I believe that we humans are more than just biological. We are spiritual.
On a late Friday afternoon, one of our nurses received a call about a patient who was in emotional distress.This elderly lady was entering the early stages of dying.She was talking less, having some skin discoloration and had ceased taking nutrition.She was cognizant enough to understand what was happening and was showing signs of agitation: strained words, grimacing and body stiffening.
She communicated to our nurse that she was not suffering physically.She indicated no pain, nausea or anything of that sort.She was experiencing a psychological breakdown caused by the recognition of her impending death.
After receiving permission from the family to share her faith, our nurse spoke to the patient about God’s love, Jesus’ victory over death, the availability of forgiveness, and real peace.In our nurse’s own words, “After I prayed her whole body relaxed.”It was for our nurse the most rewarding experience during her tenure as a hospice nurse.And for our patient it was, perhaps, the seminal moment of her life.
When I was a medical student I was taught the “bio-psycho-social model” of understanding human beings.I found this model woefully insufficient because it ignored the reality of our spiritual natures.Nowhere in medicine is that fact more clearly seen than in hospice care.
We abide by three principles when addressing spiritual issues with our patients and families:
- We humans are precious and valuable only because we are made in God’s image.This Jude-Christian concept gives meaning to the care of the sick and dying.
- Because humans are valuable, we respect their beliefs and never impose our views on them.
- Although we never impose, we are quick to propose to anyone that they are created, loved and forgiven by the creator of the universe.We speak meaning into their lives, or, as Fr. Richard Neuhaus states it, we propose “a life worthy of them.”
