Centering and flourishing: an online intervention study assessing the effects of a Christian contemplative practice on stress-reduction and human flourishing.

Despite widespread engagement in contemplative religious practices, comparatively little research has been conducted on their potential effects on well-being. Furthermore, few studies have focused on how an explicitly religious framing may impact the outcomes of such practices. In this online randomized controlled trial (N = 702), we tested the well-being effects of a contemplative prayer practice called Centering Prayer on self-identifying Christians. We compared 1) presenting the practice with an explicitly religious framing (experimental condition), 2) presenting the practice without an explicitly religious framing (active control), and 3) presenting simple instructions to reflect on the day, without any instructions regarding a meditation-like practice (passive control). After randomization into one of these three conditions, participants were asked to complete their assigned practice daily for 28 days. We hypothesized that the religious framing version of the practice would increase well-being over the active and passive control conditions. Well-being was assessed at three follow-up time points: one day, one week, and one month after the practice period. We found no group differences between the conditions on our primary outcome measure of well-being at one-week post-intervention. Each group increased in well-being from baseline to follow-up. We found significant group differences on acute measures of spiritual experience, the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ-30) and Daily Spiritual Experience Questionnaire (DSES). These results suggest that a religious framing may not enhance well-being effects but may alter spiritual outcomes related to contemplative practices.

Religious labels and food preferences, but not country of origin, support opposing face aftereffects.

Face templates can be experimentally manipulated, and category-contingent aftereffects suggest discrete templates across social groups. We tested whether 1) explicit religious labels, 2) food preferences, and 3) country of origin would support religion-contingent aftereffects across Christians and Muslims face sets. While viewing face images, ninety-three participants heard audio that stated either 1) a character's religious identity, 2) preferred food, or 3) country of origin. Participants viewed contracted Christian faces and expanded Muslim faces during the training phase. To measure adaptation, before and after the training phases, participants selected the face out of a pair of expanded and contracted Christian or Muslim faces that they found more attractive. Contingent aftereffects were found in the religious explicit (t(30) = 2.49, p = 0.02, Cohen's d = 0.58) and food conditions (t(30) = -3.77, p < 0.01, Cohen's d = -0.82), but not the country condition (t(30) = 1.64, p = 0.11, Cohen's d = 0.31). This suggests that religious labels and food preferences create socially meaningful groups, but country of origin does not. This is evidence of an impact of social categorization on visual processing.

Faith Community Nursing: Impacting Community-Based Care.

ABSTRACT: Faith community nurses (FCNs) are well positioned to serve individuals needing community-based healthcare within local healthcare systems, large church denominations, or through the support and resources of nonprofit faith community nursing organizations. This article briefly outlines development of the specialty of faith community nursing and proposes areas of research needed to grow the impact of this nursing specialty. Examples of FCNs working in and collaborating with healthcare systems, educational institutions, and congregations illustrate the value and diversity of FCN services for impacting community-based care. An exhaustive list of national, denominational, and regional organizations supporting FCN practice is included.

Supporting Spiritual Care With the Saline Process™.

ABSTRACT: Living one's Christian faith and providing appropriate spiritual care in professional nursing practice can seem challenging. The IHS Global® Saline Process™ course equips Christian healthcare workers with knowledge and tools to provide appropriate spiritual support and consider how God is calling them to share his truth and love. After participating in a Saline Process™ course, ongoing engagement helps clinicians grow in practicing what they have learned. Nurses Christian Fellowship International (NCFI) partners with IHS Global® to bring the Saline Process™ to Christian nurses and other clinicians around the world, building the community of providers offering whole-person care.

Test Analysis Through the Lens of Objective Compassion.

ABSTRACT: Test construction and test reviews are responsibilities nursing faculty arduously undertake, with an obligation to give appropriate effort and time to prepare and review exams. During test review, item analysis and statistical analysis offer valuable empirical information about the exam. However, objective compassion is also needed and can be demonstrated through careful test question construction and item analysis. Furthermore, compassion is needed in preparing students for the Next Generation NCLEX-RN (NGN) and constructing exams that appropriately test students' clinical judgment.

One-Hour Suicide Prevention Training Makes a Difference!

ABSTRACT: Nurses and other healthcare workers in the United States are at increased risk of suicide compared to non-healthcare workers. College students also experience high suicide risk. To impact suicide prevention in these populations, a Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) 1-hour gatekeeper suicide prevention training program was implemented at the University of Detroit Mercy for faculty, staff, and administrators in the College of Health Professions (N = 43). Knowledge in seven areas of suicide significantly increased after the training (p < .001). Sixteen attitudes about suicide improved; however, only two showed a statistically significant change. Results support that 1-hour QPR training can be effectively implemented in a large organization.

How Grounded Are Our Ideals? Rethinking Nursing's Covenant of Care.

ABSTRACT: Covenant has been used to describe the special relationship between nurses and patients yet has been misunderstood in nursing literature. Covenantal elements of keeping promises and nurturing relationship resonate with the work of nursing. However, unlimited devotion puts the nurse at risk for exploitation and burnout. One's conceptualization of covenant is important because it impacts beliefs about allegiance, identity, and responsibilities. This article offers a critical analysis of how the conceptualization of covenant in nursing literature compares to a theological understanding of covenant. The covenantal dimension of a nurse's practice is reframed from the nurse-patient relationship to a professional-societal relationship.

Christian Worldview and Caring in Nursing: The Legacy of Sister Simone Roach.

ABSTRACT: Sister Simone Roach, a noted philosopher of caring in nursing, left behind a significant body of theoretical and practical work highlighting the areas of nursing ethics, care/caring, and compassion. This article explores the integration of the moral foundation of agape love in Pauline theology and Roach's human caring in nursing (1992) as the action of agape love. A narrative literature review explores the relationship between the scriptural ethics of St. Paul (Pauline ethics) and Roach's caring in nursing.

An Exploration of the Supportive Care Needs of Caribbean Families of Critically Ill Adults.

ABSTRACT: Nurses care for patients of diverse cultures. Persons in and from the Caribbean region have specific needs and concerns related to the support they need when a family member is admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). Nurses familiar with Caribbean patient culture can provide these family members with knowledgeable and culturally competent care. However, little research exists about the unique needs of this population. This pilot study explored the nursing support needs of adult Caribbean family members of patients in the ICU.