The Nurse's Calling: A Christian Spirituality of Caring for the Sick

by Mary Elizabeth O'Brien

In this caring, timely book veteran nurse researcher and nurse educator Mary Elizabeth O'Brien provides a spiritual perspective on the professional nurse's vocation of caring. Grounding each chapter in scripture from both Old and New Testaments, she beautifully explores the Christian nurse's call to love as Jesus without discrimination, without reserve and sometimes without reward. In sharing some thoughts on favorite scripture passages that might be meaningful to nurses, O'Brien includes anecdotes derived from her clinical experience and the experiences of other Christian nurses that interpret the scriptures as lived out in the nurse's calling. The chapters are built around these key ideas, organized around a particular scriptural Ch. 1: The nurse's vocation. Ch. 2: Nursing as a ministry. Ch. 3: The nurse's role as healer. Ch. 4: Comfort for the nurse in difficult times. Ch. 5: The source of the nurse's strength. Ch. 6: The rewards of nursing the sick. Ch. 7: Nursing's call to reverence the sacredness of human life. Ch. 8: The spirituality of the nurse as a thing of grace and beauty. The Nurse's Calling, which is conscious of the changing face of contemporary care and our health care system in crisis, is unique in its blend of practicality with a strong spiritual dimension. Nurses and those in the health care professions will find it to be a source of comfort, inspiration and growth. †

Paperback

First published September 30, 2000

Reviews

[Katherine Frye · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very encouraging perspective on what it looks like to be a Christian nurse. I was encouraged of the impact that “giving a cup of cold water in His name” or praying for or with a patient can have. Overall some beautiful perspectives. It was a little hard to read at parts, and was written from a catholic perspective, but still an encouragement.

[Judy]

I thoroughly enjoyed the thoughtful consideration of significant issues. The last few pages on the potter and the clay were especially appreciated. The writing itself reflects an academic viewpoint which may not be appreciated by readers who would benefit from the concepts.