Praying in the work place

Nurses Spirituality

Published

Hi everybody,

I'm three months into my new job as a hospice RNCM and have been learning a lot. I generally love, love, love my job.

My question today is about praying in the workplace. I know that Medicare requires a spiritual counselor on staff, but I also know that patients can refuse that service.

At my work place, meetings have recently started to begin with prayer lead by the SC. This seems a bit odd to me, coming from years of experience in the work world where things like prayer before meetings did not happen.

Also, I hear a lot of statements from fellow workers that I find offensive regarding patients having a hard time with EOL because they "don't have a belief system." They have a belief system, it just may not be the same as other people. From my limited experience, it seems people die differently, not relatable solely to their belief system. Some with strong beliefs have a hard time, others who don't believe find peace at the end.

I will pray with my patients all they want if that brings them peace and comfort, but prayer in the work place feels like a violation.

Thoughts?

There's even more research that states meditation does all those things and MORE.

Yes meditation and praying both relieve stress. One of those articles I added touches up on both.

Why are so many of you so angry about people praying? I don't care who the person is, people have the right to assemble and pray in public even if you are a Jew, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, or whatever! And doesn't research support the idea that praying soothes the mind and helps stress? If so then maybe the work place wants to put their employees minds at rest. I don't know....I don't see the big deal. Maybe your hospital considers itself as a family like my work place does. Families pray together and in every family you have those who pray and those who do not pray, but the members of that family still care for each other.

Nurses' experiences, expectations, and preferences for mind-body practices to reduce stress

Spirituality and Prayer Relieve Stress | World of Psychology

Seniors Use Prayer To Cope With Stress; Prayer No. 1 Alternative Remedy

http://www.iomcworld.com/ijcrimph/files/v02-n05-05.pdf

There is a difference in publicly praying and institutionalized prayer. A staff meeting isn't the same as praying with a willing patient. It infringes on the religious rights of employees who may not share the same belief system. Some said that you should say something, or refuse to pray, but there is a possible risk of negative consequences. You shouldn't have to worry about being ostracized for your beliefs or lack there of in the work place.

Furthermore, many people belong to dominations that forbid prayer with other denominations, or prayer led by a lay person, or have strict rules regarding where/how/when one should pray. It really isn't fair to them to be put in that awkward position of having to ask to come in late. Then they are the "weird" one for not sharing a belief system with their coworkers.

There is just so much risk for discrimination.

I know this is not the original point. But I just have to tell my story.

I am an atheist My elderly post op (very minor surgery on her foot) patient was emotionally having a hard time. Some baseline depression plus living alone, worries about how is she going to care for herself, etc. I happened to hear that her ride home would be a friend from church so I tried to comfort the patient, give her some hope and encouragement and said, "God will give you the strength to handle this." She said "I pray God gives me a better nurse!"

I thought it was funny, I think she was annoyed with me because earlier I had put her on a bed pan and of course the urine went all over the bed, none in the pan! (Well....she moved herself around a lot after I had positioned the pan as best I could!)

I am non religious and work at a religion associated place. We pray before meetings and at the bedside sometimes. I just read it and don't think too much of it.

This is why I dont like religion. Something that is supposed to bring others together and teach acceptance only ends up driving people apart.

I dont care if you pray at work. I dont care if you pray for me. I dont care if you start meetings with a prayer. My "soul" wont spontaneously erupt through my ears if this happens. Just dont talk to me about converting to your beliefs.

You are absolutely right. "Religion" does do that. But just remember, "man" has created religion. Christ claiming to be God and dying on that cross for "your" sins, is not "religion". Religion is what man has established, with it's rituals, traditions and performance systems to somehow bring you closer to God. I simply denounce "religion" and just believe with my heart what Christ did for me.

With all that said, if someone wants to bring up their belief system in the workplace, they will have to deal with the consequences, period. Unfortunately, "some" people are offended by Christians and that Christ died for them. It's not for everyone. Just as eternal life is not for everyone.

When I become a nurse, I will be absolutely careful not to tread on ANYONE about what I believe in. If I'm asked, that's a totally different story. So, for all you nurses trying to plant seeds, to help bring people to salvation, be very careful, as you have to feed yourself and your family!

2 Timothy 4:2-3

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Specializes in leadership, corrections.

Research findings serve those who pray but for those who do not believe in prayer or do not want to pray or have anyone pray with them, that is still their choice; and research findings may not be important to them. We do not have to agree with their religious beliefs or spiritual beliefs but we have to respect them. This is one of the premises of cultural diversity. I cannot force a client who comes to substance abuse counseling and tell him to ask Jesus to help with his drinking problem. I am there to help him gain insight about his coping strategies while allowing him to sort things out. Being raised in several countries, I was fortunate to see various cultures operating around me. I think it's this cultural immersion that affords me to respect other's religious beliefs and cultural beliefs without agreeing with either.

Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.

It is unusual for the opening reflections of a hospice to be exclusively christian or any other faith denomination.

Specializes in MDS/ UR.
You are absolutely right. "Religion" does do that. But just remember, "man" has created religion. Christ claiming to be God and dying on that cross for "your" sins, is not "religion". Religion is what man has established, with it's rituals, traditions and performance systems to somehow bring you closer to God. I simply denounce "religion" and just believe with my heart what Christ did for me.

With all that said, if someone wants to bring up their belief system in the workplace, they will have to deal with the consequences, period. Unfortunately, "some" people are offended by Christians and that Christ died for them. It's not for everyone. Just as eternal life is not for everyone.

When I become a nurse, I will be absolutely careful not to tread on ANYONE about what I believe in. If I'm asked, that's a totally different story. So, for all you nurses trying to plant seeds, to help bring people to salvation, be very careful, as you have to feed yourself and your family!

2 Timothy 4:2-3

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Wow, do you hear what you just said here?

Eternal life is not for everyone?

Hell is it for us than?

Shameful.

You are absolutely right. "Religion" does do that. But just remember, "man" has created religion. Christ claiming to be God and dying on that cross for "your" sins, is not "religion". Religion is what man has established, with it's rituals, traditions and performance systems to somehow bring you closer to God. I simply denounce "religion" and just believe with my heart what Christ did for me.

With all that said, if someone wants to bring up their belief system in the workplace, they will have to deal with the consequences, period. Unfortunately, "some" people are offended by Christians and that Christ died for them. It's not for everyone. Just as eternal life is not for everyone.

When I become a nurse, I will be absolutely careful not to tread on ANYONE about what I believe in. If I'm asked, that's a totally different story. So, for all you nurses trying to plant seeds, to help bring people to salvation, be very careful, as you have to feed yourself and your family!

2 Timothy 4:2-3

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

i'm wondering if you recognize how passive-aggressive your post sounds.

first you denounce religion, then you "just believe with my heart what Christ did for me".

is not Christ a derivative of Christian teachings, making it solely religious?

then you emphatically add scripture from Timothy, to ensure your (religious) .02 is heard.

and "Just as eternal life is not for everyone".

really? did you just ever-so-glibly say that?

the least you (or anyone) can do is if you believe in a truth, staunchly stand behind it.

otherwise, indirect jabs are disingenuous and derisive.

thanks.

leslie

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I worked for a hospice company and we offered a prayer and praise session each morning at the end of morning meeting and it was optional to stay or leave. I must admit the office where I worked when the company was small we had almost 100% participation and everyone was happy and the company was thriving. As the company grew more nonbelievers were hired and the morale went down and more troubles began. I am a firm believer in the power of prayer!

The morale issue couldn't possibly have been related to other issues...it was those doggone "non-believers." Too bad you can't weed them out when they're being interviewed for a job.

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

It is a big deal when you're in a hospital and staff try to pray with you or otherwise inflict their religious beliefs on you.

Many years ago I was hospitalized. I forget exactly what was wrong, but I do remember feeling awful. One day someone from the chaplain's office came to my room--I did not ask for him. He started off with this whole spiel asking me if I'd accepted Jesus as my savior, etc. I asked him politely to leave, but he kept going on. I asked again, and he persisted. I started getting really upset because he wouldn't leave my room. I finally had to put my call bell on and get a staff nurse to kick him out.

The next day I called the chaplain dept. and asked for the supervisor to come up. I told him what happened and said I didn't ask for that guy's visit, and in the future I didn't want chaplain visits. He was very nice and apologized. I was still really ticked off, so when I got home I wrote a letter to the CEO of the hospital and reported the guy. I could just see him bullying patients who were too sick to stick up for themselves.

Wow, do you hear what you just said here?

Eternal life is not for everyone?

Hell is it for us than?

Shameful.

Wow, do you hear what you just said here? - I do.

Eternal life is not for everyone? I didn't say, the Bible says:

John 3: 15-1715 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Hell is it for us than? In "my" opinion, I don't believe in eternal conscious torment, though most of Christianity today does. When the apostle Paul mentions, "eternal destruction", in his first epistle to the Thessalonians, my interpretation is, "ceasing" to exist.

Shameful. Just remember, we are all free moral agents. We can choose to believe in whatever pleases us. If you want to call me shameful, that is your "choice". But, whatever you believe in, just rejoice in it!

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