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Essay, Nursing, Pages: 3

Suffering

Suffering

Compassionate nursing care is not easily separable from the notion of suffering. Suffering involves any pain—physical, emotional, or spiritual—that affects the quality of life of an individual (Kaftanski & Hanson, 2022). Much attention is paid to the negative connotation of suffering as, in my opinion, suffering can be essential to a person as it offers a chance to learn and develop. This vision influences my nursing practice because pain is individual and complicated by suffering, which is an aspect that I am called to address while empowering individuals to face the challenges of illness with dignity. In my opinion, suffering can be described as experiencing pain and injury or loss in any aspect of life.

Suffering is a difficult process that impacts a person holistically; however, it can highlight positive aspects within a person and foster progress. I view it as a process of change that is not entirely positive but can include some form of therapeutic pain. According to O’Brien (2014), pain appears to foster patients to find meaning that extends beyond their physical suffering. This notion resonates with my understanding as I have witnessed several people regain a sense of purpose and relationships due to their illness. This view helps me consider patient care from a perspective that goes beyond treating a physical ailment to acknowledging the psychological as well as spiritual facets of their suffering. Perceiving suffering as potentially meaningful helps to endure every patient with the mindset that strives to treat not only the body but the soul as well.

Contemplation of Suffering and Patient Management

This, in a nutshell, is how my view of suffering influences the type of patient care I aim to provide – a balance between understanding and clinical detachment. Among the issues that I face in my practice, pain, physical or psychological, is always prominent (García-Navarro et al., 2023). For instance, I once had a client who was diagnosed with a terminal illness, and in addition to suffering physically due to his disease, he was burdened with philosophical questions about life. Such practices also meant that at certain moments, it was crucial to provide reassurance, listen to the patient during difficult times, and make him feel he was not alone. I agree with the abovementioned approach as it also entails recognizing one’s frailty and the necessity to take care of oneself. The effects of witnessing suffering are that such experiences can be emotionally demanding and that, if measures are not taken to avoid it, it might lead to compassion fatigue (Wolotira, 2022). Thus, self-care helps me avoid burnout and remain attentive to my patients as they need my care. Acceptance of suffering as a part of caregiving implies cultivating resistance in myself and my patients, which will allow for a more effective model of compassionate nursing.

Submission from a Christian Worldview

Nursing patients with a chronic illness, as viewed from a Christian perspective, entails providing patient care in the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects if necessary, especially when dealing with cancer patients. O’Brien’s (2014) text Spirituality in Nursing offers examples describing how chronic illness may stimulate spirituality through the search for meanings and purposes of life in chapters 7 and 8. According to the religious culture concerning Christianity, prayer, faith practices, or spiritual support to patients alleviates fear and offers them hope amidst physical suffering (O’Brien, 2014). With this approach, I aim at healing the whole person and not only the symptoms but also creating hope. In my practice, prayer and other forms of religious conversations have helped comfort sick persons when the patients allow it. In this way, I can address not only their more tangible medical requirements but also help address emotional and even spiritual elements necessary to successfully embark on and proceed with the patient’s journey.

Romans 5:1-11 and Suffering

Romans 5:1-11 offers a rich reflection on the reality of suffering while maintaining an emphasis on things such as endurance, character, and hope. Romans 5:3-4 states, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (New International Version, 2011). Thus, this scripture provides a testimony of the healing process through suffering; the outcome is strengthened hope. Even when applying this passage to cancer patients, this concept of suffering is optimistic and makes one embrace it even when facing death. The idea that suffering can lead to change for the better is good to know for patients as they may find courage and faith in their fight against illness. Including this scripture in care helps me to give hope and purpose to patients, thus familiarizing them with the fact that they are part of a story that is bigger than them and full of strength.

Conclusion

Analyzing the concept of compassion in caring, I understand the self-care aspect as a crucial component of having adequate energy to attend to my patients. The Christian perspective on suffering and Romans 5:1-11 act as references that assist me in providing comprehensive care that acknowledges the body, mind, as well as spirit of my patients. Therefore, as long as I try to attend to suffering with empathy and hope, I can remain true to my goal of being a caring, empathetic nurse.

References

García-Navarro, E. B., Garcia Navarro, S., & Cáceres-Titos, M. J. (2023). How to manage the suffering of the patient and the family in the final stage of life: A qualitative study. Nursing Reports, 13(4), 1706–1720. https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep13040141

Kaftanski, W., & Hanson, J. (2022). Suffering, authenticity, and meaning in life: Toward an integrated conceptualization of well-being. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1079032

The Holy Bible: New International Version (NIV). (2011). Biblica, Inc. (Original work published 1973).

Wolotira, E. A. (2022). Trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout in nurses. Nurse Leader, 21(2), 202–206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mnl.2022.04.009

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Question 

Getting Started

The essence of compassionate care continually exposes nurses to suffering. Nurses may feel distress and conflict when inflicting “necessary” pain while providing necessary care. The professional practice of nursing requires boundaries, self-knowledge, and personal awareness of one’s own attitudes and feelings about the meaning of life and of death. Failure to care for self ultimately diminishes the ability of the nurse to witness or relieve the suffering of patients or their families. Providing care for others without caring for oneself is unsustainable.

Spirituality and religious practices may assist patients who are suffering, and understanding the relationship between spiritual influences and suffering can help nurses better care for their patients. The process of caring for a suffering person requires exceptional effort on the nurse’s part; but the very act that drains the nurse can also create the fuel for compassionate care.

Upon successful completion of the course material, you will be able to:

  • Evaluate your personal beliefs on the meaning and purpose of suffering.
  • Discuss approaches from a Christian worldview that address the physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering in patients with varied healing needs.

Resources

Instructions

  1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
  2. Read chapters 5, 6, 7, 8, & 10 in the O’Brien textbook.
  3. Read the article entitled, “When Suffering Takes a Toll” or click here.
  4. Online students, navigate to the threaded discussion and respond to the following: (Onsite students will discuss the following in class)
    1. Share your personal definition of suffering and discuss whether you believe there is meaning and purpose in suffering.
    2. How does your perspective on suffering influence the care that you provide to those who suffer? Share personal experiences from the workplace, if possible.
    3. Choose one variation in health (acute illness, HIV/AIDS, cancer, mentally challenged, etc.) from Chapters 7 and 8 in Spirituality in Nursing: Standing on Holy Ground that interests you. Discuss approaches from a Christian worldview that address the physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering in patients with that health variation.
    4. Can you relate the Scripture, Romans 5:1-11 discussion on suffering to this health issue?
  5. Cite a minimum of one current scholarly source to support your initial post.
  6. Your initial post to the discussion forum is due by the end of the fourth day of the workshop.
  7. Read and respond to at least two of your classmates’ postings, and consider responding to all follow-up instructor questions directed to you, by the end of the workshop.
  8. Your postings should also:
    1. Be well developed by providing clear answers with evidence of critical thinking.
    2. Add greater depth to the discussion by introducing new ideas.
    3. Provide clarification to classmates’ questions and provide insight into the discussion.
    4. Be posted on a minimum of two days during the workshop.

*Copyright permission to upload the article to the course is allowed because the IWU Library also subscribes to the print journal and the publisher has given permission.