Searching for Answers

verene, MSN · Dec 22, 2014

Hippocrates was alive well over 400 years before Christ was born. He couldn't swear anything to a religious figure who had yet to be born. I don't get how a historical time line should completely undermine the profession for you. Pharmaceuticals are one component of providing care, not the only thing out there - I've never been in a hospital or doctor's office that didn't also advocate diet and exercise, and have openness to the fact that patients need spiritual and emotional care not just physical.

I am not familiar enough with "born-again Christianity" to comment on whether or not it is in conflict with modern healthcare, however many Christians in general are able to work in healthcare roles with out conflict. Hopefully one of them will be able to answer your questions from a Christian bias-perspective.

If you are struggling with faith vs. profession it may also be time to consult with your religious leaders regarding the internal conflict you are feeling and see if they have any advice for you.

elkpark · Dec 22, 2014

Pharmacology is "the study of witchcraft and potions"? Are you serious??

As far as I know, every major Christian denomination has historically operated hospitals as part of its Christian ministry (and most are currently doing so). They apparently don't see modern healthcare as contrary to Christ's teaching and commandments (in fact, exactly the opposite). Are they wrong and you somehow know better?

I agree with the suggestion that you discuss your concerns with your current spiritual leader/advisor. If you continue to be that uncomfortable with continuing in healthcare, maybe you would be happier in some other line of work.

kolabee · Dec 23, 2014

I get where you're coming from. There are some tough ethical issues muddled in the healthcare profession. We have come so far in our knowledge that we are able to sustain life almost indefinitely.We are able to control pain to the point of producing addicts. There are so many other issues.

I would challenge you to consider something. God placed those chemical combinations in our world for a purpose. He ALWAYS ALWAYS "works it together for good". Lives are saved and people are healed and live much better,longer, healthier lives. He gave us very amazing brains to figure our world out. Diseases that were a death sentence or excessively painful are now manageable or curable...

So. My final challenge to you. Jesus himself healed many many many. I know he did it the "easy" way and could just reach down and touch someone or spit in the dirt and stick it on or command them to just get up. We are not super human and can't do that. But we can share Jesus with our patients through compassion, attentive care, offering the best of what we have to make their lives better.And we can physically heal them (even though it's God doing it through us but through the intelligence He provided). Ask the Lord to show you what's best for you and talk through this with another believer provider.

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Dec 23, 2014

You are a person and you are a nurse. The two need to be separate entities.

There are lots of things in this world that go against the teachings of the Bible. It is not exclusive to nursing. You should not get into a place where you are taking some portions of the Bible quite literally, and others not so much.

And if you wear pants, cut your hair, wear makeup or do not cleave and submit to your husband (and the act of a woman working can be considered not submitting) don't have a large amount of children (no birth control) or any of the multiple of other things that are part of the Bibles' teachings, then do not pick and choose which parts to cling to as righteous.

Be a good person of good character. Practice ethical and humane treatment of all those in your care. If their life choices or life dealings leave you depleted, pray for them.

Jesus hung with sinners and saints. His teachings reflect this in any number of the parts of the Bible. He also made a great deal of people to have the where-with-all and intelligence to create treatments and medications that help someone to live well. To function to be able to hopefully do His work.

Be really careful when you buy into the notion of praying anything away. Yes, prayer can be comforting, can be therapeutic, however, it is not the only thing available. And it is scary when people are convinced this is the case.

You are a nurse who has a job to do. With compassion, empathy and ethical standards. You are, in your personal life, a born again Christian who holds certain beliefs. That is lovely for you to use it as a guide in your own life, as a guide in how compassionately you practice, but should not be reflective of how everyone thinks. It would behoove you to consider that.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Dec 23, 2014

Has anyone ever struggled with the fact that the entire health care system nowadays, the regime, goes against everything ever taught in the Bible? The fact that Hippocrates did not even swear to the One God that most standard Judo-Christian religions believe created the Universe makes me wonder about my entire profession.
Pharmacology, the study of witchcraft and potions, goes against the teachings of the Bible. And most doctors would rely more on a prescription medication than an alternative method, such as diet and exercise and spiritual health.
I see it more and more and I struggle with doing my "job" my professional "responsibilities" after being born again through Jesus Christ, I can't see a lot of this having anything to do with how we are really helping anyone?
Anyone have any insight for me respectfully please.

As others have said, much of the origins of medicine pre-date Christianity, and by a long shot. The birth and subsequent worship of Jesus does not negate all that occured before his arrival; to do so would eliminate a significant amount of valuable knowledge that we apply still today. Early medical practitioners (and that includes the midwife and village 'wise woman') understood the benefits of using whatever was already on the Earth as aids to healing. If you believe G-d put all that there (and I'm sure you must), why shouldn't people utilize what G-d has given us?

I'm honestly not sure I understand your struggle with the bolded portion of your post. WHY is what you are doing as a nurse conflicting with what you believe as a Christian? Why is what you are doing causing you to wonder "how it has anything to do with helping anyone"? Seems to me that applying some basic Judaic/Christian values in your work would be the very core of how you are helping....?

valliloves · Dec 24, 2014

Listen to me. If you look long enough, you will find stuff like this in everything. That does not take away from the fact of what Jesus Christ taught us. Love God and love thy neighbor. Be in the world but don't be of the world. Serving others and treating them with dignity and respect is at the core of His teachings.

Like someone else said, it would really help to speak with your pastor about this before it consumes you.