Healing Presence The Essence of Nursing JoEllen Goertz Koerner, RN, PhD, FAAN NEW YORK JOELLEN GOERTZ KOERNER, RN, PhD, FAAN, and founder of NurseMetriX, is an author, editor, speaker, researcher, educator, and nurse executive leader of international renown. She is the past president of the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) and 2005 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the AONE Institute for Patient Care Research and Education. With extensive executive-level management and leadership experience in health care administration, education, regulation, and e-commerce, her initial career efforts focused on nursing education and service in corporate health systems. She then worked in virtual education with curriculum modeling and delivery at the intersection of the philosophy and practice of professional nursing. As founder of NurseMetriX, Dr. Koerner designed applications of corporate, scientific, and information technology for Web-based innovations in the nurs - ing profession. Her international and voluntary work is focused on workforce development for underrepresented sectors of society. Healing Presence The Essence of Nursing Copyright © 2007 Springer Publishing Company, LLC All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of Springer Publishing Company, LLC. Springer Publishing Company, LLC 11 West 42nd Street New York, NY 10036 www.springerpub.com Acquisitions Editor: Sally J. Barhydt Production Editor: Carol Cain Cover design: Mimi Flow Covert Art: David Stirts Composition by Apex Publishing, LLC 07 08 09 10/ 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Koerner, JoEllen Goertz. Healing presence : the essence of nursing / JoEllen Goertz Koerner. p. ; cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-0-8261-1575-1 (alk. paper) ISBN-10: 0-8261-1575-6 (alk. paper) 1. Nursing—Psychological aspects. 2. Healing—Psychological aspects. 3. Holistic nursing. 4. Nurse and patient. I. Title. [DNLM: 1. Nursing Care—methods. 2. Mind-Body and Relaxation Techniques—nursing. WY 100 K78h 2007] RT86.K6448 2007 610.73—dc22 2007005727 Printed in the United States of America by Bang Printing. This book is dedicated to the Universal Spirit that unites and heals us all. vii Contents Preface: An Invitation xi Acknowledgments xv Foreword: Reflections of a Nurse Healer by Julie MacDonald xvii Section I. Introduction CHAPTER 1. Nursing: A Sacred Work 3 A Return of the Feminine Healing Energy Worldview: Individual Perspective on How Life Works Healing Presence: Ground, Field, and Witness The Nursing Triad: A Model for Healing Science: The Foundation of Knowledge, Which Guides Our Practice Art: The Intuitive Skill of Clinical Reasoning Essence: The Authentic Healing Presence of the Nurse Self-Knowledge: The Key to Healing Presence Section II. The Healing Field: The Context for Nursing Practice CHAPTER 2. The Noetic Scientist: A Holistic Worldview 21 Expanding Our Science: Holism vs. Reductionism Enlarging Our Practice: Expansive Scientific Models Recreating Our Reality: Nurses As Noetic Scientists CHAPTER 3. The Creative Artist: Composing a Life 31 Art: The Power of Perspective Multidimensionality: The Influence of Time and Space Pattern: The Power of Limits Integration: The Art of Living CHAPTER 4. The Human Essence: Unfolding Inner Potential 47 Our Beginnings: A Slow and Solitary Journey Sharing the Path: A Convergence of Collectives Expanding Understanding: Movement From Religious to Secular The Possible Human: A Biology of Transcendence Section III. A Healing Presence: The Power of One CHAPTER 5. Vibrant Health: The Path of Balance 65 Health Beliefs: Living Our Definitions The Human Body Re-Envisioned: An Integrated Field of Energy The Human Mind Re-Envisioned: An Expansive Field of Consciousness Balance: The Key to Vibrant Well-Being CHAPTER 6. Quantum Healing: The Path of Integration 95 The Healing Process: Re-establishing Flow The Healing Path: Stages of Integration Stage I: Embracing Our Suffering Stage II: Transcending Our Polarities Stage III: Moving Towards Authenticity Stage IV: Enhancing Capacity Stage V: Emptiness Moving Towards Integration Stage VI: Shifting the Focal Point Stage VII: Returning to Community CHAPTER 7. Healing Presence: The Path of Engagement 115 Spiritual Dimensions of Nursing: Presence and Wisdom Active Observation: Seeing Beyond the Obvious Active Intelligence: Knowing Beyond Concrete Thought Active Receptivity: Being Present With Authenticity Becoming a Healing Presence Section IV. A Healing Path: Weaving a Purposeful Life CHAPTER 8. Authentic Living: The Path of Becoming 141 Expanding Consciousness: A Shift in Values A Balanced Values Matrix: Integrating the Personal and Professional viii Contents Seven Stages of Personal Development: Living From a Foundation of Balance Values Matrix—The I-MAP Seven Stages of Professional Development: Practicing From the Perspective of Mastery Personal/Professional Development Exemplar Seven Stages of Self-Management and Leadership: Leading From the Power of Authenticity Leadership Development Exemplars Bringing Our Souls to Work: Practicing From a Balanced Center CHAPTER 9. Healing Virtues: Expressions of the Soul 173 Phase I: Information—The World As Mirror Virtue #1: Conscious Living—Living the Examined Life Virtue #2: Vibrant Health—Being the Change You Want to See in the World Virtue #3: Focused Clarity—Seeing the Whole Rather Than the Hole Phase II: Knowledge—Lived Experience As Teacher Virtue #4: Reverence for All Life—Holding an Interconnected View of the Universe Virtue #5: Authentic Presence—Being Real So Others Can Show Up Also Virtue #6: Creative Imagination—Opening Space for Spontaneous Creation to Emerge Phase III: Wisdom—Present Moment As Guide Virtue #7: Courageous Vigilance—Bearing Witness to Suffering With Merciful Detachment Virtue #8: Elegant Timing—Practicing Effortless Learning and Living Virtue #9: Compassionate Caring—Experiencing Nonjudgment and Forgiveness for All Phase IV: Mystery—The Unknown As Inspiration Virtue #10: Learned Ignorance—Releasing the Need for Certainty and Predictability Virtue #11: Active Surrender—Utilizing the Power of Paradox Virtue #12: Mindful Awareness—Stepping Out of the Mind’s Contents Into the Moment With Fresh Eyes Contents ix CHAPTER 10. Healing Web: Weaving the Web of Life 197 Weaving the Web of Your Life Transpersonal Nursing: Being a Healing Presence 1. Health and Well-Being Unfold Between One Nurse and One Patient in Each Authentic Encounter 2. Reflective Practice Is the Hallmark of an Authentic Nurse 3. Authentic, Reflective Practice Enhances Potential for Intuition and Creativity 4. Intuitive Practice Facilitates the Uncovering of Meaning in the Illness Event 5. Compassion Creates the Context for Transpersonal Caring Transforming Ourselves Afterword 213 Glossary of Terms 215 Index 219 x Contents [...]... challenges of great magnitude As older nurses retire, the next generation is nowhere evident The nursing profession has spent so much effort in the recent past to attain scientific legitimacy within the health care industry that the core essence of the discipline has been misplaced At the center of professional nursing lies the authentic presence of the nurse, the intent and commitment that brings the nurse... (Briskin, 2005) Such is the nature of the realm of active receptivity, the sacred essence of nursing Chapter 1 Nursing 5 Unlike Western society, other cultures honor the place of the feminine function in their stories In Hindu legend, the Seven Rishi look and watch over the whole of the universe Jewish tradition refers to the Seven Eyes of God looking out upon the world This way of seeing and being requires... with the living body, the temple of God’s spirit It is one of the Fine Arts; I had almost said the finest of the Fine Arts (Calabria & Macrae, 1994, p 183) Careful examination on her reflection reveals yet a third dimension that underscores our profession, the context of active receptivity, which is the essence of a healing presence THE NURSING TRIAD: A MODEL FOR HEALING As we come to understand the implicit... who benefit from it, has not always been at the center of what is rewarded Being is what slows down the nurse so that space is created for an authentic, deep connection with the patient and healing The work of being has remained constant over time Embedded in the being dimension of the role lies the essence of nursing, and it is here that the call to the profession is actualized One might say that over... health of society Because of this fact, a crisis of major proportion is imminent While political, economic, and environmental issues challenge society, the increasing global 10 Healing Presence shortage of nurses offers one of the greatest hazards to the health and wellbeing of humankind Medical practices vary in different parts of the world, depending on the tools and healing models of the culture Nursing, ... healing presence—An authentic and patient presence creates a space of active receptivity for the person (and their family) that potentiates their own inner resources The feminine healing function of the witness aspect of nursing comes from the realm of no-mind—pure consciousness Guided by the intent to support what is in the highest good for the person and family, we create an empty space of open expectancy,... transcends the economic, political, and technological culture of the day It is important to remember that nursing is a social mandate and has been part of the communal fabric since the dawning of civilization Birth, death, and health-illness are a part of the legacy of humankind, which requires the assistance of others Exciting developments in science and technology have made the role of the nurse richer... caring for the needs of the community So too, contemporary nursing is offered by practitioners with a bias for the rigors of science, the aesthetics of artistic expression, or the meaning of spiritual orientation Individually and collectively our differences converge on a shared mission, the support of healing on this planet This book is an invitation to examine our world and our work from the multiple... perspectives, the field or ground of our practice This interpreter aspect of nursing is from the realm of abstract thought Intuition and active awareness of the understated fosters discernment and pattern recognition, which then guides synthesis of unrelated parts into a larger whole Individualized personal care that supports the interior world of the patient is thus created Essence: Nurses are a healing. .. 2005, p 9) Too often there is an ignoring of those who receive, or contain, or hold Much focus is placed on the object, leaving little awareness of the field in which it sets One sees the black letters on the page without conscious recognition of the white space that surrounds them Reb Zalman continues: I can’t see the wind, but I see the flag in the wind… Though I don’t see the wind I see the flag moving . industry that the core essence of the discipline has been misplaced. At the center of professional nursing lies the authentic presence of the nurse, the intent. Reasoning Essence: The Authentic Healing Presence of the Nurse Self-Knowledge: The Key to Healing Presence Section II. The Healing Field: The Context for Nursing