HEALTH PROFESSIONALS’ HEALTH CONFERENCE 2013

Author: Faye Davenport, R.N., BA., BTheol., MN., MEd (hons).
Senior Nursing Lecturer/Programme Leader for undergraduate nursing students, second year. Institution: Universal College of Learning, Palmerston North, New Zealand. fayedav.davenport@gmail.com
Ordained Deacon, St. Peters Anglican Church, Palmerston North, New Zealand.

Theme: Students’ Health and Wellbeing.
Effectively supporting nursing students who have health/life challenges.
Reflection and discussion on what the current literature says.

I am the Programme Leader for in excess of one hundred second year undergraduate nursing students. It often seems as if second year is the time when ‘life stuff’ is most likely to get in the way of the students’ study plans and dreams. I regularly meet with students who have physical &/or mental health issues, ill health/bereavement within their family or wider support network.

At the completion of the Sunday service I dismiss the congregation and myself with the words: “Go now to love and serve the Lord. Go in peace”. These words sustain me during the week as I meet the challenges I am faced with.

Every day is filled with different challenges and opportunities. I approach these with my Deacon role clearly in mind – how to most effectively support the anxious, distressed, unwell student. I often think I should have a counselling qualification in addition to or even instead of, a nursing one.

I ask: what attitudes and values are nurse leaders in education required to have in order to most effectively support physically/mentally unwell students? What does the literature say?