Christian nurses in Europe are connecting with each other despite the differences in lanuages, nursing traditions, and large movements of nurses around the region.
Europe is a very diverse region, culturally, politically and economically. Most of the stronger Christian nursing fellowships are in the Nordic Countries (Finland, Denmark and Norway), the British Isles (England and Scotland) and in Spain, but there are many small groups and networks of Christian nurses forming in Eastern Europe, France and Germany. The countries where the fellowships are strongest are also mainly the more secular and wealthy nations, with well-developed nurse education and training, but where Christianity is increasingly marginal. In Eastern Europe, nursing is slowly developing a professional identity, but is still poorly paid and low status. Yet in many of these nations, the churches are strong and growing. As more of Eastern Europe joins the European Union, more nurses from the East are working in the West and the North, so there are large movements of nurses around the region, many speaking more than two languages.
The challenge for NCFI in this region is encouraging and supporting the established nursing fellowships in the face of secularism, and helping them to connect with and support Eastern European Christian nurses working in their nations. In the East it is about developing supportive communities for Christian nurses, and connecting those leaving to work in the West with Christian fellowships in their host countries.
Training in spiritual care, leadership and witness are also a key part of our work, and sharing the resources and learning that we are all doing through the Internet and conferences. This is hard, because Europe is a very multilingual region, and there is no one common language that is widely used.
Dansk Kristelig Sygeplejeforening – DKS
http://dks-forum.dk/
The Danish Christian Nursing Association (DKS) is an interest organization with a focus on nursing with meaning – for the whole person, and works for more dignity in the health care system, for both patients, relatives and nursing staff.
We are for all care groups in the health care system and others who share our visions (support members). DKS is independent of trade union and political interests and not affiliated with any particular church direction. We are part of an international network, Nurses Christian Fellowship International.
We were so fortunate that we had our National Conference March 6th-7th just before the country locked down due to Covid 19. Around 80 nurses gathered around the theme “Beautiful moments in nursing”. This time we had more young nurses with us than usual, which was very encouraging. See the pictures here: https://dks-forum.dk/landsmoede-2020/
Christian Medical Fellowship – Nurses and Midwives
http://www.cmf.org.uk/nurses/
CMF Nurses and Midwives is a national nursing and midwifery fellowship. Their vision is to unite and equip every Christian nurse and midwife to live and speak for Jesus. It has a staff team of nurses, and shares in the resources of CMF and a program of conferences and courses. They are a member of NCFI.
Publication: Spotlight.
Finnish Nurses’ Christian Society (SSKS)
www.ssksry.fi
SSKS was established in 1948 for the spiritual care of nurses. It is a member organization of Nurses Christian Fellowship International (NCFI). The purpose of our group is to support the Christian faith and spiritual growth of health care professionals and students in the field and to deliver a liberating message of the gospel to health care personnel and students in the field.
In addition, we seek to deepen the Christian understanding of human care and to support the overall care of the patient by helping caregivers also respond to the patient’s spiritual needs. We invite nurses, midwives and students in these fields, as well as other health care personnel, to our activities.
Office: Mannerheimintie 104 B52 00250 Helsinkiphone: 045 323 9697 e-mail: ssksry@gmail.com
Kristent Forum for Sykepleiere og Sykepleiestudenter – KFSS
http://kfss.org
Our purpose is: to bring together nurses and nursing students to help them practice holistic care in accordance with Christian faith and ethics, communicate the Christian faith and the Christian view of man in education, profession and social life, and maintain and strengthen the spiritual dimension in nursing theory and practice.
KFSS provides affiliation in a national community of nurses and students who see the value of spiritual care in the nursing profession and motivates holistic thinking. KFSS arranges subject days and seminars alone or together with other organizations or colleges. The organization provides opportunities for local study groups and prayer groups.a
Enfermería Cristiana – EC
www.porfineslunes.org/enfermeriacristiana
Objectives include: Nursing Christian Fellowship of Spain arose as a response to the wishes of nurses to find a link between the Christian faith and their daily professional activity. It is a group of evangelical confession, linked internationally to the NCFI international community of Christian nurses. The connection of Christian nurses with each other and with the international movement is for their development, growth and empowerment with a clear vocation of service to nursing, the church and society in general with the objective of evangelization and promotion of excellence.
Email: enfermeria.cristiana@gmail.com
Blog: www.emergenciavital.org
Website: www.porfineslunes.org/enfermeriacristiana
Facebook: Enfermeria Cristiana de España
NCFI Europe also has contacts in Romania, Albania, Armenia. Ukraine, Moldova. Germany, Netherlands. Portugal, and Malta
33 delegates from Christian nursing fellowships and groups in Spain, Norway, Finland, Armenia, Romania, Germany, England and Scotland gathered in Hertfordshire for three days training in early October. This European Meeting of Christian Nurses was a wonderful opportunity to encourage each other, honestly sharing our challenges, our successes, our crises … our reality.
Being connected and praying for each other is a great resource that God gives us. We have been strengthened as a group and have worked together and enjoyed the fellowship. For nurses who were for the first time at a conference outside their own borders it has opened a large window and the global vision of the group and the ministry of Christian Nurses
A special Covid 19 issue of Christian Nurse International (CNI) online Journal about to be published Features personal narratives of nurses working on the front
NCFI aims to extend God’s kingdom through nurses worldwide. We’d love for you to join with us – in prayer, in action and in giving.
Christian nurses in over thirty nations are involved in caring, teaching, training and communicating the good news of Jesus in deed and word. Help today!
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