Kathy Glover
Recently, Paul Woodsum sat down with Kathy Glover, Director of Christian Science Nursing at the BA, to find out more about Christian Science nursing activities at the BA. Kathy is a Journal-listed Christian Science nurse, has served as a soloist in branch churches, and you can hear her perform on the inspirational audio CD Inhabiting Eternity.This month Kathy shares inspiring healings and more of the metaphysical support Christian Science nurses bring to their work.
PART 2
Paul: Can you give some examples of the healings you’ve witnessed here?
Kathy: It’s been such a privilege for all of us to witness so many beautiful healings and to see this divine Principle in action. We’ve seen healings of the effects of accidents, injuries, healings of longstanding difficulties with limited mobility…healings of wounds, mental challenges, eating disorders, diseases which had been diagnosed as incurable, challenges associated with the beliefs of age…healings when someone hasn’t been able to support one side to stand or walk and walked out completely free and unaided, to name a few. There have been so many situations where people with a variety of challenges have turned to Christian Science nursing here at the BA – they’ll come in for a few days or sometimes for longer periods – and we have witnessed so many wonderful healings.
Paul: It seems to me that it’s important for people to know that the expectation when an individual is admitted to the BA is that there will be healing.
Kathy: Yes, definitely…complete and full healing is what we are here to witness and what we expect. I’ve had an individual’s family member call and ask about hospice care, but that is not our perspective. The Christian Science nurses will be supporting life and activity, and progress and healing. That’s the atmosphere that’s going to be present here – and that’s what will permeate their room. Christian Science nursing doesn’t allow for any other thinking. A Christian Scientist can’t be nursing from any other standpoint than the fact that there is no death or any lack of healing, because Christian Science is the Science of Life and the Science of Mind – and that does not include any death or disease. We are here to witness Life as God and His loving care for man and the universe. We’re not nursing the challenge, we’re nursing the individual, and doing so with the understanding that man is God’s perfect image and likeness. That’s what we’re looking for and that is what we’re acknowledging every moment of every day. We’re here to tenderly care for the individual – which is not ignoring the need.
Paul: What types of skills and qualities are you looking for in a Christian Science nurse, and what type of training and experience do you require of BA nurses?
Kathy: Currently 80 percent of our nurses have gone through the BA’s Christian Science Nurses Training School program. The Discover and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, has established through her Church Manual By-law and in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures the spiritual and practical requirements for a Christian Science nurse. In Science and Health she writes: “The nurse should be cheerful, orderly, punctual, patient, full of faith, — receptive to Truth and Love.” And in the Church Manual she speaks of the Christian Science nurse as having “…a demonstrable knowledge of Christian Science practice, who thoroughly understands the practical wisdom necessary in a sick room, and who can take proper care of the sick.” That really is the basis and standard that we hold for Christian Science nursing. And that’s what I expect of myself as a Christian Science nurse –that’s how I’m answering admission calls that come in – with the demonstrable knowledge and practical wisdom and proper care that’s needed. That’s what Christian Scientists are expecting — what is called for in the Manual By-law. Our Christian Science nurses may have gone through training in a variety of places around the world, and even though there are various training programs and avenues of support in the training available, it really comes back to the one standard, and that’s the Church Manual By-law “Christian Science Nurse.”
Paul: How do you and the other Christian Science nurses find the right sense of balance when there must be so many demands on you 24/7?
Kathy: Christian Science nursing is demanding and it is important to find a balance. The first step in finding this balance is time for study and prayer. The staff is active in church work – serving as Readers, soloists, organists, etc. Many of our Christian Science nurses are involved in community activities, are married and have families and homes throughout the New England area. Nursing is demanding work; it’s very much like being a Christian Science practitioner. When you’re called you need to answer. We’re on call 24/7, which is a big responsibility. But there is also a balance– we have time for laughter, going to the theater, engaging in sports and all kinds of activities. A lot of our Christian Science nurses are runners, play volleyball, go hiking – and it’s really up to the individual to find the prayerful time to get on the mountain top each day and establish their relationship with God, and be able not only to spiritually defend themselves daily but to bring that inspired thought with them as they go forward with their day with Christian Science nursing.
We take calls all hours of the day and night. Our nursing staff rotates their schedule regularly, and it can be demanding – we’re providing care around the clock and we are open seven days a week and have three shifts to fill. Obviously we need to provide for days off for the nurses – but they all do such a great job of finding the right balance.
Paul: How does a Christian Science nurse do metaphysical work without getting in the way of the work of the Christian Science practitioner who is helping the patient?
Kathy: The roles are quite different but they support each other. Both have very important roles in bringing healing to the case. The Christian Science nurse is responsible for prayerfully addressing his or her own thinking while the Christian Science practitioner has the responsibility for prayerfully addressing the thought of the patient for healing. The Christian Science nurse maintains an expectancy of healing, must prayerfully and consistently behold God’s perfect man, and reflect divine Love (that which heals) as he/she ministers to the patient and his needs.
