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Our heels are praying very hard all day
Barbra Mann Wall1, Sioban Nelson
1School of Nursing, Purdue University, 502 N University St, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. bwall@nursing.purdue.edu
Holistic Nursing Practice
|December 3, 2003
Summary
Prayer was integral to 19th-century Catholic sisters' nursing, transforming sickrooms into spiritual battlegrounds. Their practices invited patients to religious experiences, shaping modern hospitals and nursing.
Area of Science:
- History of Medicine
- Religious Studies
- Nursing History
Background:
- Examines the role of prayer in 19th-century Catholic sisters' nursing practices.
- Utilizes case examples from American, Irish, and Australian Catholic women's religious congregations.
- Focuses on the integration of prayer as a fundamental aspect of nursing work.
Observation:
- The sickroom, especially the deathbed, was a significant site for spiritual influence.
- Sisters' prayers served as a means to facilitate religious experiences for patients.
- These prayers were viewed as opportunities for patients to encounter the divine.
Findings:
- Prayer was not an isolated act but a core component of nursing care provided by sisters.
- Despite historical religious influences (penance, evangelism), sisters' prayer practices were adapted to their context.
- Their methods significantly contributed to the development of modern hospitals and nursing.
Implications:
- Highlights the historical interplay between religious devotion and professional healthcare.
- Demonstrates how spiritual care influenced patient outcomes and the therapeutic environment.
- Provides insights into the evolution of nursing as a holistic practice incorporating spiritual dimensions.