The purpose of this paper is to describe the faculty-student collaboration in identifying strategies to help address spirituality in nursing, in order to promote holistic concept of nursing through a sense of personhood and individuality among nursing students and faculty.
Methods:
Faculty and nursing students collaborated to identify ways to address spirituality in nursing to promote holistic concept of nursing among nursing students and faculty. Literature review was performed on the spirituality in nursing. Nursing faculty and nursing students including undergraduate and graduate nursing students, were interviewed to identify the need for an on-campus student-body fellowship to: (a) address spirituality in nursing, (b) and promote holistic concept in nursing. Recognizing that nursing students face challenging, life-and-death situations in the clinical settings, the need for the Nurses Christian Fellowship was identified as a support group. Nurses Christian Fellowship yearns to help bring insight and training for nursing students to understand the role of spirituality and faith in their vocation, as well as their spiritual care responsibilities as healthcare professionals. In addition, Nurses Christian Fellowship seeks to provide safe spaces for students to ask and consider spiritual questions that arise. Proposal to establish Nurses Christian Fellowship Chapter was submitted to the School of Nursing. Upon receipt of the permission from the School of Nursing, proposal for Nurses Christian Fellowship Chapter was submitted to the university’s Student Association Senate. Networking was established with the Intervarsity Nurses Christian Fellowship ministry to receive guidance in launching the Nurses Christian Fellowship Chapter. Nurses Christian Fellowship Chapter launching was approved by the Student Association Senate and the Chapter was fully recognized by the university’s Student Association Senate, under Senate Bill No. 02: Forty-Ninth Session.
Results:
Nurses Christian Fellowship Chapter monthly meetings were initiated. Chapter leaders were able to recruit undergraduate and graduate nursing students as well as nursing faculty, for the monthly meetings. The fellowship meetings have been designed to promote integration of Christian faith and professional nursing, to engage in evangelism and service, to practice spiritual formation in the context of community, and to be empowered to share faith with other nursing students and faculty. The chapter welcomed all nursing students and faculty members at the School of Nursing regardless of their religious or spiritual background. Faculty and students expressed the Nurses Christian Fellowship Chapter as a tool to be encouraged, to grow in faith in the context of nursing school, and be equipped to integrate faith with nursing through Bible study and spiritual care resource. Member participants also expressed the chapter preparing them to meet holistic needs of their patients.
Conclusion:
Faculty-student collaborative efforts are vital to identify strategies necessary for addressing spirituality in nursing efficiently in order to promote holistic concept in nursing through a sense of personhood and individuality. Both undergraduate and graduate nursing students need to be competent in addressing their own needs for spirituality in nursing in order to extend this competency to meet the holistic needs of their patients. Having Nursing Christian Fellowship as a support group within a school of nursing, is a powerful way for students to find community with like-minded people in a safe environment, to understand the role of spirituality and faith in their vocation, as well as their spiritual care responsibilities as healthcare professionals. Aside from having a place to feel safe in sharing nursing experiences faced with clinical and spiritual battles, it also serves as a means to build friendships with those reaching for the same goal, and accountability partners with good Christian foundation.
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