Would You Pray if your Patient asked?

[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?

[SKM-NURSIEPOOH, BSN, RN]

hugeanurse's post regarding what's the difference which religion.....was more or less in response or directed to the excerpt taken from bagladyrn's post asking about praying for folks with other religions.

sorry, i really don't see her post as attacking what shay had to say about the subject & i believe her (hugeanurse's) reply was misunderstood. :imbar

i agree with susy :kiss in that anyone should pray to their own god for their patient, if the patient's religion is different especially when they or their family asked you to joined in a prayer session. when they say the name of their god, the nurse could simply say the name of their own god instead. i don't believe neither the patient nor their family would be offended; after all, they're the ones whom made the request of the nurse in the first place.

as far as christians from different denominations are concerned, i believe that all believe in jesus christ, that he's god's son, & the only way to heaven is through him...but i maybe wrong. i also think, & i'm not sure & maybe mistaken, but i believe that hugeanurse was also talking about the rituals which separate these different christian denominations shouldn't matter when it comes to praying with or for the patient in a life or death situation.

of course, just an observation & mho. :chair:

[Agnus]

Here is a gentle suggestion. Only a suggestion, to those who are concerned about this issue and if it is morally right for you. Talk to a minister or your own faith. Present him/her with your concerns and ask him/her how to handle this issue.

I can understand where you are comming from, and the issue of other gods. However, I know that each of your religions has an answer to this and a way to handle it.

Your minister has education in dealing with this very issue that you are concerned about. That is, respecting and meeting the spritual needs of those who worship differently while maintaining the tenents of you own faith. Call and set up a meeting to discuss this.

[thisnurse]

when i first saw this post i got kind of annoyed and thought NO WAY! they would have a lot of nerve asking me to do that....but upon thinking it through...if the patient was terminal or in some kind of crisis i would because it would cost me nothing to give that kind of support and it would mean so much. whether or not i believed in prayer wouldnt matter and the patient wouldnt have to know my religious persuasions.

i think i might refuse to sacrifice a goat in the room tho

[Q.]

Originally posted by thisnurse

i think i might refuse to sacrifice a goat in the room tho

You say the darndest things! :chuckle

[Stargazer]

thisnurse, that would be very selfish of you not to do so if the patient needed it spiritually!

I am a little disturbed by the assumption being made that everyone IS religious, just not necessarily the same religion. What about the nurse who is agnostic or atheist?

For me, the practice of religion is intensely personal. If pressed, I might offer something very general like NRSKaren suggested (brilliant suggestion, that!), but I suspect that my discomfort (unless I knew the patient very well) would come through and I'm not sure the patient would ultimately feel very comforted. Or maybe they would. I dunno.

I admire those of you who are willing to share that part of yourselves with a patient, but I just thought I would put it out there that not everyone is completely comfortable with, uh, putting it out there. For some people, religion is as private a topic as it gets. And I don't think those people are necessarily horrible, selfish, judgemental (?) people.

I read a book by a nurse who was agnostic. She stated that when patients asked her to pray for them, she simply thought to herself, "Yes, I will think of you." In her context, the intent, essentially, was the same---it was just the wording that was different. I thought that was a good way of thinking about it.

[Level2Trauma]

The question is.....Could I face GOD if I refused?

[Q.]

Originally posted by Stargazer

I am a little disturbed by the assumption being made that everyone IS religious, just not necessarily the same religion. What about the nurse who is agnostic or atheist?

I just thought I would put it out there that not everyone is completely comfortable with, uh, putting it out there. For some people, religion is as private a topic as it gets. And I don't think those people are necessarily horrible, selfish, judgemental (?) people.

Stargazer, excellent point, and I feel somewhat humbled that I didn't think of that either. Everyone is entitled to practice, or NOT practice religion.

Thanks for putting this into perspective.

As for as wholistic nursing care, which includes spirtuality, I believe that this is a "theory" of nursing that not every nurse practices. A nurse who encounters a patient that is in need of spirtual healing should have the option to defer to another nurse or clergy member who is best suited for such circumstances.

Wholistic nursing simply means that the nurse recognizes the importance of mind, body and spirit in the entire healing process; not that she has to pray or provide religious ceremonies.

[Overland1, RN]

Not only can nurses pray with a patient or family member, they can go one step beyond !

Using a Palm Vx and a (freeware) program entitled "Holy Rosary", you can use the Palm (or compatible) PDA to guide you through each step of the Rosary. It tells you even the most intricate details in the order that they are done.

[mario_ragucci]

There are people, like me, who see the idea of belief in God similiar to Santa Claus, or the Great Pumplkin. Not saying this as a put down, but mearly the perspective, and understanding. No way would I assert any personal opinions re: honest spiritual feelings. I save that for allnurses.com. YOU are my choosen people :-) (choosen by me to be honest with like this) :-(

If someone came to me and said they baptised my premie kid I would feel hurt inside, and just say "thanks<: i know for a fact that those baptism prayers aren going to harm or help my child but wouldn wanna surprise the staff with feelings. religion is by nature mob like and bully of personal individual people have alot similiar earmark traits other animal species>

There would be a time limit on how long I could spend in a sayonce (SAY-ohhn-sss), or singing a hymnn, or bowing to mecca, or breathing insense, or killing animals, chanting, in a pew, clasped hands. I'm sorry :-(

[Huganurse]

I'm-Sorry.

[micro, RN]

to me prayer is talking and being with.....

there may be somethings I cannot do.......

like specifics of a religion.....and that is k'

but I can and won't shy away from a patient that wants and needs to talk and cry with a shoulder that can bear it.....

religious, agnostic, hell's angel, mentally retarded, atheist, or

specifics of a religion.....if know them I may use them if I am comfortable.....but that is also where the experts should be called in........

the chaplains.......where I am they are great.........

regardless of the denomination or lack of denomination that they are.....they are educated on the specifics of multiple belief systems and treat patients as individuals first then address the holistic nature of their need, then address any specifics if that is requested by the patient and family.....

nothing is forced on the patient.........

and sometimes the chaplains(the great ones), know when to just come in and talk and listen......and get outside "assistance" and not trying to enter every arena.........

but i worked too long tonight, but the hour is late.........and I drone on.............and just getting over a hoopsy whimdinger of a cold/flu.........

so i close for now and try to sleep and dream.........

[CATHYW]

Any time, anywhere! :)

I think illness forces people to examine their belief system. When they are feeling well, it is easy to take your health and God for granted. It is only in the stressful times that a lot of people recognize that they are not in touch with God the way they would like to be. If I can help, I will.