Caring For All

September 13, 2013

caring hands During a clinical rotation, nursing student Erika Hellstrom had a patient in failing health and preparing for palliative care, but his wife told Erica, “God gives us all a purpose and mine is taking care of him.”

After their intimate conversation, Erika said, “I understood in a new way that to have a successful care plan, everyone has to be on board.” Erika learned the importance of providing listening and caring to the family, not just the patient.

“Remembering that we are called to love everyone is an opportunity we may miss. God calls us to love one another, not just the sick and poor, but all. This includes patients, coworkers, friends and family,” says Erica. “When we love and care, there is no limit to the good we are called to and capable of extending.”

Read more about Erika’s learning experience in “Caring For All,” a free article from the Journal of Christian Nursing.

Find more stories about nursing students in the collection of Student TXT articles from JCN. Additional resources for nursing students are available on the NCF website.

Join NCF and receive every issue of the award-winning Journal of Christian Nursing, along with other member benefits. Or, subscribe to JCN.

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Reblogged this on Labyrinth, Ideas, and Wanderings and commented: What an inspiring story. Families are as much a part of a patient's care as anything else. All too frequently we may work with those who view the family as a hindrance and find it difficult to approach them in a caring open manner. Erika is tapping into the heart of what we do.

What an inspiring story! Families are as much a part of the patient's care as anything else, yet all too frequently we see coworkers who view family members as a hindrance rather than a help. Erika has tapped into the heart of what we should be doing. Well done.

Erika reminds us how important it is to listen well to our patients and their family members, and to be fully present with them as time and priorities allow. Taking time to let patients and family members know what our hopes for the patient and family are and asking them about their hopes can open the door to conversations about spiritual needs and beliefs. Thank you, Erika, for sharing your story. May we learn well from you.

Caring For All

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