The Reflective Approach of Lonergan's Philosophy to Maternal Newborn Nursing

This activity provided undergraduate nursing students with the opportunity to enhance critical thinking for Jewish Mothers in the post-partum setting following the birth of their newborn.  This was a reflective approach which involved understanding meanings, insights, and judgment, as it related to the generalized empirical method. Students were provided with information on the generalized empirical method prior to participating in this class activity.

              For this activity, nursing students were given an article to read from a peer reviewed nursing journal on the maternity care for Orthodox Jewish Couples. The students were asked to “reflect and express” their feelings on the care and cultural / religious traditions for these families.  They were asked to examine the meanings and insights of their cultural, religious, or spiritual beliefs to the following questions:

As a beginning nursing student caring for Orthodox Jewish families:

1. What are my thoughts on the Law of Modesty?
2. What are my thoughts on the Law of Niddah, the state of impurity?
3. What are my thoughts on the Law of Kosher?
4. What are my thoughts on the Laws of Sabbath and Holidays?
5. What are my thoughts on naming a male child and circumsion?
6. What are my thoughts on naming a female child and the gender issues for this culture?
7. How does the meanings, insights, reflections, and understanding of my beliefs and those of the Orthodox Jewish family assist in enhancing my critical thinking in providing nursing care?

          Students responded in writing and verbally, about the process they experienced in the reflective approach, according to the generalized empirical method and how they could apply this to their nursing care. 

         This activity provided students with the opportunity to examine their own feelings and understanding concerning cultural and religious traditions.  Human beings have an unrestricted desire for knowledge and when properly developed, that spirit of inquiry will allow each nursing student through a pattern of questions to grasp insights that lead to understanding and critical thinking.