Spear, Hila J.

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Liberty UniversityDigitalCommons@LibertyUniversityFaculty Publications and Presentations School of Nursing2004Let’s Get Informed and InvolvedHila J. SpearLiberty University, hspear@liberty.eduFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/nurse_grad_fac_pubsThis Article is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Nursing at DigitalCommons@Liberty University. It has been accepted forinclusion in Faculty Publications and Presentations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Liberty University. For more information,please contact scholarlycommunication@liberty.edu.Recommended CitationSpear, Hila J., "Let’s Get Informed and Involved" (2004). Faculty Publications and Presentations. Paper 19.http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/nurse_grad_fac_pubs/19ow many timeshave you heardthat we, asnurses, havepotential forpower if wewould onlycome together?Nurses makeup the largest body of health careproviders in the U.S., yet we are splin-tered into special interest groups bylevel of education, areas of practice,political affiliation and religious beliefs.When discussing membership in profes-sional organizations, I find that mostnurses belong to specialty organizationsrather than to the American Nurses’Association (ANA) founded in 1896 torepresent the profession of nursing.1Only about eight percent of the 2.2million practicing RNs belong to theANA.2 This article is not offered to re-cruit nurses for the ANA, but as a chal-lenge for nurses in general, and Christ-ian nurses in particular, to make it a pri-ority to be involved and informedabout health issues and policies affectingour practice and our patients. Followingare actual accounts, illustrating howChristian principles and values can beintegrated into professional nursingpractice, in an academic setting, at thebedside or within the political arena.Late one afternoon, an undergradu-ate student came to my office to discussher research project. She was upsetabout a community health author whostated that a woman who opts to termi-nate her pregnancy by abortion shouldnot be provided detailed informationabout the procedure, as it would causeher unnecessary distress and emotionaldiscomfort.The student was appalled atthis reasoning. She and her researchpartner decided to focus their paper onthe issue of informed consent aboutabortion and a woman’s right to know.This learning experience motivated thestudents to propose a research-based res-olution to their state nursing studentassociation that mandated provision offull informed consent for all womenprior to undergoing an abortion proce-dure.The students faced opposition fromthose who did not support their views;however, they were able to clearly artic-ulate their proposal.The students’ effortswere rewarded as the bill garnered thevotes needed for passage at the statelevel, though it did not pass nationally.A few years ago I presented researchinformation to nursing students and fac-ulty at a conference held on the campusof a highly regarded university. Follow-ing my presentation, the audience wasinvited to respond.The first questionwas,“How can you teach students to benurses when you’re associated with aschool that is judgmental and againstfreedom to choose [in reference to abor-tion] and lesbian and gay rights?”Al-though the question had nothing to dowith my presentation, I explained that Iteach at a faith-based school that holds aChristian worldview and believes in theauthority of the Bible, patients—regard-28 JCN / Volume 21, Number 3■ Hila J. Spear, PhD,RN, professor of nursingand director of graduatestudies, teaches graduateand undergraduate studentsat Liberty University inLynchburg,Virginia. Hilamaintains clinical practiceas a lactation consultant andattends Timberlake BaptistChurch, where she is ac-tively involved in ministry.HIt is an exciting time to be a nurse. Christ-ian nurses must takeup the challenge to be proactive.We canmake a difference.BY HILA J. SPEARLet’s Get Informed& INVOLVEDPhoto: Comstock 63785 JCNSum04  5/13/04  9:52 AM  Page 28less of their religious beliefs, personalvalues or lifestyles and behaviors—receive care from nursing students thatexemplifies genuine concern, uncondi-tional positive regard and compassion.A colleague further stated that nurses,whether Christian or atheist, embracevalues and philosophies that may ormay not be congruent with those forwhom they provide care.Recently, graduate nursing studentswho were enrolled in the health policyand ethics course I teach discussed thereluctance of some Christian nurses tojoin professional nursing organizationsbecause they disagree with some posi-tions taken by the organizations.A sug-gestion to form an alternative nursingorganization was offered.This seemedlike a viable option, but as the discus-sion continued, the group agreed thatalthough it’s appealing to form a sepa-rate Christian association, it might betaking the path of least resistance. Oneclass member encouraged her peers tobecome active members and participatein the leadership of groups that shapehealth policy and nursing’s agenda. Shealso acknowledged that it would beharder to participate in a secular nurs-ing organization but, in the long run,potentially more effective.We can choose to curse the darknessand retreat or to be informed, involvedand take a stand on issues that we deemimportant.As Christian nurses we mustbe responsible stewards of the time andthe talents that God has given. Perhapsyou belong to a professional organiza-tion, or you may decide to join one.Whether the organization is specialtyfocused or state/nationally based, youwill undoubtedly find those who aresupportive of agendas with which youdo not agree.You may feel inclined tosay,“What’s the point? I am only oneof many.” However, by being a part ofthe organization and having the oppor-tunity to express your opinion in arespectful way, you demonstrate thatthere are differing viewpoints and mayencourage others to speak.Today we are bombarded withsocially, morally and ethically chargedhealth care issues and related policiesand legislation such as reproductivefreedom, genetic engineering, cloning,human experimentation and euthana-sia. Let’s make a concerted effort toensure that the future practice of nurs-ing maintains a tradition of promotionof health, prevention of disease andcompassionate care that respects all lifeand attends to the whole person: mind,body and spirit.Implementing the following ideasenables us to have a presence and aChristian influence related to the de-velopment of health policies and lawsthat affect not only the patients andsociety we serve, but our professionalpractice and personal lives as well:1. Know the names of your state andfederal representatives.Write lettersexpressing your support for or opposi-tion to pending health and/or nursingrelated bills.Address the need to reviseor eliminate bills that have already beenpassed.2.Write to the editors of local andregional newspapers and magazinesabout health care policy and relatedissues; submit articles or editorials tonursing journals.3. Be informed about the issues.Research literature or access Internetsources.Websites are available that postpending bills and health policy legisla-tion.4. Join a professional organizationand become actively involved. Be saltand light, and demonstrate Christ’slove, while taking a stand on issues,particularly those of ethical and moralconcern.5. Consider being part of NursesChristian Fellowship®) to benefit fromprayer support and to draw strengthfrom colleagues who share your world-view and belief in Christ-centeredpractice.Nurse-author Mary Griepp offersthe following challenge:“In addition tobeing the largest group of health careprofessionals, nurses possess tremen-dous amounts of knowledge, clinicalexperience and intellectual and com-munication skills that can contribute toand expand the dialogue and debatesurrounding all health care issues andsubsequent decision making.”3 It is anexciting time to be a nurse.To be heardand proactive, Christian nurses musttake this challenge to heart and be-come informed and involved in thepolitical process and related debate atlocal, state and national levels.We canmake a difference at the bedside andbeyond by adding our voice to pro-mote and secure quality health care forpresent and future generations. ■JCN1S.B. Lewenson,“Pride in Our Past: Nursing’s PoliticalRoots,” in Policy & Politics in Nursing and Health Care, 4thed., Diane Mason, Judith Leavitt and Mary Chaffee, eds.(Philadelphia: Saunders, 2002), 19-30.2ANA 2000,“A New Association for a New Millennium,”Organizational Change Overview, http://www.nursing-world.org/ana2000/overview.htm, accessed March 8, 2004.3Mary E. Greipp,“Forces Driving Health Care Policy De-cisions,” in Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice 3, no. 1 (2002),35.JCN/Summer  2004 29W E B S I T E S  F O R  I N F O R M E D  N U R S E SInternational Council of Nurses: www.icn.ch/links.htmAmerican Nurses Association: www.ana.org/ Health Policy Tracking Service: www.ncsl.org/programs/health/hpts/ NursingCenter.com: www.nursingnet.orgU.S. Department of Health and Human Services: www.dhhs.gov/U.S. House of Representatives: www.house.govU.S. Senate: www.senate.gov 63785 JCNSum04  5/13/04  9:52 AM  Page 29

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