Nursing In the Spirit Outreach Ministries

11/09/2026

Last Friday, I had the opportunity to share my doctoral nursing project (DNP) and speak at the 2026 Tapestry Research Conference: Turning Discovery into Impact. As a faith community nurse (FCN), this was an inaugural project conducted within my very own church community.

Inclusion of faith communities in research, particularly rural communities, open an opportunity to see how deeply held beliefs can play an important role in one's decision regarding vaccination practices.

It is a personal and sensitive subject matter, in which the church can be an important setting for those conversations, particularly when people already know one another and share a history of service within the community. Trust, of course, is a key factor here.

Thanks to . Sandra Cleveland, nursing program director and other committee members for this moment to share the results of this quality improvement project. I look forward to building on this public health initiative (God willing) and having meaningful conversations.

10/27/2026

Let this song minister to your spirit today. I know, as many of you, this song is a testament of His strength in our weaknesses, storms, hills, and valleys.

He Will Carry You!

There is no problem too big that God cannot solve them
There's no mountain too tall He cannot move it
And, there is no storm too dark that God cannot calm it
There is no sorrow too deep, He cannot
soothe it.

Chorus
If He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders
I know my brother that He will carry you
And, if He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders
I know my sister that He will carry you!

Music video by Lynda Randle performing He Will Carry You. (C) 2006 ...

10/22/2026

I spent 15 years in nursing before I began to see it through the lens of ministry.

Nursing is such a diverse profession, and it offers a wide range of career pathways to match one's interest. Early during my nursing career, I didn't view it as the path or plan the Lord had for me. It was much later, perhaps fifteen years in when my heart posture started to shift, and I began to look at it through the lens of ministry.

Once that occurred, the brokenness of people and fragmentation within our healthcare system was viewed more as a mission field full of opportunities to demonstrate Christ's love for His creation.

This is why Nursing in the Spirit® Outreach Ministries was created. I noticed our spiritual health was not a focal point of care and was viewed through the lens of religion versus a natural part of being human or whole-person care.

Seeking God's will aligns purpose and vision to His plan for my life and the reality of this brings me renewed strength with a zeal to carry on. A purposeful pivot with hills and valleys yet at some point it will yield positive outcomes.

Monica Atkins DNP(c),MSN, RN, CCM,
Faith Community Nurse
Founder/Executive Director
Nursing in the Spirit® Outreach Ministries

®OutreachMinistries

10/19/2026

An Honest Take on Healthcare: Career Vs. Calling

People pursue certain career paths based on a number of reasons: talent, desire, potential salary, personal lived experience of sickness or disease.

However, there are others, walking this journey called life who may seek a deeper meaning and purpose, having a sense of calling from God to do a certain work for His glory and honor.

Healthcare, for many, can start out as a career choice but end up later as a calling. What is a calling?

Holleyman (2023) explains, Christian calling, or vocation, is the responsibility to fulfill God’s will through the particular tasks and relationships of one’s life including family, work, community, and church.

In short, whatever the vocation, ensure it is in alignment with heaven, the safest place to be.

Holleyman, T. D. (2023). The orders of vocation: A Brunnerian proposal. International Journal of Systematic Theology, 25(1), 114–133. https://lnkd.in/giqqtbuY

10/12/2026

As nurses, we are accustomed to following physicians' orders. Orders are prescribed to patients suffering from an illness, injury, or disease to heal the mental or physical body that has been afflicted with pain, dysfunction, or other impairments, with the goal of restoring health and promoting recovery.

Similar to our natural orders from well-trained physicians, we have spiritual orders from the Chief or Great Physician, the one who is endued with all power and authority that saves, refreshes, and nourishes our souls.

According to the Apostle John, 1:14, Jesus, the Word made flesh full of grace and truth, brings life to our mortal bodies and eternal life (a permanent retirement plan) to our spiritual bodies, once we have accepted and believed in Him.

The biblical order is clear, our spiritual health or development is top priority and everything else we put into practice flows from a soul that has either been disciplined and nourished by the Word or one that is malnourished (paraphrased 1 Timothy 4:8). Either way, from my lived 30+ years of nursing experience, our healthcare system reflects this fragmentation.

Here, at Nursing in the Spirit® Outreach Ministries, we seek to read the Word, pray, believe the Word, and impart the Word of wisdom from scripture, seen through the lens of nursing while working in various healthcare sectors.

We would love for you to follow along.

10/08/2026

Navigating the healthcare system is a daunting task for most individuals.

Care managers are there to provide assistance, education, support, and guidance as patients transition home bridging the gap to mitigate readmissions.

Despite our best efforts, gaps in communication, limited access to follow-up care, and unmet social needs can complicate patients’ transition home and increase their risk of hospital readmission.

Adding to this complexity is the case load of many care managers who have hundreds of individuals vying for their time, attention, and resources limiting their capacity to provide timely, individualized support during transitions of care.

I’ve worked this system across many care settings, hospital, long-term acute care, and managed care facilities, and the transitions have a common thread: a seamless coordination of services is essential to mitigate potential care gaps.

This is not an easy fix as nurses, social workers, physicians, and other ancillary care team members work tirelessly to ensure the patient’s needs remain central in every decision.

Since we know the Lord does not absolve us from life experiences, the simple, complex, and overwhelming, I find solace in this truth:

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Colossians 3:23-24 NIV

As told by Monica Atkins DNP(c), MSN, RN, CCM. Faith Community Nurse

09/28/2026

Here at Nursing in the Spirit® Outreach Ministries, prayer is essential throughout our daily lives. The small box in the picture has a list of names and organizations who have asked our team of intercessors for prayer (we'll introduce them on our website soon).

When we read the bible, we see that Jesus quite often withdrew from the crowd to a quiet place and prayed. We follow His example.

Psalms 34:17: The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them: He delivers them from all their troubles.

09/23/2026

Sarah felt overwhelmed and cried, “Lord, please help me.” The answer didn’t come immediately, but God reminded her: You are not alone.

Even in difficult moments, God hears you. Keep praying. 🙏🏽

09/11/2026

09/10/2026

Today is a pivotal moment for me and I give God all honor and glory! I passed my Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project defense, without revisions. This journey took three years of twists and turns but through it all, my faith increased.

This was a team effort like no other and although I’m not quite done yet, graduation is in December, I can see the finish line.

I’m so thankful for my immediate and church family especially my Pastor Susan Coleman Emmons who agreed to support this quality improvement (QI) project in the church. They are now well-informed about measles and the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR) 🥰

My preceptor and mentor Dr. Sharon Hinton has the patience of Job and a wealth of knowledge regarding faith community nursing practices. I cannot thank you enough!

It is my premise that the church (Body of Christ) should be the driver of health care in this country as our spiritual health is foundational to whole-person care.