The nursing role has developed over time to be an important member of the health care team. Each nurse reflects over their practice and defines their role from their perspective. Each of these roles could be different depending on their specific role in the healthfield. The American Nurses Association (ANA) defines nursing as “the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, facilitation of healing, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations” (“What is”). I find many challenges within my own understanding and coping when obstacles arises that inhibit assisting the patient and their families to ease their suffering.

In Bioethics: A primer for Christians it states,” We should try to care for those who suffer, but we should not imagine that suffering can be eliminated from human life or that it can have no point or purpose in our lives. Nor should we suppose that suffering must be eliminated by any means that is available to us, for a good end does not justify any and every means” (Meilaender, 2013, pg. 7) I find this topic very interesting and very helpful to process these thoughts. We are not always able to give other what they desire and that is part of the pain in human life (Meilaender, 2013). Assisting in spiritual practices and healing with others and in ourselves, can help with this reality. We cannot make eliminating suffering our highest priority but as a Christian learn to stand with and beside those who suffer physically or emotionally. I also agree with the statement “The warning alerts us not to ask of medicine more than it can offer” (Meilaender, 2013, pg. 9). Even though the disease can’t be cured, nursing can participate in the spiritual health of the patient.

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