Good
nursing needs good theology
Florence Nightingale’s
theological training
Most
people know something about Florence Nightingale’s powerful influence on modern
nursing practice, but few appreciate the theological formation she received.
In
1851 she passed her exam in nursing at the Kaiserwerth Institute near
Dusseldorf in modern day Germany. That
moment in Nightingale’s journey tells us about the importance of theological
reflection in the work of care.
The
Kaiserswerther Diakonie was opened in
1833 by Pastor Theodore Fliedner, as a school for training in the work of Christian
care. He wanted women to be trained in
both theology and in the science of quality nursing care. In subsequent years, this movement of training
for the work of care, exploded across the globe with new institutes developed
according to Fliedner’s model.
The
twin foundations of this successful educational ministry were theology and
science. This was answering two
questions about good care: ‘Why do we do
it?’ and ‘How do we do it?’
Fliedner’s
influence spread into the English-speaking world, through the famous work of
Florence Nightingale in the medical stations of the Crimean War.
The
fundamental influence behind our modern nursing practice is that basic
question, “Why do we do it?” Christians
know the word of the Lord, in 1 John 4: In this is love, not
that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning
sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to
love one another. No one has ever seen
God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.
The
story of Florence Nightingale is a call for Christian churches to continue to
be active in the work of nursing care. It
is also a call for Christian churches to remember how training in nursing needs
good foundations.
Good
nursing needs good theology.
Pastor Paul Smith,
Bishop of the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand
197 Archer Street,
North Adelaide, South Australia 5006
+61.8.8267.7300 bishop@lca.org.au www.lca.org.au