What is Christian Science Nursing?

An Integral Part of the Christian Science Church

Christian Science nursing is an integral part of the healing ministry of the Christian Science Church. Mary Baker Eddy founded The Mother Church, the First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston, Massachusetts in 1892, describing it, in part, as a church...

"...designed to commemorate the word and works of our Master, which should reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing."

(Church Manual of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 17)

Local branches of The Mother Church began forming immediately and today can be found throughout the world.

The Christian Science Pastor

In a desire to understand our Father-Mother God as the source of all true being and healing, Christian Scientists strive to follow the Wayshower Christ Jesus, as taught by the Christian Science pastor, the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mrs. Eddy.

Christlike Care

Christian Science nursing is based entirely on the theology of Christian Science. The New Testament illustrates how Jesus demonstrated the importance of loving and caring for our neighbor in such examples as the parable of the Good Samaritan, his washing of the disciples' feet, and his feeding of the multitude. Mrs. Eddy, too, must have felt the need for this Christlike care because she provided for it in the Church Manual, through the bylaw titled "Christian Science Nurse."

"Christian Science Nurse. A member of The Mother Church who represents himself or herself as a Christian Science nurse shall be one who has a demonstrable knowledge of Christian Science practice, who thoroughly understands the practical wisdom necessary in a sick room, and who can take proper care of the sick.

The cards of such persons may be inserted in The Christian Science Journal under rules established by the publishers." (p. 49.)

A Christian Science nurse is a member of The Mother Church who has chosen to demonstrate this high standard of care through professional practice.

Radical Reliance on God for Healing

When Christian Scientists are prayerfully turning to God for healing, they are working for the spiritual growth or regeneration of thought that uplifts consciousness and brings healing to the body. When a Christian Science nurse is called to help, physical care is often provided, but what is paramount is the spiritual stance and prayerful confidence he or she brings to the case in support of the patient's radical reliance on God for healing. Christian Scientists become Christian Science nurses because they desire to support their fellow Christian Scientists in this way.

Spiritual Reassurance and Skilled Practical Care

Christian Science nursing provides spiritual reassurance and skilled practical care, such as bathing, cleansing and bandaging, assistance with mobility, modification of food, and so forth. It does not include medical treatment, such as diagnosing, drugs, herbal remedies, or physical therapy. Acting in their professional capacity, Christian Science nurses are ethically bound to remain within their professional "Scope of Services."

View or download (in pdf format) the document "Christian Science Nurse Scope of Services 2011."

Christian Science Practitioners

Christian Science nursing supports the work of the Christian Science practitioner on the case. A practitioner is a member of The Mother Church who has taken up the full-time, public, professional practice of Christian Science healing. Engaged by the patient, the practitioner gives treatment through prayer for life challenges, as taught by Christ Jesus and further explained in Mrs. Eddy's book Science and Health. The Christian Science nurse upholds this healing practice as practical, effective, and beneficial for all mankind.

The Christian Science Journal

Experienced Christian Science nurses advertise their availability in The Christian Science Journal, a monthly publication of the Christian Science Publishing Society that is available by subscription and at Christian Science Reading Rooms.

Christian Science Nurses Training

Several Christian Science nursing facilities provide extensive training programs for Christian Science nurses. Sunrise Haven's program covers every aspect of caring for one another, beginning with the Introduction and Ethics courses and continuing with Personal Care, Bed Care, Bandaging, Foods, Special Care, and Christian Science Nursing in the Field(home care), and Managing Your CS Nursing Practice.

Learn more about Sunrise Haven's Christian Science nurses training program.

Helpful Links

The following links provide more information about the Christian Science church and its healing ministry.

The official home page of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston, Massachusetts is at www.tfccs.com
Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy is available at Christian Science Reading Rooms worldwide. Or, to order it from the Christian Science Publishing Society: www.spirituality.com
The Christian Science Journal is available at Christian Science Reading Rooms worldwide. Or, to view the Journal Directory on-line, go to www.spirituality.com and click on "Journal Directory."

For more about Christian Science nursing, visit the Association of Organizations for Christian Science Nursing at www.aocsn.org.

Top