Metro Vancouver, the region in which TWU is located and many of our alumni practice, is one of the most ethnically and religiously diverse areas around the world. Our nursing programs prepare students to practice in this remarkable context.
As part of their NURS 300: Nursing Therapeutics course, third-year nursing students have been infusing their learning on nutrition with more than the study of macronutrients, metabolism, and fad diets. This course blends together various ingredients related to nourishment including spirituality, hospitality, and one’s own relationship with food. Together, we have been simmering in the importance of developing our understanding of culturally safe and spiritually sensitive nursing interventions specific to nutrition care.
On Oct. 12 we welcomed faith leaders from the local community to share with us how their particular faith tradition or spirituality impacts their view of and practices related to food. In our Faith-Full food discussion panel, we heard from leaders Patti Victor (from the Sto:lo people), Father Michael Gillis (Antiochian Orthodox Church), and Priya Bala Sharda (from the Hindu faith). Each shared their tradition’s perspectives and values on topics related to food such as fasting, giving thanks, washing before meals, generosity, and eating in community. Our FaithFULL panel has helped generate greater awareness about how cultural safety and spiritual sensitivity are central to how we show hospitality to those whom we care for as nurses.