Question for atheist nurses

Nurses Spirituality

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I am just at the very beginning of my nursing education, so forgive me if I am being presumptuous, but my preliminary understanding of the nurse's understanding of the human is that we incorporate body, mind, and spirit. Those of you who profess atheism, do you utilize this understanding, or do you see humans as strictly body and mind? or something else I'm not thinking of? TIA!

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
question is: do atheist nurses believe that humans have a spiritual as well as physical and mental component?

*** I think there isn't one shared belief among atheists. I think you may get as many different answers as atheists you ask. However I don't see how it matters what our beliefs are.

If not, do you take the requirement to care for spiritual needs (patient and self) to be strictly a mental health issue (not meaning that spiritual needs = mental health problems.) If so, what does spirituality mean to an atheist?

*** No spiritual needs are very real and are assessed and provided for. It doesn't matter what we believe since it is about helping our patients return to health. If unmet spiritual needs hinder that then it is our duty to assist in the meeting of their spiritual needs. To this end I have arranged native American rituals at the bedside, arranged animist rituals at the bedside for our Hmong population, arranged for church elders to come to bedside in the case of our many Amish patients, prayed with a variety of Catholic and protestant denominations, and worked with the chaplain service to meet patients spiritual needs.

I do all that while knowing none of their gods are real and knowing religion is false. However my assumption is that religion is a basic human need since all cultures in all times create religion to meet that need.

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Whoa - this thread really took off while I wasn't looking!

A couple of things:

1) I am a Christian.

2) Because I have a belief in a deity, I began to wonder how atheist nurses interpret the dictum that, among a patient's many needs, there are spiritual needs to be met.

3) Only a few people actually answered the question that I asked, which was probably unclear because I was trying too hard to be respectful. Put a different way, that question is: do atheist nurses believe that humans have a spiritual as well as physical and mental component? If not, do you take the requirement to care for spiritual needs (patient and self) to be strictly a mental health issue (not meaning that spiritual needs = mental health problems.) If so, what does spirituality mean to an atheist?

Didn't mean to cause trouble on your thread! :) I think it's a really good question having to do with the foundation of nursing. I'm not yet a nurse nor am I an atheist, but there has always been a spiritual need for people and understanding that is an important part of nursing.

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I am such an atheist I don't even begin to understand your question. Do I see patients as just body and mind? I guess if that is my only option in a multiple choice quiz then I do.

I guess I worship the "church" of the mind. I believe feelings, thoughts, beliefs, are more important than the body. I don't know what that has to do with being an atheist? If my patient expresses religious beliefs and wants me to pray with them...that is great..they believe and it makes them feel better. If they believe chanting, praying to the great unicorn, saying "ooooommmmm" over and over helps them...I will support them 100%.

Sorry but honestly I don't understand the question...I guess as an atheist I never will?

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Specializes in Hem/Onc/BMT.
I am such an atheist I don't even begin to understand your question. Do I see patients as just body and mind? I guess if that is my only option in a multiple choice quiz then I do.

I guess I worship the "church" of the mind. I believe feelings, thoughts, beliefs, are more important than the body. I don't know what that has to do with being an atheist? If my patient expresses religious beliefs and wants me to pray with them...that is great..they believe and it makes them feel better. If they believe chanting, praying to the great unicorn, saying "ooooommmmm" over and over helps them...I will support them 100%.

Sorry but honestly I don't understand the question...I guess as an atheist I never will?

I agree the original question is a confusing one. But not because you're an atheist.

To OP: As several posts alluded, nursing role includes meeting patient's physiological, psychosocial, and spiritual needs. Whether the nurse is an atheist or a theist is irrelevant. Also, I'd like to ask you why you assumed atheism excluded spirituality? What is atheism to you? Have you considered what spirituality could be outside the realm of Christian doctrine?

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To OP: As several posts alluded, nursing role includes meeting patient's physiological, psychosocial, and spiritual needs. Whether the nurse is an atheist or a theist is irrelevant. Also, I'd like to ask you why you assumed atheism excluded spirituality? What is atheism to you? Have you considered what spirituality could be outside the realm of Christian doctrine?

i love this part of your post...

as i find it pertinent for each person to define their version of spirituality.

more often than not, religion and spirituality are used interchangeably and for me, they are most certainly not synonymous.

as i read elsewhere, religion is an account of someone else's experience whereas spirituality is your own, unique experience.

that spirituality is one's personal journey...

no teachings, no dogma, no conditions or commands from external sources.

it is discovering, acknowledging, and feeling the wonder and perplexity of the universe and all it contains...

whether it is nature, music/arts, meditation...

or whatever it is that stirs your soul, often sensing phenomena that feels bigger than oneself.

you really need to experience it before one can appreciate it, as my words are meaningless until one has experienced and reveled in the awe of "it". :)

and so op, in attempting to answer your question, one's personal beliefs have absolutely nothing to do with your role as a nurse.

we are trained in treating our pts holistically.

whatever the pt's needs are, we refer/consult/deliberate/contemplate accordingly.

being a considerably sensitive and intelligent person, i take pride in being able to competently address my pts needs.

absolutely nothing to do with religion, spirituality, or otherwise.

leslie

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I am so sorry for coming off in the wrong way to many of you. I would love to understand why any of you feel as if there is no God or why Jesus wasn't real or why we do not need a savior. I want to be understood just as much as you all want to be understood. I am sorry if I seemed like I was attacking anyone and I am sorry to God as well if I did not write every word out of love for his people. I know I do not like to feel attacked and obviously posting in this thread, I am the one with stuff being thrown in my face. Think of it this way....Jesus is my bestfriend and I believe he is God and saved me, and I see people who do not think He is good or real, I cannot help but to say something. Heaven found the only way to me through Jesus Christ. It's not that I found Jesus so that I can go to heaven or just to make myself feel better, but that I want to glorify God because he is just that great and deserves it all. That's my father and I love him and he wants the best for all of his children. Again, I am sorry if I have come off rude or disrespectful, I can honestly say I do not mean any of this to sound that way, and I would hope that everyone else could try to do they're best to be respectful as well. Nursing is a gift and well gifts come from someone

And that is lovely, however, it has not one thing to do with how one treats and cares for a patient. I would suggest that should you ever encounter an atheist patient, (or any patient who may be non-Christian) that your focus becomes on the spiritual needs of a PATIENT and not your own beliefs. We are not in nursing to save souls, just lives.

To to OP: It is absolutely conceivable to participate in meeting the spiritual needs of a patient no matter what one's own beliefs may be. And that can be anything from a prayer meeting at bedside to guided meditation to massage to deacons of a church speaking in tounges.

There are many facilities whose mission statements talk about non-discrimination in part on religion. My "Kumbyah" may be a bit rusty, but if my patient is in peace when they go to the light, become part of the earth, or reincarnated into a butterfly, I respectfully honor the right of a patient to be whomever they would like to.

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And that is lovely, however, it has not one thing to do with how one treats and cares for a patient. I would suggest that should you ever encounter an atheist patient, (or any patient who may be non-Christian) that your focus becomes on the spiritual needs of a PATIENT and not your own beliefs. We are not in nursing to save souls, just lives.

To to OP: It is absolutely conceivable to participate in meeting the spiritual needs of a patient no matter what one's own beliefs may be. And that can be anything from a prayer meeting at bedside to guided meditation to massage to deacons of a church speaking in tounges.

There are many facilities whose mission statements talk about non-discrimination in part on religion. My "Kumbyah" may be a bit rusty, but if my patient is in peace when they go to the light, become part of the earth, or reincarnated into a butterfly, I respectfully honor the right of a patient to be whomever they would like to.

It has everything to do with how we as Christians take care of our patients. I have worked in a hospital for 3 years now while going to nursing school and everyday is how I present myself and should represent Jesus and his ways. I treat my patients with love respect and dignity regardless of their religion. Never will I force my relationship with Jesus on someone else . If they have question I give them the truth and i have had great conversations with many ppl from different beliefs because you know why ?!! I am one a child of God that can hold a respectful interesting conversation with someone of a different belief then I do without getting ***** lol. Also it is our business on wether someone is saved or not ; I can't save them because only God can do that but if one person were to ask questions I will never turn them down or be to timid because I might lose my job. Be there ,done that and he has always supplied me with everything I have ever need. So to you, it does matter wether you want it to or not.

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Specializes in Psychiatry.
Also it is our business on wether someone is saved or not.

Please... tell me you are not serious? Other peoples personal beliefs or lack thereof, are just that... personal. They are none of yours or anyone else's "business."

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

It has everything to do with how we as Christians take care of our patients.

raynelle09, regardless of your personal belief, the focus is on THE PATIENT, REGARDLESS of the nurses belief, holistic care is given...it is the foundation of nursing practice to take care of patients HOLISTICALLY...regardless of race, culture, income, and RELIGION.

I have worked in a hospital for 3 years now while going to nursing school and everyday is how I present myself and should represent Jesus and his ways. I treat my patients with love respect and dignity regardless of their religion. Never will I force my relationship with Jesus on someone else .

Excellent. No issues here.

If they have question I give them the truth

...as I asked another poster..."What is truth???"...

And I don't need YOUR answer to YOUR "truth", I'm ok...really. :)

and i have had great conversations with many ppl from different beliefs because you know why ?!! I am one a child of God that can hold a respectful interesting conversation with someone of a different belief then I do without getting ***** lol.

Great!!! But not everyone, including your teammates on the healthcare team, and especially your PATIENTS (I can't stress this enough) may not want to have a respectful conversation about their belief system, or your belief system. It's personal, and it can be uncomfortable for your patients. If they are having a spiritual crisis, we assess, and plan accordingly to THE PATIENTS NEEDS.

Also it is our business on wether someone is saved or not

NEGATIVE...in the realm of nursing, the nurses belief system is NOT in play...

Really, what is saved??? You don't have to answer the question either...I'm good...I don't question them about that, unless the patient wants to be "saved"; again, I assess and refer accordingly, and utilize chaplain services, utilize The Daily Bread; bible verses, even a Bible...what ever is needed, again, for the PATIENT.

I can't save them because only God can do that but if one person were to ask questions I will never turn them down or be to timid because I might lose my job.

Right here, depending on where you work as a nurse, you MAY lose your job if you take it upon yourself to do this, especially if this patient doesn't just wants to reflect, they may not your "truth", per se, just a listening ear.

Be there ,done that and he has always supplied me with everything I have ever need. So to you, it does matter wether you want it to or not.

Again, NEGATIVE :no: IT DOES NOT MATTER TO A NURSE...we treat patients HOLISTICALLY...it doesn't matter whether a patient is saved, "not saved", humanistic, polytheistic, deist, any religion...we as nurses are committed to treat the patient regardless how we feel, personally. We work hard to empower our patients holistically, and it ONLY matters that MY PATIENT gets what they NEED...and NO ONE has to be "saved", Christian, monotheistic, polytheistic, Wiccan, etc. to do this correctly, as many posters have stated beautifully. There is no superior religion who is the "best nurse."

I can see how some religious members can feel this "confusion" of one who doesn't choose to be saved. had to sit down with one of my dearest friends who is saved and tell her my beliefs, because she was telling people that I was an atheist, when I am not...I'm a spiritual agnostic, which means MANY different things, lol, but TO ME-which is the only thing that matters to me PRIVATELY-is I don't feel the need to invest my personal spiritual journey with a particular religion. And that's ok. My beliefs and moral compass comforts me, and allows me to be the best person possible, equally as much as my nursing compass allows me to do the same.

That does not mean I have no clue about religion, either. I find Paul's letter to the Corinthians to be thought provoking and inspiring as much as the Bhagavad Gita, the Dhammapada, Pirkei Aviot in the Talmud, Surah 2:62 speaks to the respect of various "faiths"as long as they do what is "right".

I find inspiration from nature, and even MORE, the human perspective...what a pair of eyes may see on their journey may be different than the next pair of eyes; even silence can be most inspiring to me, and again, that is OK. I can utilize the sources that my patient needs, what the patient wants.

That's ONLY what matters...it's not about ME.

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As I read through these posts, I was thinking : As trained, educated medical professionals knowing how intricately the body works, how could a nurse, pa, md etc not believe in a higher power. I dont judge or cut another down for their beliefs..but I just always thought it was so amazing how we work and it cant be just coincidence. I am not saying Im right, im just posing food for thought and perspective

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As I read through these posts I was thinking : As trained, educated medical professionals knowing how intricately the body works, how could a nurse, pa, md etc not believe in a higher power. I dont judge or cut another down for their beliefs..but I just always thought it was so amazing how we work and it cant be just coincidence. I am not saying Im right, im just posing food for thought and perspective[/quote']

Amen! The human body is amazing and so intricate. So is the universe and everything in it. Literally everything is so beautiful when it is how it is supposed to be.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
As I read through these posts I was thinking : As trained, educated medical professionals knowing how intricately the body works, how could a nurse, pa, md etc not believe in a higher power. I dont judge or cut another down for their beliefs..but I just always thought it was so amazing how we work and it cant be just coincidence. I am not saying Im right, im just posing food for thought and perspective[/quote']

Because there is a scientific basis in how the body works. Science is an amazing theoretical process, that is a evidenced-based process. Evidenced-based processing and practice is OK too. It is a huge part of our nursing practice.

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