Gastonia Times

The American healthcare system is currently a focal point of debate concerning fundamental human dignity and identity issues. Ideological influences have complicated both public and professional perspectives on human welfare. As society grapples with topics such as transgenderism, abortion, and assisted suicide, there is a perceived detachment from foundational truths that define sex, human value, and life.

Healthcare professionals, including nurses and doctors, face ethical challenges that necessitate more than just technical expertise. These dilemmas affect the quality of care provided during critical moments in patients' lives. There is a call for a comprehensive approach to nursing that recognizes the individual as an entity comprising body, mind, and soul.

Belmont Abbey's MSN Program seeks to address this by integrating medical science with values centered on the individual's well-being. Dr. Lee-Ann Kenny highlights the ten Benedictine Hallmarks as core principles guiding their nursing education. She states, "By definition, nursing as a profession incorporates the hallmarks, day in and day out, regardless of one’s own spiritual beliefs." Professor Emily Nishiyama further explains that these hallmarks are essential behaviors embodied by nurses.

The program emphasizes four hallmarks—stewardship, hospitality, prayer, and love—as particularly relevant to nursing. These principles encourage viewing each patient as an individual deserving respect and care beyond their physical condition. Praying with patients can bring peace and hope by acknowledging their holistic existence.

The program at Belmont Abbey aims to foster an environment where students learn to engage with these values actively in clinical practice. By doing so, it hopes to nurture nurses who can offer compassionate care rooted in recognition of each patient's unique personhood.