From 3-5 March the Spanish Christian nurses group gathered for its annual national gathering in the Spanish city of Alboraya, Valencia.

The chosen theme was “Leadership in uncertain times”. Almost fifty Christian nurses from all over the country participated in the meeting.

On Friday, after registering for the meeting, there was a presentation evening with dynamics and games to get to know the participants better.

Spanish health system

On Saturday morning, after a time of worship, prayer and a biblical devotional, the first talk was given by Juan Carlos Nogal, who presented the current situation of the Spanish health system, analysing through various reports how Spaniards see it, what material and human resources it has, what are its strengths and weaknesses and what the health of the Spanish people is like now.

He then made a comparison of the situation of Spanish nursing in relation to other nursing systems in Europe and the rest of the world, and presented some of the problems of a healthcare system that is excessively focused on curing and technological approaches.

Finally, he made some individual and group proposals that Christian nurses can carry out in their professional work.

Transformational leadership

The second presentation of the morning was on transformational leadership as an essential tool for the transformation of the healthcare system. It was given by Alex Sampedro, a well-known singer-songwriter, psychologist, lecturer, writer and pastor.

In his presentation Alex said that this transformational model is present in the life of Jesus, his way of acting had to do with physical, mental, emotional and spiritual hygiene, with therapeutic restoration.

In the same way that God sent Jesus into the world, nurses have been thrown into a healthcare system in which the corruption of sin, misguided standards and a limited conception of health are present and in which we must exercise our vocation.

According to Sampedro, Christian nurses must have a different, more holistic outlook as they come from a Christian worldview. Jesus' transformational leadership was not based on power, but on words of truth, addressing the needs of people and their healing.

He pointed out that it is the duty of the Christian nurse to humanise this health care system with a different quality through presence, proximity and passion. Exercising the vocation of nursing must be understood as an expression of God's call to extend his Kingdom in this world, an expression of his ministry.

Nurses must accompany people in the processes they go through as therapeutic agents; all human beings are broken inside and the mission of nurses must be to show a compassionate gaze of mercy, which is the driving force of the mission.

He concluded calling to care from transcendence, to reach out to others in order to heal their broken lives.

New roles, challenges and opportunities of nursing

In the afternoon Fernando Ramos gave a presentation on the new roles, challenges and opportunities of nursing.

He began his presentation by recalling the impact of the Protestant Reformation on the culture of care and how nursing models in southern and northern Europe are different and have been influenced by this perspective.

He went on to explain what the new advanced nursing roles mean and how important they are for the recognition of the profession, but which carry with them an important responsibility.

He analysed the position of Spanish nursing in relation to the rest of European nursing and the incorporation of those new advanced roles. He ended his presentation showing some models that are being developed regarding the figure of the advanced practice nurse.

Afterwards, the group held its general assembly in which, in addition to administrative matters, 9 new nurses were welcomed to the group.

“Transform your work”

In the evening Jaume Llenas, coordinator of the Graduate Bible Groups (GBG), presented the program “Transform your work”, an innovative multimedia resource for Christians in their workplaces.

The initiative brings together a group of like-minded people for eight sessions over the course of a year, creating a space between meetings to reflect, try things out and pray.

On Sunday morning the participants attended the worship service at Comunidad Cristiana Valéntia, the venue of the event, after which a workshop on basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was given for all those in the church who wanted it.

After a paella offered by Valéntia, the meeting was closed and the participants returned home.