From the Desk of Roberta Heller, Parish Nurse
My belief in holistic health was being formed at the beginning of my nursing career – but I was
too young to realize it. I graduated from the Lankenau Hospital School of Nursing in Philadelphia, PA, founded by John D. Lankenau over a hundred years ago. Mr. Lankenau wanted a hospital where all patients would be treated with dignity, regardless of ability to pay. He brought Lutheran Deaconesses from Germany not only to staff the hospital but also to establish a school of nursing. As a young nursing student, I began each day attending mandatory chapel with my classmates at 6:30 in the morning – before breakfast and before our clinical experiences on the various hospital units. Mind, body and spirit – the connection was being formed.
As nursing students, we were told NEVER to give a sleeping pill to a patient unless we had done all of the following – spend time talking with them, fluff their pillow, and give them a back rub. If these measures didn’t work, only then were we to administer a sleeping pill. I was always amazed at how many patients were able to go to sleep. The art of nursing and again, the mind – body connection.
After graduating from Lankenau I attended the University of Pittsburgh and received a BS degree in Nursing. While in Pittsburgh, I worked at Children’s Hospital in the burn unit. Home for many of our patients was often far away. Most patients were burned over 65% of their bodies. Many of them did not survive. Those who did were left with physical disfigurement as well as deep emotional scars. They faced multiple surgeries with long hospitalizations. There was often guilt on the parents' part. As nurses, we worked with spiritual leaders, counselors and other medical staff to treat the whole family. Once again I saw the connection between wholeness and healing.
My background is in maternal and child health. As a pediatric nurse, I learned the importance of treating the entire family, not just the young patient and again the connection between physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional health no matter what the setting – in the hospital, during home visits, or as a school nurse in comprehensive middle and high schools. Chronic disease, cancer, substance abuse and depression in one family member affect the entire family. And that in turn affects the entire community.
As I mentored nursing students in community health from local colleges in the Baltimore, MD area, I emphasized the importance of listening to what was not being said by the client, as well as what was being said. Often a client’s physical complaint was symptomatic of something deeper, an emotional issue or unresolved conflict.
I valued my internist in Towson, MD. He was always running late for his well visit appointments. But I didn’t mind. Because when it was my turn, he acted like I was his only patient that day. He was like this with all of his patients. The first 15 minutes of the appointment were spent on the physical and reviewing lab reports. He would listen to and answer questions and concerns. He allowed me to be a partner in my care. The other 45 minutes were spent discussing family, my job, and for several years caring for my elderly parents (who lived out of state), and changes in my life. He is a very spiritual man with a strong faith and a belief in caring for the whole patient.
This is my belief – that there is a strong connection between the mind, body and spirit. I believe that God wants us to take care of and nurture our bodies so that we are able to do His work and care for others.
I look forward to meeting all of you and working with you as we grow toward wholeness in our relationship with God, our families and our community.
Blessings,
Roberta Heller, RN
