Nurses have a tough balancing act. In a demanding profession, we struggle to care for ourselves as we care for others. The American Nurses Association recognizes this challenge with this year’s theme for National Nurses Week, “Nursing, The Balance of Mind, Body, and Spirit.”
It’s funny how two people can see the same object in very different ways. When I see an empty strawberry container, I see plastic that should be tossed into a recycling bin. When my seven-year-old son sees that same container, he sees the frame for a Viking ship that he will build with pipe cleaners, paper, and lots of tape.
Florence Nightingale said, “If I could give you information of my life, it would be to show how a woman of very ordinary ability has been led by God in strange and unaccustomed paths to do in His service what He has done in her. And if I could tell you all, you would see how God has done all, and I nothing.”
National Nurses Week is around the corner and this year’s theme, “Nursing: The Balance of Mind, Body and Spirit,” provides natural opportunities for Christian nurses to invite others to consider God’s view of holistic health.
When new students join the NCF chapter on their campus, they often ask, “What is NCF?” There are three words that capture the mission and vision of NCF on campus. NCF is a place where students and faculty can be encouraged, equipped, and empowered.
“What’s the spiritual climate of your nursing school?” I asked three nursing students over lunch. Mackenzie, Sean, and Ben responded that there was no place in the nursing school where they could talk about their faith. So together we agreed—let’s start an NCF chapter at