Reflection: The Ministry of Healing
Spirituality and religion often provide a sense of security and social structure and those beliefs can be a strong coping mechanism through trying times. Being an active member of a close-knit religious community can provide structure, support and sense of acceptance, all of which are beneficial to mental health. The following paper reflects on White’s (2011) text “The Ministry of Healing” and addresses my views, emotions and thoughts about the application of spiritual elements in nursing practice and self-care.
Based on my reflection in chapter 18, which addresses mind cure, where White (2011) explains how mind control works, I gained a lot of interest. The claim in this regard is that by implementing and influencing health-giving instincts to enable them to avoid and conquer disease, a nurse has the power to influence and alter patient thoughts.
I think combining the weak nature of a person with that of a strong person gives them courage and hope to fight their illness. Offering compassionate treatment based on the philosophy of nursing, requires a willingness on the part of the nurse to support the patient and their families and help them relieve their problems. According to, Mauk (2004), it is necessary for nurses to educate their patients to rely on God and not the human factor for the cure of their soul and body. Because God is the healer and the restorer of the sick.
More so, empathy been an important aspect of nursing care, is also necessary in healing a patient. White (2011) points out that empathy’s therapeutic are more advantageous than those qualified treatments done by an insensitive health care provider. When one is aware of their own spirituality, it allows them to become a more open person by allowing them to better serve those in need.
When a health care professional is dealing with patients, their own spirituality allows them to be more compassionate with the patient and/or their families. “Embracing all individuals regardless of culture, personal attributes, or religion, compassion can be viewed as a spiritual or universal love”
. As someone who had experienced both compassionate and uncompassionate doctors, I felt more at ease and better about my health with those physicians who took the time to sit and talk with me, pray with me, and just be an ear for me to bend when I was needing guidance about my illnesses.
The healthcare providers that just treated me as if I was a burden in their day made me feel that I was unworthy of their care and that is not a feeling a patient should have at any time. They are seeking help for their condition and we as healthcare providers should treat them the way in which we would want to be treated in the same type of situation White (2011).
As a nurse, I have learned that displaying energy and compassion when working with elderly people who are in pain is important. Transparency and truth encourage good communication between patient and nurse and instill confidence and empathy in patients, reducing their recovery time. The author notes that empathy is a natural component of compassionate treatment, while nurses do not only offer themselves, but they also find pleasure in their works; Mauk (2004)
As I begin my spiritual journey in the nursing profession, I have heard a great deal from White about the Biblical concepts of cure (2011).
The author cites the healing promises of God from the books of Isaiah, Proverbs and Psalms and how healing is encouraged by the spirit of gratitude and praise. My spiritual understanding of the values of God and their role in healing is reinforced by these elements. Our words appear to reflect our feelings, which obey our words in turn. This means that it would help to collect more blessings by sharing confidence and rejoicing the blessings of love and grace of God in adversity.
I feel like when educating patients we must use softhearted touch as nurses when talking and conducting tasks. We should offer them our true presence by engaging and having eye contacts with them; giving them a sense of belonging to hasten their healing process.
In conclusion, explaining one’s own spiritual values is always challenging. People may often be unaware of what their spiritual values are when they come into doubt during a period of crisis, such as ill health, job loss, or a loved one’s death. Spirituality assumes that there is a greater force through which your illness and/or suffering will help cure you.
To many people, it has different meanings. Through constructive reinforcement, expression of compassion, singing praises, and prayer, these chapters enlighten me on different aspects of healing the mind by fulfilling God’s prophetic promises regardless of whether one is a patient or a health care provider, considering the needs of others other than those of themselves. In my opinion,i agree that incorporating spirituality into nursing practice affects the quality of treatment and improves the health outcomes of patients.
White (2011) states the advantage of praising God as an act of thanksgiving. I feel that I should help my patients to use songs as a tool against discouragement and to open their hearts to the Savior’s presence, who will bless their wellbeing. The text makes me understand the value of thanking God as a way of fulfilling his will for all
