[Elvish]

Originally Posted by stevielynn

Cabbage leaves work wonders for nursing moms' engorged breasts.

Also helps the milk dry up if you leave it long enough....

[Emmanuel Goldstein]

Tweety said it very well (as usual )

I'm disappointed that far too often, our patients' spiritual needs get lost in all the high-tech care or are simply ignored. I was lucky that the hospital I worked at for years had a superb Chaplain. He would make rounds daily, and always came to us early in the morning asking if our patients had any particular needs. He was very much a vital member of our team. I posted about this wonderful man not long ago:

I called on him often and he never once refused to help or act as though it was an imposition on him.

He would come at all hours of the day or night. And it wasn't always for religious reasons, either. One night he spent almost 6 hours counseling an 18 year old girl who's mom had died unexpectedly without any arrangements... the girl was her next-of-kin and there was no one else available; she was simply overwhelmed, unable to make any decisions regarding her mom's disposition. He stayed with her, helping her work through the process, finally finding an aunt out of state to assist this girl. He wasn't there as a chaplain for her, but as someone to help her through the most horrible time in her young life.

Once I had a patient who was actively dying, and I knew she was going to go that night. I called our Chaplain for assistance; the patient and her family were Buddhists, and he came in in the middle of the night and helped them through the rituals of their faith. He told me later that he'd never had the chance to assist a person of that belief, and thanked me for calling him in and giving him the opportunity to experience that; I was so impressed.

[delvenia]

Originally Posted by MNmom3boys

I think Tweety nailed it on the head w/ the "patient centered holistic care"

A patient's beliefs are are part of them, and directly shape how they react to events in their lives - those morals, values, spiritual thoughts (whatever you refer to them as...) cannot (and will not) be checked at the door. They not only are an intergral part of every patient in some form or another, but they also affect how the patient will react to you. Your job is to check your religious (or not) beliefs at the door and meet them where they are w/out judgement and realizing you are taking care of a whole person with individual needs, not a just member of a belief system.

Whether we like it or not science, healthcare and religion cannot be completely detached from each other mostly because we are treating people who have thoughts, feelings and values about all three things.

you hit it right on the nail. i am a Jehovah's Witness and personally wish their were more nurses with mindsets like yours and Tweets...

[wayunderpaid]

OP, IMHO, nurses are not compelled to provide "religious" care to patients, but you are required to respect peoples beliefs. Some will go beyond the call of duty and pray with patients, etc.

Regarding JW and blood products, while I agree with you that it is sorta shameful that life-saving therapies can't be applied, the fact that patients have the right to refuse is always the ethical imperative. Just as patients say "I don't want my colace" they can say "I don't want blood transfusions" and we must respect their choice. That is the way I look at it. As a former minister, I have found that the best care may not necessarily involve "religion", but rather therapeutic communication. Trying to find out what the patient is thinking/feeling and offering the best care he/she will have, often anticipating psych/spiritual needs will go a long way.
wayunderpaid

[psychnurse1998]

One day when my mom had been having a bad day. She was on her death bed you might say. She had just finished crying her heart out. In steps into my moms hospital room, a long time friend of the family. Her face all of a sudden lights up with joy and a big smile. As I, the athiest nurse and son looks on, think how ridiculous it would be for me to interfere or prevent this encounter. My moms beliefs were bringing joy and comfort in a way no other I ,or any other medicine could do. So as my friend anointed my mom with holy water and prayed with her, I just stood by the bedside smiling approvingly at both. I wasnt thinking about addressing spiritual issues in care plans, I was motivated by common sense and care for an individual, my mom. Still I think nursing should stick to science and it is the job of theologians or believers to adminster to spiritual needs of a patient. I also think adults should not deny children medical care, because of their beliefs. I draw the line when adults deny medical care to their children on account of their religious beliefs, I dont think adults should have that say over the life a child.