Would You Pray if your Patient asked?

Q. · Apr 29, 2002

Huganurse:

If you claim it doesn't make any difference what god the patient asks you to pray to, then why pray to any god at all? Why not have the patient abandon his/her beliefs and pray to the god that the nurse chooses? You made the point of which god is the correct god anyway. Exactly. A nurse should have the right to not pray "to" a specific god of a patient's choosing. I'm sorry, but religious beliefs are a personal thing and a nurse shouldn't be forced to abandon hers simply because she is a NURSE.

I would pray WITH a patient but I would not pray "to" another god such as Budda, Allah or the sun or the trees. I am Catholic, I believe in God, the Father the Almighty, and I will not give that up or practice what I believe to be blasphemy for any patient. Bowing my head in a moment of silence, participating in a prayer, or guiding a patient through their questioning of faith is one thing IN A GENERAL SENSE. But I reserve the right to NOT pray to other gods. And I think you jumping all over Shay and attacking her belief that she only prays to her god is quite ballsy, if you will.

My religion is just as dear to me as the patient's religion is to them.

live4today, RN · Apr 29, 2002

originally posted by lasvegasrn
if a patient asked you to pray with or for them at the bedside, would you?

i had this discussion with some other nurses and the responses were interesting. some said they would have no problem, others said it was too personal a request for a patient to ask, and others said they would call the chaplain as they felt it is a chaplain function only.

i witnessed one occurence where a patient asked his nurse to pray with him. without hesistation, she took his hand and prayed a very nice non-denominational prayer. i realize not everyone can or might not want to do this, but it really brought solace to that patient.

your thoughts?

yes, i would pray with any patient who asked me to. :)

Ted · Apr 29, 2002

Yep! :saint:

shay · Apr 29, 2002

Originally posted by Susy K
Huganurse:

If you claim it doesn't make any difference what god the patient asks you to pray to, then why pray to any god at all? Why not have the patient abandon his/her beliefs and pray to the god that the nurse chooses? You made the point of which god is the correct god anyway. Exactly. A nurse should have the right to not pray "to" a specific god of a patient's choosing. I'm sorry, but religious beliefs are a personal thing and a nurse shouldn't be forced to abandon hers simply because she is a NURSE.

I would pray WITH a patient but I would not pray "to" another god such as Budda, Allah or the sun or the trees. I am Catholic, I believe in God, the Father the Almighty, and I will not give that up or practice what I believe to be blasphemy for any patient. Bowing my head in a moment of silence, participating in a prayer, or guiding a patient through their questioning of faith is one thing IN A GENERAL SENSE. But I reserve the right to NOT pray to other gods. And I think you jumping all over Shay and attacking her belief that she only prays to her god is quite ballsy, if you will.

My religion is just as dear to me as the patient's religion is to them.

Thanks, sus. :)

nursedawn67, LPN · Apr 29, 2002

Of course I would pray with them to the best of my faith that I can. We are trained to care for all aspects of our patients lives.

Jenny P · Apr 29, 2002

Yes, I have prayed with my patients. I work nights in CV-ICU, and think that pts. are more afraid and in need of prayers at night than during the day when there is more activity and people around. Some of my co-workers are also surprised that I do pray with pts. when they ask.

momrn50 · Apr 29, 2002

Sure I'd pray with a patient..have many times...all part of the job, don't you think?

jschut, BSN, RN · Apr 29, 2002

Yes...yes I would pray. In a heartbeat.

Love, Julie:nurse:

Paris · Apr 29, 2002

I would not hesitate. I know the power of prayer through my own experiences. When my sister-in-law was pregnant she had this rae disease, I'm not sure what its called but whatever it is it makes you bleed alot if three things happen to you. Well she gave birth and she starting bleeding and she kept bleeding. They said it looked like someone had butchered a cow in there. For the first two days they thought she pretty much wasn't going to make it and if she did she would be in the hospital for like 2 or 3 months. Well me and my church and everyone we knew prayed and by that 4th day after she had the baby she was healed and she was able to go home the next day! And the ironic thing is a lady on the same floor with the same problem died. So we thanked God for saving my sister-in-law. So i would pray without a problem.

Fervous · Apr 29, 2002

I would gladly kneel down or sit on the bed beside the pt and say a little prayer. I've done it numerous times, even with pt's that haven't asked ( because they couldn't.) One pt was on the vent and all the Dr.'s said that he would never come off. They also said that he would never walk again. I asked if he minded if I prayed for him. He shook his head No. Today, he is breathing on his own and walks with the aid of a cane or walker. *The power of prayer.*

highasthesky · Apr 29, 2002

I agree with Susy- I would do anything try and make a patient feel better, but not pray to a "god" other than the true God. I'd worry about the patients feelings, but more worried about the ultimate betrayal to God more.

Ortho_RN · Apr 29, 2002

Of course I would... I am not the most religous person, but if my patient asked me to, I would... Besides, it IS part of our jobs.. In school we are taught HOLISTIC nursing, which takes care of the mind, body, and spirit....

:)