Today was a very fabulous day. And as I sit here to write, I
have difficulty finding words to truly describe the experience. I had the honor of attending a research
conference today, at my place of employment. And by the end of the day I felt
like I was part of this most magnificent tribe: better described as: “home”
Most of you know that I am a nurse, and for many years my
job was caring for the patient from a physical perspective. I later went back to school to learn more
about caring for people from a mind body perspective as I entered the world of
psychiatry.
But somehow there was so much more I need to learn and found
myself awakened to a spiritual journey of healing. I found much of that outside of the “nursing”
arena, and was drawn to a world of healers and spiritual gurus who became my
mentors and inspiration.
I worked with shamans, reiki masters, and people who taught
me the laws of attraction, quantum physics and natural health approaches. I even tried to leave the world of
traditional healthcare and traditional nursing to practice as one of those
healers but found that something was dramatically missing.
I love science, and I practice my nursing from an evidence
based perspective, and yet so much of what I know to be true seems so
intangible and “spiritual”. Have been
accused of being “out there” by my medical colleagues, and have been somewhat
misunderstood by my natural healer comrades because I have found the most
satisfaction from keeping my feet in both worlds.
But today, I heard a woman speak on the science of
caring. She had all of the components of
my “healer” beliefs articulated into a language and studied and researched with
empirical evidence that there is a valid science to caring. There is science to support that there is a
mind body spirit connection, and that it is possible and very quite necessary
to integrate all of that into nursing practice.
This speaker, this woman: Jean Watson is the author and
founder of a profound theory of nursing: http://www.watsoncaringscience.org/index.cfm/category/88/the-implications-of-caring-theory.cfm
What a privilege to sit with a hundred nurses who not only
believe that caring (of self and others) is an integral part of their nursing
practice, but implement it on a day to day basis. (And I know this because I
see it because I work with these nurses)
These men and woman know that what promotes healing is not
just the medical care they receive, or the nursing tasks they do, but it
comes from the compassion and connection that they have with their
patients. These are nurse who know that
to give the gift of healing to their patients they must first find healing
themselves.
This is my world now, my tribe and my place to be. Every experience in my life both personally
and professionally had contributed to this journey which has brought me here. I
am home, I am grateful and I salute all of the men and woman who call
themselves both nurses and healers.
Namaste
These are our thoughts feelings and experiences. We accept responsibility for them. We understand your journey may be different. We honor and respect that. Wishing you effortless joy. Eloise and Jake
