The Institute for Spirituality and Health to Host Virtual Nursing Workshop, Healing Within: Addressing Brokenness Within and Beyond the Nursing Profession, on Oct. 15

NEWS RELEASE

The Institute for Spirituality and Health (the Institute) is bringing awareness to the vital role that spirituality plays in the life of nurses with the presentation of its annual Nursing Conference. The virtual workshop, "Healing from Within: Addressing Brokenness Within and Beyond the Nursing Profession,” will be held on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. via Zoom.

The featured speakers include:

  • Cynda Rushton, PhD, RN, MSN, FAAN - the Anne and George L. Bunting Professor of Clinical Ethics at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics and School of Nursing, and co-chairs Johns Hopkins Hospital’s Ethics Committee and Consultation Service.

  • Rachel Hirschey, PhD, RN – assistant professor, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing; a behavioral scientist with experience in the field of exercise oncology. She is an associate member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

  • Timiya Nolan, PhD, RN – assistant professor, The University of Ohio College of Nursing; a health disparities-focused nurse scientist developing interventions that promote self-management in the prevention and control of chronic conditions (i.e., breast cancer and cardiovascular disease).

  • Amy Green, DMin, MDiv - Director of the Center for Spiritual Care and Healing Services at the Cleveland Clinic. She is Clinical Assistant Professor of Spirituality and Medicine at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. She is a nationally certified teacher of Cognitively-Based Compassion Training through Emory University.

General admission to the conference is $35. Attendees will be awarded 3.0 continuing education units. To register and for more information, visit https://www.spiritualityandhealth.org/events/2021/10/15/29th-annual-nursing-conference.

In connection with the conference, the Institute will present the Emma Josephine Loffelholz McMorris Spirituality in Nursing Award to a deserving nominee from each collaborating institution listed below. This award recognizes outstanding service by a nursing staff member from each of the participating medical institutions. McMorris was a devoted nurse who frequently drew upon the spiritual longings of the soul in taking care of her patients.

Healthcare organizations and educational institutions participating in this year's nursing conference include:

  • CHI St. Luke's Medical Center

  • Denver School of Nursing (Houston campus)

  • Houston Methodist Hospital

  • Lone Star College Montgomery

  • MD Anderson Cancer Center

  • Memorial Hermann

  • Prairie View A&M University

  • Texas Children's Hospital

  • Texas Woman's University Nelda C. Stark College of Nursing

  • UTHealth Cizik School of Nursing

  • UTMB Health School of Nursing

Representatives from the above organizations meet regularly throughout the year to announce a theme, create the agenda, engage speakers, and publicize the conference.

For 29 years, The Institute has hosted this conference specifically designed for nurses collaborating with several Texas Medical Center hospitals to address topics including self-care, spiritual intelligence, and maintaining a spiritual presence in the digital age. This year's conference adds value for attendees in several ways:

  • Help nurses identify sources of conflict within their profession and the impact it has on their well-being.

  • Explore the dissonance between the respect for nurses as the most trusted profession and the direct and indirect violence against nurses.

  • Address inequalities in the context of the communities that nurses serve.

  • Discuss the role of moral resilience in supporting nurses' capacity for healing.

“The pandemic has underscored the significant need for nurses to draw upon their spirituality given the intense demands placed on them the last year and a half," said Stuart Nelson, MA, vice president for the Institute. "Now more than ever, nurses need resources that address their well-being so they can continue to take care of the patients they serve. Nurses are the heartbeat of the healthcare profession – an indispensable part of the team. We look forward to honoring nurses who embody spirituality, compassion, communication, and commitment – values that our Nursing Award’s namesake, Emma Josephine Loffelholz McMorris, demonstrated throughout her years of nursing.”

About The Institute
Founded in 1955, The Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center was originally known as The Institute of Religion. Today, its Board of Trustees includes representation from each of the major faith traditions as well as leading medical, nursing, and servant leaders. From its inception, the Institute has been dedicated to the concept that humans are spiritual beings and that spirituality plays a vital role in health and healing. Each year, the Institute hosts a Nursing Conference, a Psychotherapy and Faith Conference, and are co-sponsors of the national Conference on Medicine and Religion. The Institute offers programs both live and virtually on spirituality and health-related topics. The Institute’s website is https://www.spiritualityandhealth.org/

The mission of the Institute for Spirituality and Health is to enhance well-being by exploring the relationship between spirituality and health. The Institute advances this mission by engaging in education, research, and direct service programs, guided by the recognition that humans are spiritual beings and that connection is essential to well-being.

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Media Contacts:
Laura Pennino, Senior PR Consultant for The Institute for Spirituality and Health
281-286-9398 office
713 419 1776 mobile
lp@penninoandpartners.com

Leah Adams, Vice President Of Engagement
Institute for Spirituality and Health
713-797-0600 office
ladams@ish-tmc.org

ISH Admin