TheNurses Christian Fellowship International conference began Tuesday (5thNovember) in Santiago, Chile, and for all of you reading this in the UnitedKingdom...it is hot here in Santiago with wonderful views of the Andes mountainrange.
Despitehaving only been to the Opening Ceremony today, we have already been blown awayby what we have heard and seen. The evening opened with an introduction by DrBarbara White (NCFI President), followed by a procession of the flagsrepresenting 350 delegates from over 30 nations. This reminded us that despiteall our different backgrounds and cultures we all had two things in common:Jesus & Nursing. Wow!
The moststriking part of the ceremony came straight away when Jose Alvear, director andpolitician from the Chilean Ministry of Health spoke of the need "to show Jesus in the midst of illness".This is so evident within Chilean healthcare that a law has recently beenpassed that states that every person has a right to spiritual care. Howmind-blowing is that?! In the UK it is common place to see spiritual care aspart of the nursing care plan for patients. However, it is not mandatory and inour experience is rarely seen being effectively put into practice. But we havejust heard a politician saying how important Jesus is in the midst of spiritualcare and that he recognises the effect of spirituality on patient recovery. WouldJeremy Hunt (Secretary of Health, UK), if he were a Christian, be able topublicly say the same?
Next weheard from Patricia Benner, author of the Novice to Expert, which has provideda model to many nursing institutions, across the world, with a tool to assesscompetency within nursing practice. Patricia spoke to us about the story of theGood Samaritan, challenging us to identify with the Samaritan and also thebeaten man in the pit. The importance of being a compassionate stranger in theimage of Jesus as the healer was very thought provoking as clinicians. Animportant point that Patricia made, which captured our minds was that if a nurse does not care about what thepatient cares about, then a patient will not feel cared for.
It's beena really exciting day...wish you all were here...we can't wait to update you onwhat God does the rest of this week.
Quote ofthe day: "We need to see that we are human beings helping other Human beings".
Written by: Rose Ball (CNM Member) & Tim James (CNMChairman).
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