Religion Needed to be a Good Nurse?

Nurses Spirituality

Updated:   Published

We just covered a spiritituality/religion lesson in our BSN course and the instructor (religious) came out and said good nurses had spirituality and would be there for whatever spiritual needs the PT had. I understand the benefits of PTs being able to express their own spiritituality, but not being spiritual myself, I always assumed this could happen without me losing my own identity/belief system by praying with the PT. There are professionals in this area afterall and it's not as if nursing doesn't have enough on its plate already.

So the question is, does the nursing career, with all it's specialized education and skills, also view good nurses to be spiritual/religious or is this instructor taking some liberties with the topic?

Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
Bipley said:
I used to keep a mental list of this stuff but I let it go years ago. But quickly, I've been told/called:

~amoral,

~Godless heathen (I'm not Pagan, I can't be a heathen),

~heartless,

~cruel,

~unable to care about others,

~evil,

~spawn of satan (a personal favorite),

~uncaring,

~demon like,

~devil worshiper,

~devil's helper,

~I've been told I must surely have the mark of the beast on my hands and it was actually insisted upon that I show my hands so they could see the mark, (looking again... nope, still not there) ?

~I've been told I am evil for accepting US currency in my paycheck because it's God's money (in God we trust),

~I've been told I cannot possibly be an American as only God fearing people can be Americans,

~No atheists in foxholes (plenty of atheist vets would disagree),

~I've been told I'm too nice so I can't possibly be an atheist, atheists are mean,

~I've been instructed to move out of the country and go somewhere that accepts atheists because the US isn't accepting of us,

~I've been accused of having demons in my soul that give my coworker headaches (that's a professional example),

~I've been told I shouldn't make as much money as a Christian because Christians donate such a significant amount of money to their church. I'm keeping MY church's share thus, I should have a decrease in pay,

....

The list goes on.

It used to bother me but now I consider the source. People are people and that's how the world works.

Yes these are really horrible statements and I hope you realize that true Christians do not say things like this to another. Please do not think all Christians are religion-pushing, judgemental self-righteous jerks. I would definitely give them a piece of my mind...

1 Votes
Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
ZASHAGALKA said:
In regards to sep of c/s:

Once you give the gov't the power to limit religion, you give it the power, at its discretion, to limit all religions to the exclusion of the religion of its choice.

Today, the gov't's preferred religion is humanism. But what about tomorrow?

In any case, that is quite Unconstitutional.

~faith,

Timothy.

I am okay with sep of church and state. It saddens me that they want to remove referrals to God out of our currency, constitution, pledge of allegiance, and such...but mostly because of the historical relevance of it all. I can certainly worship God without seeing the ten commandments hanging in the post office. I wouldn't feel comfortable buying stamps with a statue of Buddha staring at me! haha. (not picking on Buddhists...but it would make me uncomfortable because its not what I believe in) As long as I have the power to post religious symbols in my yard and outside my church, practice freely within my church, and pray in public, then I see no infringment upon my rights.

1 Votes
Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
As long as I have the power to post religious symbols in my yard and outside my church, practice freely within my church, and pray in public, then I see no infringment upon my rights.

:yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap: :yeah: :yeah: :bowingpur

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
ZASHAGALKA said:
In regards to sep of c/s:

Once you give the gov't the power to limit religion, you give it the power, at its discretion, to limit all religions to the exclusion of the religion of its choice.

Today, the gov't's preferred religion is humanism. But what about tomorrow?

In any case, that is quite Unconstitutional.

~faith,

Timothy.

Religion isn't restricted by the government, in my opinion. From what I've seen the preferred religion of the government is Christianity.

Christians have tried to use the government to advance their agenda. Non-Christians are saying this is unconsitutional.

But I don't see how in America, where a church is on every corner and freedoms rings how the government is trying to restrict religion.

There are some of us who advocate for the government to stay out of religion. Good idea.

Sorry off topic, I know.

We'll agree to disagree on this Timothy, unless you care to elaborate, I'll surely listen. ?

1 Votes

I'm outa here on this one:barf02:

Yes these are really horrible statements and I hope you realize that true Christians do not say things like this to another. Please do not think all Christians are religion-pushing, judgemental self-righteous jerks. I would definitely give them a piece of my mind...

:angryfire

Ohhh, I know all Christians aren't that way. If they were I certainly wouldn't be a mod on a Catholic forum! LOL

It isn't worth giving them a piece of my mind, they need far more than just one piece. :)

I am okay with sep of church and state. It saddens me that they want to remove referrals to God out of our currency, constitution, pledge of allegiance, and such...but mostly because of the historical relevance of it all. I can certainly worship God without seeing the ten commandments hanging in the post office. I wouldn't feel comfortable buying stamps with a statue of Buddha staring at me! haha. (not picking on Buddhists...but it would make me uncomfortable because its not what I believe in) As long as I have the power to post religious symbols in my yard and outside my church, practice freely within my church, and pray in public, then I see no infringment upon my rights.

Do you realize that the "God" parts of the currency and pledge were not added until the 50's? Nothing historical there.

1 Votes
Religion isn't restricted by the government, in my opinion. From what I've seen the preferred religion of the government is Christianity.

For now, anyway. What happens in a few years when Christianity is no longer the majority religion?

This is why I think it is SOOOOO very important to keep religion out of politics.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_prac2.htm

For anyone that isn't familiar with ReligiousTolerance.org, it is one of the very best sources around for religious issues. It is about as neutral as one can get. I don't care what atheist or Christian website one goes to, there is a twist to it favoring either Christians or atheists. This site isn't like that, it is owned by both atheists and Christians as well as several other beliefs. It's a very impressive site. I refer to it all the time. If I want to know more about a specific belief, this is the site I go to. It's just very well written and extremely informative.

BTW...

I really want to give the mods here credit. I expected this issue to be closed the day it was started. Thanks for keeping it open. I have been wanting to talk to other nurses about religion and the work place for a long time but it's not easy to find a large number of nurses willing to discuss the topic.

So thanks for keeping it open.

1 Votes

In a word, NO. I happen to be atheist. I do believe one needs to respect others beliefs, but you yourself DO NOT NEED to be religious or even a theist to be a good nurse. OK, here comes the flaming....:angryfire

Oh, and by the way, my being gay makes it so most Christians don't want me anyway... certainly my partner and I of over 6 years can't get married. Think church people might have something to do with that?? hmmm?? Now flame me.....

1 Votes
jlsand said:
In a word, NO. I happen to be atheist. I do believe one needs to respect others beliefs, but you yourself DO NOT NEED to be religious or even a theist to be a good nurse. OK, here comes the flaming....:angryfire

Oh, and by the way, my being gay makes it so most Christians don't want me anyway... certainly my partner and I of over 6 years can't get married. Think church people might have something to do with that?? hmmm?? Now flame me.....

Let them try. ? I happen to agree with you.

There is a whole different saga that goes with being gay, it's something I can superficially understand but I will never relate because I'm not gay. However, my sis is and I think I'd rather be an atheist vs. gay. Some just hate me, they try to hurt you guys. Dude, you have a double whammie.

BTW, and JFTR, when I was in the hospital I had a male gay nurse. Best nurse I ever had. He knew how to shut me up appropriately (I don't make the best of patients) and he was on top of everything. He was very cool. His skills were fantastic, his bedside manner was the best I have seen, and most of all if he could go home after the end of his shift and not cut his own wrists after having me for a patient, the guy deserved a crown. Or a halo or something. ?

I never had a problem with gay nurses before him but after him I had a brand new respect for them. Very cool people.

1 Votes
Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
For now, anyway. What happens in a few years when Christianity is no longer the majority religion?

This is why I think it is SOOOOO very important to keep religion out of politics.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_prac2.htm

For anyone that isn't familiar with ReligiousTolerance.org, it is one of the very best sources around for religious issues. It is about as neutral as one can get. I don't care what atheist or Christian website one goes to, there is a twist to it favoring either Christians or atheists. This site isn't like that, it is owned by both atheists and Christians as well as several other beliefs. It's a very impressive site. I refer to it all the time. If I want to know more about a specific belief, this is the site I go to. It's just very well written and extremely informative.

Interesting site. There have been various Christian revivals, I remember the "born again" movement in the 70s, so personally I think Christians will always be the huge influence, at least in my time. Their stranglehold on the Republican party and the President currently is worrisome to me. It's interesting that when this is threatened how they behave. (of course one can argue as a Christian, the President isn't influenced by the religious right at all but lives his life that way, but I don't believe that for a minutes). :)

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