Religion in Nursing

[NICU:)]

Hey guys! I was just wanting opinions/stories from other schools, mostly so I know what to do in the clinical setting.

So I am a third semester student (graduating in May, whoop!!) and we had a lecture last week over religion. We had a chaplin from one of our local Catholic hospitals come and talk to us about praying with our patients and supporting them through their healthcare stay. I am from a very Republican and Christian state, but I am far from what my community would consider religious. This lecture made me very uncomfortable when they got to the topic about saying prayers with our patients. I have only been in one situation where I was confronted with a patient asking me to pray for them; I replied with "you are in my thoughts," which is not a total lie. I have my beliefs, but they are not as strong as most people I am surrounded with. Is this wrong for me to say "thoughts" instead of "prayer?"

Thanks for your replies in advance! NICU:)

[nguyency77, CNA]

I am an Atheist, but it's not about me. If the patient wants me to pray with them, I would be happy to. As a CNA, I spent a lot of time with residents whose beliefs weren't consistent with how I felt. I just think... their spiritual needs should be met even if those values are different than my own.

[FDW630]

I am an Atheist, but it's not about me. If the patient wants me to pray with them, I would be happy to. As a CNA, I spent a lot of time with residents whose beliefs weren't consistent with how I felt. I just think... their spiritual needs should be met even if those values are different than my own.

^^^ This. Exactly this.

[Sadala, ADN, RN]

I live in the deep south. I know doctors who pray with every patient prior to surgery whether or not the patient requests or is open to this. I don't know if that's so acceptable to all patients, and may make some uncomfortable, esp since they aren't consulted and didn't initiate it.

I'm of the opinion that whatever patients do that makes them feel more comfortable (and with my own physicians, whatever they do that makes them feel more confident), is ok with me whether I believe the same thing or not. I'd probably pray, light a candle, or waft a clump of sage around the room if it made the patient "feel" better. Whatever works for them, I'd prob participate if they asked (even if I had to ask some procedural questions first). Also, I enjoy learning different customs and learning about different belief systems. So on a purely selfish level, it would interest me as well.

But I hope that I always am able to keep in mind that its not about me, its about the patient. For instance, I don't personally believe in the efficacy of most alternative therapies, but I would support a patient in their participation in those modalities if it made the pt feel more comfortable and hopeful, as long as it didn't interfere with their medical management. (And if, after pt education, they substituted those therapies instead of medical tx, I guess I'd have to support that as well, if they were of age and of sound mind. Their life and all that...)

If you strictly do NOT feel ok with praying though, then I think it's an ok substitute to tell them they are in your thoughts, or you'll keep them in your thoughts or whatever. That's a kind and thoughtful thing to say.

[Mrsladysoul83]

Jbudd THAT'S MY FAVORITE ONE 2!