Anybody work in a religious hospital?

NurseDennie, BSN, RN · Jan 29, 2003

Originally posted by dawngloves
ITA Dennie. I think the church has changed it's view on end of life care.The hospitals I worked at frequently did MSo4 gtts for palative care. One even had a hospice and everyone it seems was on Mso4

You're right - I think it is a change, but I don't know when it happened. It was quite a while ago... Maybe as far back as Vatican II?? I don't know, but for example in the past, the church didn't agree with cremation, like when my grandmother was young, but it's not a problem now.

I can't believe that there was ever a specific directive not to have a MS drip from the church. I'll bet it was the directive of somebody in mgmt who had some sort of bug up his/her nose about it, and a minimal amount of knowledge.

Love

Dennie

rstewart · Jan 29, 2003

I am currently working in a Catholic facility and I would for the most part agree with the previous posters. I do have a couple of points to add.

As I went up the ladder in the hospital, the prayers were more frequent (before meetings, after meetings etc.) If you are not a religious person, or of a different faith I could easily understand some discomfort.

Another issue: Several posters discussed differences in clinical practice associated with the Church's position on abortion/birth control. Potential employees should be aware that 1) The hospital may be self insured with respect to health care benefits; they can and do direct their health care administrators to exclude coverage for employees on items/procedures related to birth control.

Along the same lines, your hospital may be the only one designated for in- patient care on the only health plan offered to employees. In these cases, not only will the product or services not be paid for, they will not even be available.

EmeraldNYL, BSN, RN · Jan 30, 2003

I am doing my OB clinical at a Catholic hospital and it is an absolutely gorgeous facility. The quality of care there is very high. However, they do not do abortions, tubals, any birth control (not even counseling), nor do they counsel about the morning after pill for victims of rape. I would definitely consider working at this hospital after graduation, but not on an OB floor, because I am VERY pro-choice and would find it frusturating not being able to talk to women about these things.

LaurieCRNP2002, MSN, RN, APRN · Jan 30, 2003

Emerald

You basically answered my question--how do they handle women brought in thru the ER who are rape victims? Obviously, if you are in that position, you don't want to be taken to that particular ER coz they aren't going to help you as far as counseling/providing birth control/etc. I would guess that most catholic hospitals are of the same mindset? Anyone, please feel free to support or refute my claim. Although I have been raised Catholic, I can't say I actively practice. Like Emerald, I would have a hard time working in OB or ER in such a facility b/c of the philosophical differences.

Laurie :)

Newly minted MSN

bossynurse · Jan 30, 2003

TraumaRUs: Me thinks we work at the same facility. I live across the river from you. I don't feel like the whole catholic thing is thrown in your face. Aside from the daily morning prayer and occasional Sister walking around.

EmeraldNYL, BSN, RN · Jan 30, 2003

Laurie, some Catholic hospitals will provide the morning after pill or at least counsel about it, but most do not (82%, according to one of my references). I just wrote a paper on this for one of my classes. There is currently a bill stuck in Congress (HR 4113) that would require all hospitals to provide emergency contraception to victims of rape. Planned parenthood has a lot of info. on this topic on their website, as well as a petition.

http://www.plannedparenthood.com/library/facts/obstructing_032102.html

semstr · Jan 30, 2003

I was trained in a catholic hospital and worked in a few others afterwards.

In all these hospitals, management was "worldly", simply because there aren't enough nuns around any longer.

The few left, work on the ward and as with other collegues, some good, some bad.

Policies regarding anti-baby-pills, abortions and tube-ligatures were different in all of them.

Most didn't do abortions, but the tube-ligatures were done and all doctors gave the pill.

No praying over loudspeaker at all. Once a day a priest came with the communion for those patients, who wished to get it.

CANRN, MSN, RN · Jan 30, 2003

I work at a Catholic hospital and I'm very happy there. One of our little nuns in another hospital owned by them, used to see every patient before surgery, catholic or not, and bless them and ask them if they minded if she prayed with them, and she was at every code. Her presence was important to the family and to the staff as well.

Katnip, RN · Jan 30, 2003

I'm doing my senior practicum in a Catholic hospital. The only major thing is the morning prayer and gospel reading. At Christmas, apparently they sang the had a gospel choir from a local Baptist church come in and sing Christmas caroles.

This particular hospital welcomes and respects all faiths, and has chaplains of all faiths available.

I haven't been here long enough to know about birth control pill issues, but abortion is a big nono.