Questions re:Bible passage and nursing

Nurses General Nursing

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A friend just called me, and said she had a question in her class (she's going rn to bsn at a christian college).

The questions was to read James 2:14-25 with emphasis on v 14, and write how it would apply to the nursing profession.

She called me, because I've been studying lots of passages in the bible about faith. I did a bible study by Beth Moore called Believing God, and I thought it was awesome. Anyway, I'm having trouble applying it to the nursing profession though. We are taught so much to keep our beliefs separate, but she is going to a christian college.

Anyway, James 2:14-16 (KJV) says: 14. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitue of daily food, 16 and one of you say unto them, depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

I have my own thoughts, but wanted some feedback. Thanks

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Yes, that's it in a nutshell...........well put as always, Miranda!:nurse:

Specializes in Pulmonary.
Faith and Deeds

14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?

So to me, faith without works is like standing in the doorway of a patient's room and saying, "Gee, I'll pray for you to get better," while the patient Codes.

Nurses are doers of the Word.

:yeahthat:

I think the question is "what kind of faith do you have if you believe it but don't want to live it?" I believe that as Christians we are saved by faith unto good works. Which basically means, now that you are saved get out into the world and do something about the things you see. Faith and works go hand in hand. All the pretty words in the world won't help a patient who is sitting in his own BM, but getting in there and cleaning him up and helping him to regain his dignity will. It is our duty to help those in need. Christians should be prepared to humble themselves by helping others, and some of those things we have to do might not be very pretty. This is not to say that prayer has no place, we just should remember that we are also tools that God uses every day.

I don't believe that this only applies to Christianity either. As someone else said, "Be love". I personally think that is what nurses should strive to be. Of course, I am still a lowly student.

Specializes in Public Health, DEI.

It says to me faith alone isn't enough and works alone isn't enough.

I know it depends on your own opinion as to which side of the fence you stand, but it kind of makes me think of Terri Schiavo and other cases such as hers.

Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Nurses are doers of the Word.

Like when Jesus washed His disciples' feet.

Nurses perform the Code maneuvers--and they pray too.

Those little pre-packaged betadine scrub brushes (with the betadine already in the sponge) work wonders on nasty feet, along with a basin of warm water. That, and the ability to breathe very shallowly while humming hymns under your breath. :wink2:

Specializes in Utilization Management.
Those little pre-packaged betadine scrub brushes (with the betadine already in the sponge) work wonders on nasty feet, along with a basin of warm water. That, and the ability to breathe very shallowly while humming hymns under your breath. :wink2:

Not to get terribly OT, but if the patient's skin is intact, I usually have the patient lie down. Then I lotion their feet. Leaving the lotion on, I then wrap their feet in a nice warm, moist towel (with a couple pads underneath for protection) and let it soak for about 20 minutes before washing.

Most of them love it.

I don't do toenails, I've found that it's safer to put in a podiatry consult.

Carry on. :)

Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.
Not to get terribly OT, but if the patient's skin is intact, I then wrap their feet in a nice warm, moist towel (with a couple pads underneath for protection) and let it soak for about 20 minutes before washing. :)

Rarely have that much time in the ER :monkeydance: and the smell was already so bad that if I'd left the shoes off 20 minutes, ...... :nono:

I was thinking of the combo of hymn humming and scrubbing!

To the OP: I think the meaning of the passage is that if your faith is real and grounded thoroughly in the love of God, you won't be able to NOT do things for people, the Spirit is just too strong. It isn't the works that save you, but are the visible evidence of the faith that does.

Specializes in Utilization Management.
Rarely have that much time in the ER :monkeydance: and the smell was already so bad that if I'd left the shoes off 20 minutes, ...... :nono:

I was thinking of the combo of hymn humming and scrubbing!

To the OP: I think the meaning of the passage is that if your faith is real and grounded thoroughly in the love of God, you won't be able to NOT do things for people, the Spirit is just too strong. It isn't the works that save you, but are the visible evidence of the faith that does.

I don't have much time, either. I throw the towel on, see a few patients, do a few things, then when I get back, the washing part goes pretty fast. Meantime, Pt feels like he (usually it is a guy, isn't it) had a full pedicure. Next time, I will use the betadine scrub, though. Dandy little idea and we have them all over the place on my unit. Thanks!

"Nurses are doers of the Word."

Thank you for summarizing the holiness of Nursing.

Specializes in Emergency.
Rarely have that much time in the ER :monkeydance: and the smell was already so bad that if I'd left the shoes off 20 minutes, ...... :nono:

I was thinking of the combo of hymn humming and scrubbing!

To the OP: I think the meaning of the passage is that if your faith is real and grounded thoroughly in the love of God, you won't be able to NOT do things for people, the Spirit is just too strong. It isn't the works that save you, but are the visible evidence of the faith that does.

If you don't have time to do a scrub, and the odor is having everyone running for the exit - coat their feet with Maalox. Once that dries it's a pretty good odor barrier (especially if you use the mint flavor).

Specializes in LTC.

This has always been a difficult passage for me to fully understand. I appreciate you posting the question here because of all the great responses from everyone. I had never thought of nurses as doers of the Word but now I really can see that.

Specializes in Pediatrics.
i could have written that second paragraph! i've reminded myself of that same verse more times than i can count.

ministry can also sometimes be speaking the truth to someone even when they don't want to hear it. it can be refusing to enable destructive behavior. sometimes, though, it's doing just what you don't want to do but you know you have to anyway, and never letting the patient know that.

i hate to just say "i agree" but that same paragraph you speak of really fits my thoughts quite a bit at work. and you are right, it is not easy.

sunday night the priest was talking about caring for people, and yet doing it with joy and enthusiasm as well, that struck me and is also hard, i am not sure how it connects to this passage but this made me think of it.

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