Question for pagan nurses about nature and storytelling as healing therapy

Nurses Spirituality

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I enjoy reading La Fontaine's fables every day. When I have time, I take a walk or simply sit on grass and wander my mind. I feel a sense of peace and connection to nature. I read a bit of Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay Nature and realized that connection to the Earth in some way has the effect on a person's emotional outlook. Where I am working, even animal patients seem to behave a bit nicer when they have a good deal of walking.

I want to ask you pagan nurses because I believe your spirituality sees nature as a source for wisdom (am I correct about this?)

1/ Do you notice any improvement in patients whom you convince to go outside, watch birds flying, look at trees, smell flowers,...? Does that contribute to their treatment?

2/ With younger patients, do you ever tell them Aesop's fables or Greek mythologies to keep their mind engaged and hopeful?

Thank you

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Most certainly wisdom can be found in Nature. However, I find strength and healing out in the woods or sitting on the grass. The most important part of the experience is putting your bare feet on the earth. This allows grounding and bonding with the earth. It quiets the mind and nourishes the soul. I always feel better after a Nature connection. I'm sure my patients would benefit from it but try convincing the doctors.

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Most certainly wisdom can be found in Nature. However, I find strength and healing out in the woods or sitting on the grass. The most important part of the experience is putting your bare feet on the earth. This allows grounding and bonding with the earth. It quiets the mind and nourishes the soul. I always feel better after a Nature connection. I'm sure my patients would benefit from it but try convincing the doctors.

Nature has healing effect. No disagreement from me. Certainly I will not believe in the claim that connecting with nature would cure any disease. My mom used to buy 2 stones for $200 believing that they would cure her ailments.

I don't blame doctors for not supporting your healing method, but they can be too dogmatic about medicine. Sometimes drugs cannot provide mental clarity. Connecting with earth the way you describe is a good way for improving one's mood.

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Nature has healing effect. No disagreement from me. Certainly I will not believe in the claim that connecting with nature would cure any disease. My mom used to buy 2 stones for $200 believing that they would cure her ailments.

I don't blame doctors for not supporting your healing method, but they can be too dogmatic about medicine. Sometimes drugs cannot provide mental clarity. Connecting with earth the way you describe is a good way for improving one's mood.

While there is more than physical healing (emotional, etc.) I don't advocate connecting with nature as "my" healing method. All I know is that spending 2 years out in nature traveling alone I no longer had to take BP med, thyroid med, I lost 20 pounds and my depression lifted considerably. That is only my personal experience. I'm sure it was because of the reduction of stress in my life but that wouldn't have happened if I wasn't out in nature.

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Specializes in PICU.

I realize you are asking for Pagan nurses, but I am religious and definitely spiritual. I too find that with nature and connection to nature there is this connection and peace that is different. I love putting my barefeet in the sand and absorbing nature. I have noticed when I am at the beach that my entire mood changes, I can feel by BP lowering and a calming sense come over me. This is a difference sense than when i go to church. I have tried some breathing exercises and sense noting prior to some school exams I have taken and has helped me concentrate.

Sometimes at work I try and encourage families to go outside. On some occasions I have even gone outside with families, even if it is for a few minutes and help them breath. I have told them for the big decisions they need to make it helps to have a clearer head and getting a breath of fresh air might help.

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I realize you are asking for Pagan nurses, but I am religious and definitely spiritual. I too find that with nature and connection to nature there is this connection and peace that is different. I love putting my barefeet in the sand and absorbing nature. I have noticed when I am at the beach that my entire mood changes, I can feel by BP lowering and a calming sense come over me. This is a difference sense than when i go to church. I have tried some breathing exercises and sense noting prior to some school exams I have taken and has helped me concentrate.

Sometimes at work I try and encourage families to go outside. On some occasions I have even gone outside with families, even if it is for a few minutes and help them breath. I have told them for the big decisions they need to make it helps to have a clearer head and getting a breath of fresh air might help.

How often do you succeed in persuading patients to go outside? Do you think with elderly patients it is more challenging?

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
How often do you succeed in persuading patients to go outside? Do you think with elderly patients it is more challenging?

What RNNPICU said is she encourages families to go outside, It is often impractical and unsafe for patients to go outside the controlled environment.

Hppy

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What RNNPICU said is she encourages families to go outside, It is often impractical and unsafe for patients to go outside the controlled environment.

Hppy

By control, do you mean outside their bed/room? What about LTC or SNF residents? I have seen nurses bring them outdoor.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
By control, do you mean outside their bed/room? What about LTC or SNF residents? I have seen nurses bring them outdoor.

Well of course there are always exceptions and I worked Acute, LTC and psych. Still our admin in LTC did not allow the patient outside without a family member or staff due to fall/injury risk. So with a RN ratio of 1:30 they didn't get out much.

My psych patients don't leave the unit but have freedom in the hallways - we have a small patio outside area but they can't be put there by themselves as they have a tendancy the climb the 12 foot fence and elope into the community. Also my ratio there is 1:16 with two Mental Health workers.

That being said I do in fact see the value of getting patients outside but until the staffing matrixes change it proably won't happen much. You also can be a Christian and understand and benefit from exposing your self to nature. I do my clearest thinking and decision making when I am outside in the presence of He who strengthens me. Still I never force my religion on anyone and work with people of many faiths and we all get along well with eachother.

Hppy

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Specializes in PICU.
How often do you succeed in persuading patients to go outside? Do you think with elderly patients it is more challenging?

vetpharmtech:

It isn't the patients, the parents. Sometimes I can persuade the parents, other times they are too worried about their child. On a side note, we do have an area that patients and families can go to, only if the patients is okayed by MD and RN and has orders that they can leave the floor.

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vetpharmtech:

It isn't the patients, the parents. Sometimes I can persuade the parents, other times they are too worried about their child. On a side note, we do have an area that patients and families can go to, only if the patients is okayed by MD and RN and has orders that they can leave the floor.

It is too bad that everything is in a hurry nowadays. When I was in college, sitting on grass, wandering my mind, watching people walk by, listening to their conversation, seeing birds flying for half an hour were good for my mood. I guess even a family member may not have that much time or patience for that matter.

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Well of course there are always exceptions and I worked Acute, LTC and psych. Still our admin in LTC did not allow the patient outside without a family member or staff due to fall/injury risk. So with a RN ratio of 1:30 they didn't get out much.

My psych patients don't leave the unit but have freedom in the hallways - we have a small patio outside area but they can't be put there by themselves as they have a tendancy the climb the 12 foot fence and elope into the community. Also my ratio there is 1:16 with two Mental Health workers.

That being said I do in fact see the value of getting patients outside but until the staffing matrixes change it proably won't happen much. You also can be a Christian and understand and benefit from exposing your self to nature. I do my clearest thinking and decision making when I am outside in the presence of He who strengthens me. Still I never force my religion on anyone and work with people of many faiths and we all get along well with eachother.

Hppy

I know that staffing has been a big issue in nursing. I saw how that affected patient care when I did my CNA externship.

I know what you said about how Christians see nature. The reason I had to make this question specific to pagans is that I don't want Christians to make an excuse for coming here and preach. Another reason is that Christian mindset tends to undermine humanity. Pagans do not dominate or become submissive to nature. They cooperate with nature. I like that about them.

I grew up in an Asian culture. I understand the nature of obedience. I see how that affects my family members' self esteem. Christianity is all about obedience, definitely not a faith I want to get into.

In paganism, there is one excellent example on youtube. This pagan said that a person trying to control the ocean is deluded and being submissive to the ocean causes him drown. When he learns to cooperates with the ocean, he can swim and enjoys it. Pagan nurses here, do I quote this example correctly?

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