Recognizing Every Person’s God-given Dignity

Two days ago, I finished my clinical attachment in Geriatrics bringing the third semester of the Accelerated Diploma in Nursing to an end. On the last day of my clinical attachment, I attended mass at Novena Church to thank Mother Mary and our Lord for guiding me.

This clinical attachment has taught me the importance of understanding my patients because one of the most important nursing skills is to develop relationships with patients. Another important ability of a nurse is to help patients to recognize their own dignity. It means treating each individual with respect, care, and compassion.

I couldn’t have finished this clinical attachment without graces from God and Mary’s intercession. My groupmates and I were blessed to have a good clinical instructor. Through her guidance, actions, and wisdom, I sensed God spoke to me through her very strongly. The best part is my clinical instructor is a catholic. In fact, I would say that she guided me like a mother-to-son. She set high standards but that served us very well because, by the time we reached the 4th week of the clinical attachment, we were able to take charge of patients assigned under our care as this was part of the grading criteria. If we had a laissez-faire clinical instructor, we would have walked away with minimum clinical experiences.
Speaking about human dignity, God showed me how each patient has an inherent and inviolable dignity that can never be taken away because it is something that only God bestows upon us. Where there are beliefs and practices that dehumanize people, nurses are called to help people to recognize their dignity and humanize them.
There was a patient who suffered from dementia under my care. One morning shift, as I was preparing to administer medications under the supervision of a senior staff nurse, this patient called me gently and asked if I could explain to him the indications for each of the medicines that I have prepared for him.
Now, this is an amazing experience because, before the start of the shift, I spoke to Mother Mary in the silence of my heart and told her “Mary, I need your help! I have prepared my case study to present to my clinical instructor. This is important because it is part of the grading. I am struggling to remember the indications for each of the medications that have been prescribed by the doctor for this particular patient. My clinical instructor would be very pleased if I can remember the indications without referring to my case study template. I mean, it’s not hard but I am anxious that I might forget in that moment while I am presenting. I have tried memorizing but I think the best method of learning is to translate all those knowledge into hands-on. Can you please help to find a way for me to remember what I need to know in my presentation ?”
So, when the patient asked me if I could explain to him why the doctor prescribed the medications that I have served, I remembered the prayer. I took out my case study notes and explained to the patient the indications for the prescribed medications. As I was explaining to him, I was reinforcing the knowledge and gained a better understanding of the medications. The patient was giving me an opportunity to practice my presentation. It was a win-win situation. The patient wanted to understand his medications and I explained them to him. By explaining to him, I also retain the knowledge. He ate all his medications. I presented my case study and the clinical instructor was pleased.
During my grading assessment, my clinical instructor asked me what motivated me to explain the indications of the medications to the patient who suffered from dementia given the fact that he will forget within 5 minutes.
I shared with her “It is true that the patient will forget within 5 minutes and ask me to repeat countless times. Regardless of his health conditions, I believed that the patient has a right to know about his medications. In that short time, while he is listening to me, I am showing him that he will not be treated as less important just because he has dementia. I helped him to recognize that he has dignity and I respected his request by explaining to him his medications.”
As I reflected on my clinical experience, I am reminded of Saint Pope John Paul II who wrote a letter to leaders in health care: “This is the high dignity to which you and your colleagues are called. This is your vocation, your commitment, and the path of your specific witness to the presence of God’s Kingdom in the world.”
The saint is right. Nurses are in the middle of the battlefield tending to the sick and the poor, the aged and the dying. The hospital is not just a place we work and earn our salary. The hospital is our ministry where we are the hands and feet of the Church’s mission to reach out to the sick and suffering. As we do this, we “alleviate suffering and seek to heal”, and “bear witness to the Christian view of suffering and to the meaning of life and death as taught by our Christian faith.”
Thank you for taking the time to read this God experience of mine. In the end, everything that I did for the patients, my hands, feet, eyes, mind, and heart, were guided by the Holy Spirit and all the glory goes to God. I can rest now during this five weeks break.
I would like to thank all the people who have prayed for me, provided moral and spiritual support, and reminded me of the big picture of my life.
Lastly, here is a beautiful prayer that I used during the clinical attachment:
Lord God, make me an instrument of your healing;
when I am weak and in pain, help me to rest;
when I am anxious, help me to be patient;
when I am lonely and feel you are distant, help me to know you are near;
help me to see you and your gentleness in those who care for me.
God of healing,
grant me not so much to demand everything for myself
as to allow others to help me;
not to completely expect others to cure me
as to do my best toward getting better.
Help me to face myself and learn the depths of your love
in the quiet of my being.
For it is in being uncertain and not in full control
that I find true faith.
And it is in acknowledging the limitations of my mind and body
that I find wholeness in myself.
Guide me through this time
and bless me with the abundance
of your spirit of comfort and peace.
Amen
Bryne Moses Salvator

Bryne Moses Salvator

After having a personal encounter with Jesus at 14 years old, Bryne started to explore the Christian Faith in various denominations. At 21 years old, he joined RCIA at Novena Church and received confirmation to become a full-fledged catholic Christian. Bryne enjoys reading books on theology and scripture to further his understanding of the Christian faith. He also enjoys going on walks in nature with friends and listening to other people's experiences of life. Bryne obtained a Diploma in Wellness, Lifestyle & Spa Management from Republic Polytechnic and a Diploma in Nursing from Nanyang Polytechnic. In addition to serving the sick at the hospital, Bryne also serves the sick as a caregiver at Homage Services during his free time. He is passionate about serving the sick and believes that Nursing will help him to experience Jesus in a unique way. Matthew 25:36, "I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me." With this verse in mind, Bryne sets out to represent Christ in the community he was blessed with, and he prays that everyone he touches will be drawn to Jesus and give their lives to him.

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2 thoughts on “Recognizing Every Person’s God-given Dignity”

  1. A wonderful experience Bryne. Thank you for sharing. You will be a source of love and healing for many of your patients. God will continue to bless you and those dear patients whom you love and work with. Our Mother Mary is with you.

  2. Pingback: St. Augustine on the Only Way to Control the Sexual Appetite, A Masterpiece That Took 500 Years to Finish, and More Great Links! - JP2 Catholic Radio

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