The principle of healing through God’s love and grace, as demonstrated in the Bible, is at the core of Christian Science nursing care. This spiritual ministry is based on active, prayerful affirmation of every human being’s innate spirituality and responsiveness to God’s harmonious government. The result is a holistic caring that supports and promotes healing.
Whether at home or in a nursing facility, the Christian Science nurse serves as a Christlike “good Samaritan,” going where the need is. This caring takes on many forms: providing light assistance with daily needs such as bathing and grooming, supplying regular and special nourishment, helping with mobility, communication and rest, and arranging for the use of adaptive equipment or supplies. The nurse also acts as a prayerful companion, encouraging and supporting the patient’s progress in spiritual understanding of God’s law of wholeness.
The goal of Christian Science nursing is to bring spirituality and a sense of well-being to people with physical and emotional problems that are not healed through medical treatment, such as pain and discomfort. As a practical service, Christian Science nurses may help individuals and families find skilled nurses to provide Christian Science nursing care in their homes, at a Visiting Christian Science Nursing Organization or at a facility such as Wide Horizon (in Colorado). The benevolence fund of the Christian Science branch church in the United States, The Principle Foundation, helps defray costs for individuals who have engaged a Christian Science nurse to care for them at home or in a nursing facility and need financial support to continue this form of care.
Christian Science nursing is available to anyone relying on Christ’s healing message as their only hope. The reassurance that everyone is innately loved, valued and cared for by the loving, all-powerful Spirit of God, and that this love and care extends to each person’s family, friends and associates, provides motivation and persistent strength to Christian Science nurses.
Those who need more intensive Christian Science nursing care may be served at one of the three facilities operated by a not-for-profit organization, Lime Tree House. Each facility is licensed by the state and accredited by the Association of Christian Science Nursing Organizations and Facilities.
For more information on the reassurance that Christian Science nurses offer, and to learn about how you can engage their services at home or in a facility, visit our website at CSNConnections. This resource helps connect those needing Christian Science nursing care with private-duty nurses who are available to them, and it offers links for adaptive equipment or supplies. The Foundation’s benevolence funds are also listed here.