Betty Ann Olsen: Spreading The Field Of Missionary Nursing

Many of us know that nursing is a vast health field with many challenging factors that include to not only protect patients, promote health and well-being, prevent illness and injury, and alleviate pain and suffering but it is also a particular field that has the ability to expand one’s present knowledge and enable continuous growth. Nursing is a fantastic field of opportunity since it covers a wide range of career specialties and opportunities. One of which is missionary nursing. Many of you may have numerous questions regarding missionary nursing which may include what exactly is missionary nursing, what is its significance, the specific effects of spreading the gospel and the effect on healthcare in the community as well as the effect on

During Olsen’s youth, God became a predominant figure in her life and thus, she understood the importance of missionary service and helping those who needed care overseas. It was this life decision as well as God’s love that gave her inspiration to pursue nursing and missionary studies. She is actually an alumni and graduate from Nyack Christian College. It is important to note that while in attendance of school, during her last semester, Olsen began to doubt her vision of being a missionary overseas and this left her with many mixed emotions like bewilderment, frustration, and sadness. After much internal reasoning and resolution, Olsen was able to see her path more clearly and decided to continue furthering in her life’s goals. She then applied to The Christian and Missionary Alliance to use her nursing education and belief in God to perform His wonderful works on those who needed great assistance and care. It was at this point where Olsen was allocated to Vietnam to care for many individuals who were suffering from leprosy. Although there are many dangers of going abroad to underdeveloped countries with underprivileged people, Olsen was not afraid due to her strong trust and renewed faith in the

Yes, there were obvious threats to her physical health but there were also other outside fears. There were constant external threats of abduction and inhumane cruelty from the Vietcong during this time period. Yet, with this information, Olsen decided to remain in Vietnam for as long as she could because she knew what kind of effect her care would offer to those in need and that the loving presence of God would greatly outweighed any risk. This is what it means and what it takes to be a true Christian missionary nurse- one who is able to dedicate his or her life to the greater good despite the circumstances as well as develop a deepening bond and understanding of their Saviour. Being a Christian missionary nurse, also enables one to have the ability to spread love and become a beacon of hope to every individual around them as well as make others believers in the God’s