Nurse Ministry the Nurse as Modern Day Shaman

Abstract

Nurses in frequent contact with persons experiencing severe stress in the form of hospitalization, disability or life threatening illness are likely to be faced with questions about the meaning of life and the nature of spirituality. Nurses who have not sought their own answers to such questions may be stimulated to do so as they are called upon to relate on a deeper level with patients. Holistic nurses are increasingly exploring and writing about spirituality as a significant factor in patient care.

In so doing, nurses have the opportunity to broaden and deepen their own perspectives and experiences of spirituality which, in turn, may lead them to delve into a variety of spiritual or religious philosophies. This article proposes a concept of holistic nursing encompassing the spirituality of the nurse. Nurse ministry is the name given this model of practice. The activities of nurse ministers are discussed and ways of developing such a practice suggested.

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