International Nurses Week

Mother’s Day For Nurses. Every Nurse’s ideal is a perfect balance between professional and family life. Initial hope: Every marriage will become the ideal marriage. Husband and wife and children, the perfect family unit.

REALITY HITS HOME! Marriage, childrearing and Nursing are 24 hour commitments Marriage, childrearing and Nursing are 24 hour commitments Marriage expectations become distorted Marriage expectations become distorted Child rearing involves a lot of the unexpected Child rearing involves a lot of the unexpected Nursing becomes a more demanding and seemingly demeaning profession Nursing becomes a more demanding and seemingly demeaning profession

Causes of Stress for the Nurse and his or her family Long work hours in order to spend more time at home > more stretching > more exhaustion. Long work hours in order to spend more time at home > more stretching > more exhaustion. In some countries more than one paid job. In some countries more than one paid job. Major switch from patient-centered Nursing to drug and technology dominated Nursing leaving little time for Nurse-patient -interactive care. Major switch from patient-centered Nursing to drug and technology dominated Nursing leaving little time for Nurse-patient -interactive care. Increasing time consuming out-of-school activities. Increasing time consuming out-of-school activities.

Negating Factors Limited quality time for husband and wife and for parents and children. Limited quality time for husband and wife and for parents and children. Increasingly demanding social mores. Increasingly demanding social mores. Unreasonable expectations for their own and their children’s future and freedom. Unreasonable expectations for their own and their children’s future and freedom. Changing value structures that focus on financial security, self-actualization and personal gratification without counting the real cost. Changing value structures that focus on financial security, self-actualization and personal gratification without counting the real cost.

Fear induced Ethical Dilemmas Arising from Genome factors and the fear of failure that may lead to Litigation that tends to undermine trust and confidence and therefore good working relationships. Arising from Genome factors and the fear of failure that may lead to Litigation that tends to undermine trust and confidence and therefore good working relationships. Family relationships become strained and disrupted. Family relationships become strained and disrupted.

Parent Child Dilemmas Drug, alcohol, sex and other addictions Drug, alcohol, sex and other addictions NZ highest STD 16 to 25 year olds NZ highest STD 16 to 25 year olds Illegitimate children, single parent families Illegitimate children, single parent families Violence from multiple causes Violence from multiple causes Alienation from within and without the Alienation from within and without the family. family.

Weighing in the Balance Have the scales swung too far from the balance of centre-point? Have the scales swung too far from the balance of centre-point? Have we focused on the ideal to the exclusion of the vision? Have we focused on the ideal to the exclusion of the vision? The ideal has no moral inspiration; a vision has. The ideal has no moral inspiration; a vision has. While ideals may lull to ruin, it is in our hands to take stock of the spiritual balance in our personal and professional lives. While ideals may lull to ruin, it is in our hands to take stock of the spiritual balance in our personal and professional lives.

FAMILY BIOLOGICAL AND SPIRITUAL The Divine origin of family is God’s creation The Divine origin of family is God’s creation Marriage is the divine and sanctified union between man and woman followed by procreation Marriage is the divine and sanctified union between man and woman followed by procreation Parenthood is a unique and divine responsibility Parenthood is a unique and divine responsibility Family brings common concern for one another Family brings common concern for one another The family thus recognized, is a genuine unity of husband and wife, parents and children, grandparents and all other members of the extended family The family thus recognized, is a genuine unity of husband and wife, parents and children, grandparents and all other members of the extended family

REAL POWER Family worships together Family worships together Family is instructed and instructs in the scriptures and leads by example. Family is instructed and instructs in the scriptures and leads by example. Observes the commandments of the LORD to “Love one another as I (Christ) have loved you”. John 15;12 Observes the commandments of the LORD to “Love one another as I (Christ) have loved you”. John 15;12 Common consecration = decision of the family household in the context of social choice, “As for me and my house we will serve the LORD”. Joshua 24:15 Common consecration = decision of the family household in the context of social choice, “As for me and my house we will serve the LORD”. Joshua 24:15

What of God’s plan for our family? International Nurses week gives us a fresh opportunity to think about the impact of our biological family on our professional family and vice versa. International Nurses week gives us a fresh opportunity to think about the impact of our biological family on our professional family and vice versa. When we recognize the divine calling of each Nurse and the divine institution of our biological family and we seek with our Creator’s enabling to build the health of our Nation, the balance we all desire will be an achievable reality. When we recognize the divine calling of each Nurse and the divine institution of our biological family and we seek with our Creator’s enabling to build the health of our Nation, the balance we all desire will be an achievable reality.

Professional CPR TRAUMA BURNS AIDS TECHNOLOGY Dilemmas Attrition of Nurses

BLESSINGS OF FAMILY “And he lifted his eyes and saw the women and children, and said, Who are these with you? And he said, the children whom God has graciously given your servant.” Genesis 33:5 “And he lifted his eyes and saw the women and children, and said, Who are these with you? And he said, the children whom God has graciously given your servant.” Genesis 33:5 Throughout the world a happy family unit draws attention to itself and invokes emotions of either joy or jealousy. Throughout the world a happy family unit draws attention to itself and invokes emotions of either joy or jealousy.

Crowning Joy “A woman when she is in labour, has sorrow because her hour has come, but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.” John 16:21 “A woman when she is in labour, has sorrow because her hour has come, but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.” John 16:21 This joy is transmitted to the Midwife and all associated with her and the family unit i.e. husband in his work-place, children at school, grandparents and the wider family, friends and the ‘world’ through the newspaper. This joy is transmitted to the Midwife and all associated with her and the family unit i.e. husband in his work-place, children at school, grandparents and the wider family, friends and the ‘world’ through the newspaper.

Blessings and Children “ Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD …Happy is the man, who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed…” Psalm 127 “ Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD …Happy is the man, who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed…” Psalm 127 Blessing babies is a family and social joy but the silent prayers of the mother-in-waiting and father, is so special that only God hears. Blessing babies is a family and social joy but the silent prayers of the mother-in-waiting and father, is so special that only God hears. Naming children is a universal tradition of great significance that has a life-(eternity) long influence on the child. Naming children is a universal tradition of great significance that has a life-(eternity) long influence on the child.

Crowns Designed and Made! Children’s children are the crown and joy of grand and great grandparents, and the glory of children are their parents and grandparents. Children’s children are the crown and joy of grand and great grandparents, and the glory of children are their parents and grandparents. The crown and joy are the result of a labour of love. The hardest, most rewarding labour in life. The crown and joy are the result of a labour of love. The hardest, most rewarding labour in life. To concurrently nurture and nourish the young, maintain a strong healthy parental relationship and fulfill professional responsibilities requires the constant regenerating, sustaining power that our gracious heavenly Father is waiting to give liberally to all who ask. To concurrently nurture and nourish the young, maintain a strong healthy parental relationship and fulfill professional responsibilities requires the constant regenerating, sustaining power that our gracious heavenly Father is waiting to give liberally to all who ask.

Family - a Mosaic of Richness The diversity of personalities within a family brings a depth of feelings and richness rarely experienced outside of the family unit. The diversity of personalities within a family brings a depth of feelings and richness rarely experienced outside of the family unit. The true richness of each family has precious little to do with economic wealth; but much to do with the life-long process of creating and sustaining a happy, wholesome, caring, loving environment in which each personality comes to bud and blossoms into maturity with the God-given potential of each being realized. The true richness of each family has precious little to do with economic wealth; but much to do with the life-long process of creating and sustaining a happy, wholesome, caring, loving environment in which each personality comes to bud and blossoms into maturity with the God-given potential of each being realized.

COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS DOES ANYONE CARE? DOES ANYONE CARE? 1. Nurse’s families helping Nurses to build a healthy Nation commences at birth and ends with death. 2. Parental nurturing, educating, encouraging and supporting during training. 3. Husband or wife and in time, children’s support, pride or shame, sacrifice and wisdom. WHO CARES? WHO CARES? God loves and cares what happens to each Nurse and all those we are responsible for and to.

Mother’s Reward “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and praises her.” Proverbs 31:28 “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and praises her.” Proverbs 31:28 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” and He blessed them. J ohn 19:14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” and He blessed them. J ohn 19:14 “Assuredly I say to you, unless you are converted (made an about turn and changed) and become as little children you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” “Assuredly I say to you, unless you are converted (made an about turn and changed) and become as little children you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Mathew 18:3

NURSE’S WEEK 2007 SPECIAL GIFT ReconciliationGod Nurse Family Profession Nurse Family Profession Repentance > Forgiveness > Reconciliation Wisdom and Peace “For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.” Romans 11:29

Mids’t Life’s Struggles Twixt Origin and End Is the balance of God’s Grace and Power ‘At the end of the rat-race the rat is still a rat’. (Author unknown) ‘At the end of the rat-race the rat is still a rat’. (Author unknown) At the end of life a Nurse wants to be remembered as a good wife or husband, mother or father and Nurse. At the end of life a Nurse wants to be remembered as a good wife or husband, mother or father and Nurse. THE END

Nursing With A Difference “Let each day be your masterpiece” Galatians 6:9