Summer Seeds

NURS 2100
Dr. Shultz

What did you initially notice about Catholic Health Care Ministries?

Catholic Health Care Ministries make up a third of healthcare in the United States, so it

actually makes up a rather significant proportion. I did not know this, and it really stood out to

me. I had heard the history of the Sisters of Bon Secours and the Sisters of Mercy before, and

their stories has always impressed it. It takes a special kind of person to go out of their way to

provide such devoted care to the sick and poor the way they did. However, I had no idea just

how prevalent Catholic institutions were in the health field. That is not to say that the sisters’

stories are any less moving or extraordinary, it is just amazing that there are so many out there

and that these small groups of committed individuals can make such an impact.

Describe how your initial thoughts evolved as you learned more about the themes of

Catholic Social Teaching and the Ethical and Religious Directives?

Catholic Social Teaching is teaching based on social issues and ideals for society. It is not

theologically based, so you do not have to believe the underlying theology to get something out

of these church documents. It is very encompassing. Ethical and Religious Directives are

concerned with Catholic healthcare institutions in the United States specifically, but it is there to

make sure that Catholic healthcare is there to take care of those who are most vulnerable. What

these themes teach is that humans need to be valued for more than their economic worth. Often if

you don’t have access to healthcare, you get a very different treatment than those that do, and

this is not morally or ethically correct. Catholic healthcare aims to care for those who are most

vulnerable.
Describe how the Sisters of Bon Secours influenced the themes of Catholic Social Teaching.

The Sisters of Bon Secours were committed to caring for those who were sick, poor, and

ostracized by society. They would go out into the community, sometimes all night to provide

care to those who had no one else, the poor and the vulnerable. They were rooted in caring for

the community and the individuals within it. They had a sense of solidarity. They saw every life

as sacred, every individual as one of God’s creation. Everyone was treated with dignity. The

sisters embodied many of the themes of Catholic Social Teaching. They went out of their way to

care for people. They gave everything to the community. The congregation was so poor that they

would share their habits. One nun would come back and pass their habit off to the next nun. At

one point they even got in trouble with Church authorities, because, despite all the good they

were doing, it wasn’t what young woman were supposed to be doing. They were not supposed to

be staying out all night taking care of the sick. It shows how much they cared about other people

and about correcting social ills despite being unorthodox in the eyes of the Church.

Give an example of how a nurse in today's society could practice using these themes

regardless of their religious affiliation.

It does not matter your religious affiliation to be a good nurse. The themes of Catholic

Social Teaching are related to social issues found in the community, not rooted in theology.

Therefore, anyone of any background can take these overarching ideas and apply them to their

current situation. For example, a nurse must practice solidarity and uphold human life and

dignity regardless of race or background. Different parts of the community come together to

receive and give care. Nurses must be the champions for the poor and vulnerable, those who fall

in the cracks of healthcare. Regardless of wealth or status, a nurse should treat everyone with the

same care and respect. No one person is more important than another. This is what you can take
away from these themes, even if you are not Catholic or religious. It is about being a caring

individual who fights against social ills to create a better society.

Which of the 7 themes of Catholic Social Teaching speaks to you the most and why?

The theme that speaks to me the most is life and human dignity of the human person.

This is the idea that every individual, regardless of social or economic status, is important and

deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. I believe that every life coming into the hospital

is special. No one person is more deserving of help than the next. Everyone who comes to a

hospital is in need of help in one way or another, and it is not the role of the nurse to judge or to

decide who is more worthy than the next.

Which Ethical and Religious Directive can you link to your theme and why?

Part one of the Ethical and Religious Directive talks about social responsibility. This is

the section that most relates back to the theme of life and human dignity, because it discusses the

common good - protecting the fundamental rights of individuals - and Catholic healthcare’s

commitment to care for the marginalized and vulnerable. They are committed to providing

quality care to individuals and communities, while also being committed to human dignity and

caring for the poor and underprivileged. This is the main idea behind the theme of life and

dignity of the human person. Every life is sacred and deserves to be treated with quality care and

dignity.

What does the phrase "Call to Serve" mean to you after learning about Catholic Health

Care Ministries?

I like the idea of “Call to Serve.” Working at St. Mary’s Hospital, I have been introduced

to the idea before. My mother is a nurse and she got to go to a rural county and provide medical
care to those who did not have easy access hospitals or clinics. My Call to Serve experience was

less interesting. However, I really the idea of going out and using your skills to give back to the

community and help those in need. These are the people that Catholic Social Teaching and

Ethical and Religious Directives are talking about when they say poor and vulnerable, the ones in

the need of the most help. As a Catholic Health Care Ministry, it is our responsibility to go out

and provide good help to those in need. That is what it means to be called to serve.

Describe any changes or an increased awareness in your values or feelings as a result of this

lecture.

I would not say anything has changed from watching this lecture, but it has solidified my

belief that everyone is deserving of the same level and quality of care. No one person is more

worthy than the next. All patients should be treated with dignity and respect and with

compassion. So should the employees and the family members of the sick. Also, there is the idea

that there should be a sense of solidarity within the community and everyone should work

together. The ideas brought forth in this presentation really do go beyond religion. I wouldn’t

call myself religious, but I believe in the principles.