Impossible Patient?

Volume 24, Number 2 June-April 2007

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Personal or group study ideas.
Read the articles, choose your questions!

small box Impossible Patient?
Read Elliott-Lee, pp. 62-68. and the JCN Resource Article, pp. 71-75
a. Recall a specific patient with mental illness. What feelings does this memory evoke?
b. What impressions might you need to overcome to offer spiritual care to someone who is mentally ill?
c. What has God taught you about caring for those with mental illness?
d. What insights do you glean from the Borderline Protocol on pages 64-65 to help you care for challenging patients?

small box Help for Depression:
Read Schuhow, pp. 76-80.
a. Scan the Psalms. What emotions are given voice? What do we learn from God's response toward emotional suffering?
b. Review the Scripture noted in the article. What hope does Scripture offer those facing depression?

small box The Last Resort?
Read Hammond, pp 94-95.
a. Describe how it feels to go to Jesus as your first thought rather than last resort. Which response best describes you?
b. What changes need to take place to help you go to Jesus first? How do John 15:5 and Romans 12:2 apply?

small box Cultural Sensitivity:
Read Johanson, pp. 96-98.
a. In what areas could you become more culturally sensitive?
b. Where can you focus on similarities rather than differences? How might this generate greater understanding toward a patient, colleague, or neighbor?
c. What concepts about cultural sensitivity are addressed in Ephesians 2:11-3:6?

(Select the article title to view a summary.)

59 A Tough Question About Mental Illness - Editorial

62 Impossible Patient? It May Be Borderline Personality Disorder
Diane Elliott-Lee

Demanding, emotionally reactive patients may be exhibiting symptoms of personality disorder. Learn about borderline traits and biblical principles for patient management.

71 Religion and Mental Illness: Safe Spirituality or Risky Religious Intervention?
A JCN Resource Article

Religiousness has been regarded poorly by many in mental healthcare. Does research-or Scripture-support this stance?

74 Good Spiritual Care: Befriending the Mentally Ill
Ada Scharf

Follow one nurse's journey into Scripture and friendship with two mentally ill women.

76 Even Christian Women Get Depressed: How Can We Help?
Debi A. Schuhow

Disconnection in important relationships may contribute to depression in women, perhaps more so for Christians who also feel disconnected from God. Help women reconnect.

81 Compassion or Pity?
Kristene Diggins

"I discovered a stark difference between compassion and pity."

82 Something More: Presence in Nursing Practice
Amy Rex Smith

Did you know that presence, a vital nursing intervention, is related to the practice of Spiritual Direction? Learn more.

Research

88 Are We Speaking the Same Language?
Laura Castaneda, Brian Habert, Pam Witt, Dawn Younker, Nancy Crigger

What if patients don't experience nurses' words or gentle touch as caring gestures because they want silence or not to be touched? Can we know their caring preferences?

94 The Last Resort?
Patricia Hammond

Desperate, this nurse turned to Jesus as a last resort.