Catherine McAuley’s philosophy of careful nursing was applicable in pre-Nightingale times and is still applicable today. Select one of the 10 key concepts of careful nursing. Reflect on how that concept might have been applied in McAuley’s time and how it is applied in your professional nursing practice today.
The 10 key concepts of careful nursing practice
• Disinterested love
• Contagious calmness
• Creation of a restorative environment
• ‘Perfect’ skill in fostering safety and comfort
• Nursing interventions
• Health education
• Participatory-authoritative management
• Trustworthy collaboration
• Power derived from service
• Nurses care for themselves
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
A Reflection on the Concept of ‘Creation of a Restorative Environment’ in Nursing Practice
Introduction
Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy, introduced a philosophy of careful nursing that emphasized several key concepts. One of these concepts is the ‘Creation of a Restorative Environment.’ This concept has been relevant not only in McAuley’s time but also continues to hold significance in modern nursing practices.
Application in McAuley’s Time
In Catherine McAuley’s era, healthcare settings lacked the advancements and technologies that we have today. Creating a restorative environment meant ensuring cleanliness, proper ventilation, and adequate nutrition for patients. McAuley’s nurses focused on providing a peaceful and healing atmosphere where patients could recover from their illnesses.
Application in Modern Nursing Practice
In contemporary nursing practice, the creation of a restorative environment remains a crucial aspect of patient care. Nurses are trained to assess the physical, emotional, and social needs of patients to create an environment that promotes healing and well-being. This includes maintaining a comfortable and safe physical space, managing noise levels, and ensuring privacy and dignity for patients.
Personal Reflection
As a professional nurse, I have witnessed the impact of creating a restorative environment on patient outcomes. By paying attention to details such as lighting, temperature, and cleanliness, we can significantly influence the patient’s experience and recovery process. Additionally, fostering a supportive and empathetic atmosphere can help alleviate stress and anxiety for patients and their families.
Conclusion
The concept of ‘Creation of a Restorative Environment’ in nursing practice, as advocated by Catherine McAuley, transcends time and continues to be a fundamental principle in providing holistic and compassionate care to patients. By recognizing the importance of the environment in healing, nurses can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those they serve.
