Public Health and Community Nursing Commons^™

Integrating Christian Caring In Nursing Curriculum: One School’S Experience, Charlotte Stephenson, Charlotte Ann Thayer Wood, Mary Ann Henriques, Tina L. Magers, Kaye Wilson-Anderson

Faculty Publications - College of Nursing

The link between caring and nursing has been evident since the days of Florence Nightingale. She referred to nursing as an act of charity or "God's work." Nursing within the Judea-Christian tradition was viewed as a mission, ministry or call from God to serve others. Those entering nursing fulfilled a commitment to God through service and care for others. Over time the focus in nursing shifted from the Christian perspective of being "called to be a nurse" to technical and physio­logical reasons for helping people. Virginia Henderson defined nursing as "that service to an individual that helps him to attain …