Partnerships that Renew the Campus

This could only be God! That’s what crossed my mind when I stepped into the lecture hall at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). Two hundred and twenty nursing students and faculty were gathered for the workshop, “Caring for the Spiritual Needs of Our Patients,” sponsored by the College of Nursing.

I first walked onto the UIC campus ten years ago and saw the need for a vibrant witnessing community in the College of Nursing. Since then I have often prayed that Christians would have opportunities to influence the curriculum and development of the students. Now I am seeing answers to these prayers through the staff, faculty, and students God has brought to this campus. I have also been a part of the answer to these prayers as I taught this mandatory workshop for all bachelor’s degree nursing students.

As part of the workshop, I asked students to pair up and answer one of these questions that could be used in assessing a patient’s spiritual health:

Who or what provides you with strength and hope?
Is prayer useful in your life?
How do you express your spirituality or religious beliefs?
What type of spiritual or religious support would you like?
What are your spiritual goals?
How does your faith help you cope with illness?

The students came with questions, past hurts, and varying spiritual perceptions of God, yet it was amazing to see how he used the exercise to prompt significant reflection and discussion. One student said she was excited about the questions because her faith is what motivates her to pursue nursing. Another student said she experienced difficulty with the questions, explaining that she hadn’t often asked herself spiritual questions or thought about her own spiritual health.

At the end of the workshop, I had the opportunity to talk with Jane (not her real name), who entered the nursing program in her thirties after going through a health crisis. She recounted how she had been far from God, and yet he got her attention when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. It was through this experience that God led her to nursing, and now she sees nursing as a ministry opportunity.

I was encouraged to see how God is at work in the lives of students and faculty at UIC and is continuing to pursue those who have been far from him!

Christian Influence on Campus

This progress and openness at UIC were certainly not my own doing, and did not happen quickly. God used different people and intentional partnerships to pave the way.

Developing long-term faculty partnerships. The faculty advisor for Nurses Christian Fellowship (NCF), Marlene Sefton, PhD, APN, FNP-BC (pictured above with Renee), has been at UIC for more than ten years and serves as an influence in students’ lives through NCF and through her role as a faculty member. She often mentions how her experience as a student leader in NCF was formative in seeing the university as a mission field. During a curriculum review, she pointed out that spiritual care was not being taught as part of the nurse’s role. She lobbied for change, and other faculty members agreed.
Building bridges with administrative staff. Five years ago, I connected with a new healthcare administrator at UIC. One day we had lunch together and continued to stay in touch. This fall she invited me to present to the entire undergraduate nursing class on caring for the spiritual needs of patients.
Integrating faith and practice. NCF has been at the forefront of equipping nurses and students to give spiritual care for decades. Much of the research on this topic comes from nurses who are connected with NCF or who have served as NCF staff. NCF encourages students and nurses to ask the question, “What does it look like to be a follower of Jesus in nursing?” Our faith should impact every aspect of our care! We desire to reflect Jesus’ compassion, grace, and love to those who are suffering and in crisis.
Developing world changers. The average nurse working in a hospital takes care of 600+ patients a year! Nurses have tremendous opportunities to not only care for their patients but also be agents of change in their workplaces, their communities, in healthcare, and around the world!

It’s a privilege to cast a big vision for nursing students to be transformed and transform nursing. Imagine the influence that is possible when students in every area of study begin to see themselves as disciples of Jesus whose skills, talents, and passions will play an important role in the kingdom of God. That’s worth investing in!