How would you comfort a dying atheist?

julianp · Feb 11, 2012

As an atheist I would tell you that any spiritual or religious references I would view as you making yourself feel better. I would simply ask that I know you are doing your job. I already know my atoms are going to be once again spread back to the universe. And just make sure I'm not in pain if you can. :)

alpha omega · Mar 10, 2012

If the patient seems very anxious, my standard line is something like: Would you like to talk to somebody about this, like a clergyman or a counsellor?

It gives them choices and doesn't impose any one view. I privately pray for all my patients.

Merlyn · Mar 11, 2012

If the patient seems very anxious, my standard line is something like: Would you like to talk to somebody about this, like a clergyman or a counsellor?
It gives them choices and doesn't impose any one view. I privately pray for all my patients.

This tread could just as be entitled "Much to do about nothing". We, Atheist are not a separated species. We are,as the word implies without a belief in a god or gods. Some of us believe there is an afterlife, since one of the scientific principals, 'Matter can not be created or distorted. That does not mean that we believe in heaven. The spirit of life may go to The Trenton, NJ Train Station or go back into the cosmic from which it came. Some atheist believe that this life is it. The point is we just need some one to hold our hand while we wait to see what is coming next.

brainkandy87 · Mar 13, 2012

As the only Atheist in a very Christian family, I've thought about this a lot, not only for what I'd want, but for how I'd want my family to look at it, if something did happen to me.

All Atheists, just as all Christians, Muslims, etc, are not alike, so I don't think there is any universal way to care for an Atheist. For me, I'd simply want to have confirmed by those around me that I lived a life worth living and that, to put it simply, I was loved. Those are the important things to me. My faith lies in science and the universe. These are two things that, on my death bed, I'm not really worried about contemplating. Some Atheists would. Some Atheists are radical and would want to take a few last jabs at religion on their way out.

I know some people will disagree with me, but I do believe that when we look past religious views, the care for a dying person is universal. Humanity is something that, in the process of death, transcends all religions, races, etc. When we are about to die, we simply want confirmation that our life was meaningful -- confirmation that will enable us to accept our fate.

LemonIndiscretion · Mar 13, 2012

From my experience and from what I've heard from some wise and wonderful nurses a persons' death is as individual as a persons' life. Sometimes all you can do is be there. Sometimes stuff comes out of your mouth and you have NO IDEA where is comes from (I know this from experience for sure!). Sometimes the patient is still talking to you and sometimes they havent been able to respond to your voice for some time, but I think they are still there. You can plan for what you will do but it never goes the way I think it will. I think the best thing we can do is be flexible and nonjudgemental. Remember every family handles death differently too. I remember when my mom died I stayed with her during her post mortem nursing care and I cut her nails. I don't know why I did it I just had to do it. The nurses let me and they provided nothing but comfort. Talk about religion if they bring it up but if they don't, then don't. I've actually been there physically at the moment of death 3 times so I guess more perspective will come with time.

dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2012

As an atheist ---)

please snow me.

And in my living will/etc. --)

for every long-lost cousin, aunt, etc. that crawls out of the walls and insists that I'd want to be alert with my dying breaths...

beat them repeatedly with a baseball bat and see how alert they would want to be.

BostonTerrierLover, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2012

VERY CAREFULLY.

Merlyn · Mar 14, 2012

As an atheist ---)
please snow me.
And in my living will/etc. --)
for every long-lost cousin, aunt, etc. that crawls out of the walls and insists that I'd want to be alert with my dying breaths...
beat them repeatedly with a baseball bat and see how alert they would want to be.

I don't want my relatives to be beaten with sticks. I want them to come out of the walls wearing sort of medieval costumes and start performing Shakespeare's "Richard the Second" with me lying there as the dying John of Gaunt. I want my last words to be, This Blessed Plot, This Earth, This Realm This Vermilion, South Dakota. Then I want my sister to stick dynamite in my ear and blow me to a magic land my mother told me about. Where the hell is Kingdom Come anyway. THAT'S HOW AN ATHEIST SHOULD DIE !

brainkandy87 · Mar 15, 2012

I've got you all topped: I've hired Morgan Freeman to narrate my death. He'll be behind a wall, of course, because seeing Morgan Freeman narrate doesn't have the same effect as just hearing Morgan Freeman narrate.

Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'.

BostonTerrierLover, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2012

You could always give them a prescribed PRN Narc?

BostonTerrierLover, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2012

Or, theres always the Robin Williams Patch Adams Approach. . . .

Dress like an angel, . . .

And go over all the names both Slang and Cliche' for Dying like. . .

To sell the farm

To take the great plunge

To expire

To play the long quiet game

to kick the bucket

to take a dirt nap

to sign off

to make the last position move

to become dis-animated

Merlyn · Mar 16, 2012

You could always give them a prescribed PRN Narc?

Love those Meds!