my uniform laid out on the bed. That first evening all ‘fresher nurses’  donned their uniforms and learnt how to make beds,  something that epitomized the apprentice training that we were about to undertake.

Another memory. The ward layout was different.  Most patients were nursed on Nightingale Wards. These wards had about 15 beds on either side, with the nurses’ station situated somewhere in the middle. Because of this layout, it was rare for a nurse not to be in the ward at all times. Added to this, there were no buzzers and so nurses were dependent on patients calling out for help or assessing a patient’s condition as they passed by.

Looking back – What ethos helped you care for patients in the 1970’s

Teamwork – Nurses worked closely together to get their work done. There was a camaraderie that said ‘that we could cope with anything as long as the team worked well together’!  On some wards, nurses were not able to go home at the end of their shift until all their colleagues had finished their work too. 

Authority and discipline. Sister was the person who took responsibility for overall patient care. This meant that as long as a student/nurse followed her instructions, they were free from fear of being disciplined.

Kindness and honouring patients. We were taught to treat patients as honoured guests. That somehow, the ward was seen as a place where nurses were ‘practicing hospitality’ and where kindness was practiced and encouraged.

Were there special moments?

There was a patient who had been unresponsive and unable to speak for many months due to a cerebral haemorrhage. On the day of Prince Charles's wedding to Diana, the ward was celebrating the occasion. The day-room had been decorated and patients and staff were all watching the event unfold on the television. This lady too had been wheeled into the day room. As she watched the television she was fairly unresponsive. Then she suddenly said ‘look there are the horses’. For me, that was one of my most precious moments.

Do you think it was easier to share your faith during your time nursing?

Yes, because people were more accepting of the Christian faith. In fact, in the hospital where I worked, prayers were said on the ward at 08:00 every morning.  I also had a time when I prayed with another Christian nurse who worked on the same ward. I believe that this led to opportunities to share faith with staff, patients and relatives.

Is there a specific example of you sharing your faith with a patient?   Yes. One patient came back from Easter day, and asked what it meant that Jesus had risen from the dead. I sat down and explained what the resurrection meant, and she wonderfully became a Christian! I do want to say, that opportunities like that were very rare.

  

What advice would you give to Christian nurses today?

Well, Nursing today is very different but God’s timeless truths are relevant for all Christian nurses at any time, any place! And so I want to leave you with two thoughts.

The first thought comes from 2 Thessalonians1:11 & 12.

In these verses Paul is praying for the Thessalonians who are going through a tough time because of their faith. And so he prays that they will continue to live Jesus’ way in hard times so that -  God would count Christians worthy of his calling.  This sounds like an impossibly high call to achieve doesn't it? But the truth is that we are not alone.

Paul continues teaching us that God is the one who will enable us to do this. It will be God who will give us the power to fulfil every good purpose and every act, as we are prompted by our faith. In a nursing context, this means that our faith in Jesus will prompt us to care for our patients and others (both in the little things and the big things) with Jesus in mind.  It might even mean going against the flow of popular opinion at times.  But whatever situation we find ourselves in, we can rely that God will give us all we need. 

Amazing!

As this happens, something will happen to us. The name of the Lord Jesus will be glorified in us and us in him.  In other words, what is at the very heart of Jesus, the beautiful, sacrificial heart of Jesus will shine in us, and furthermore we will know more and more that we are in Jesus. It is like a two way traffic. You see as Jesus shines in us so we know more and more that we are safe in Jesus.

What is more, Christians will know that they can take no credit for what happens, but that it is all due to the gift of on-going grace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. When Paul’s prayer is answered in our lives, we as Christians can’t lose, and many others will gain!

Second thought. Your smile goes a long way!