Page 72 - Nursing: The Philosophy and Science of Caring

f r o m ca ra t Iv e f a c to r 1 t o C a r it a s P roC e s s 1
ening leads me to introduce these notions so that others who study
this work in depth can understand what is behind the theory of car-
ing at the wisdom level, beyond conventional everyday thinking about
nursing as “doing.”
With this shift, I will also mention that this deeper model of
Caritas and wisdom leads us to use a different language, along with
different practices. For example, in this model we seek ways to avoid
clinical language that labels and reduces humans and human experi-
ences. The use of the formalized clinical language of nursing’s past
preoccupation has lost the capacity for beauty, grace, for dreams, inspi-
ration, hope, imagination, creativity, artistry, for evoking the human
spirit. The use of nonclinical language vibrates at a different level, at
a higher frequency than clinical-technical, sterile words. Thus, we are
stretched to consider new depths of meaning, new experiences and
insights, new relationships with the experiences and the humans we
encounter. Nonclinical language invites and takes us into words and
worlds conventional languages cannot convey. Thus, we need words
that are not “fixed,” to avoid words that cannot convey higher vibra-
tions of our humanity and the universality of our human spirit.
This view, this notion of “Being-the-Field” for caring-healing, is
noble work for an ancient and noble profession in a new era in human
history. However, it takes work and skills and depth of insight and
wisdom to ponder and manifest. Once one enters into this thinking
about and pondering such wisdom for nursing, we are in a new space
for contributing to society and the world. In this model, we stop and
pause in the midst of our most hurried and harried moments. We seek
to bring calm and soothing, loving tones to the environmental field in
the midst of crises, disease, pain, and suffering.
“It is returning, at last it is coming home to me—my own Self and
those parts of it that have long been abroad and scattered among all
things and accidents” (Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra). However,
it has to be acknowledged that to authentically engage in and sustain
personal/professional practices guided by Caritas Consciousness, one
needs skills. It is mandatory to cultivate personal practices so we are
prepared to carry out the work in ways that are “biogenically” mean-
ingful—that is, that are life giving and life receiving.

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