Sunday Service and Weekend shift

gigglebotRN · Aug 15, 2017

Because we're all human on this earth. All people in each religion sin right? So regardless of if they go to church everyday or just once a month they're still human. I don't know your religion background or if you believe in God. I'm not going to judge you for what you believe. I'll judge you on how you treat me or other people or even how you respect yourself.

gigglebotRN · Aug 15, 2017

Well not quite because not all churches agree with each other. My church isn't the only one that thinks other churches are false. There's an abundance of different religions but what people believe in as their higher power is up to them. But you're not wrong, birds of feather, flock together. So yes. What I believe in is not what you believe in. I, personally, do not think I'm greater than you. And if my church found out I wasn't on their side, they wouldn't kick me out so fast as you say, they would ask me why I think the way I do and how they could help. I didn't mean for this post to turn into a religion battle. I spilled out what I needed and tried to get advice. If I miss a service, I won't be kicked out. I won't go to Hell. I'll just feel heartbroken on my end. I am thankful for everyone's advice and I've already taken some of them and they actually helped me fix my schedule for the most part.

FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN · Aug 15, 2017

I just BARELY started working as an RN. When I mean barely, I mean I'm still in orientation and will officially start working with a preceptor on 8/7.
My issue is that I won't be able to attend church service on Sunday mornings. I know to some it may be unusual but I have never missed a church service and I feel heartbroken that I might have to. I am working 7A to 7P and I told the manager that I can work sundays, just not 7A to 7P. I can do 7P to 7A but the manager said that's not allowed. I do understand what I got myself into and I know patient care is 24/7. But what can I do or what advice can anyone give me?

A nurse on my unit has an arrangement with another nurse so that she never has to miss church. They split the church going nurse's Sundays so that church going nurse works 1:30 to 7p on her Sundays. In turn, she works the morning for one of the other nurse's shifts. It works out well for both of them.

Hopefully you will be able to put together a similar arrangement.

Ask your nurse manager what you can do to keep your church commitment, and be open and willing to try anything.

gigglebotRN · Aug 16, 2017

Oh yeah that's similar to what someone else suggested to do split shift. I'm going to give that a try too, thank you :)

AlabamaBelle · Sep 5, 2017

gigglebotRN,

I, too, am a member of the church of Christ. I do sympathize with your situation. What I don't understand is why your congregation has these attendance requirements. This is very concerning to me, personally. I work every other weekend, night shift. I go to worship when I can. I attend a small congregation and they all know what I do and seem to accept this. My husband is also a veterinarian who is on call 24/7.

You will understand when I say that I was raised in the finest legalistic tradition amongst the churches of Christ. If the doors were open, we were there, no exceptions. As I grew up and married, I was exposed to a more grace based faith, and what I feel is closer to the teachings of the Bible. I can go to worship all the time and if I'm like the Pharisee in the parable who thought he was better than everyone else because of his "outer" works and have no recognition of the fact that is grace that saves or that God has given me many blessings, then I've missed the boat.

I used to think it a sin to miss services, then my youngest daughter was born with a severe heart defect. Members of our congregation were sitting with us during worship time. It was then I realized that worship and service go beyond the bounds of a building. I've missed services to go sit with others. There is something special in that wait time that can't be expressed or shared anywhere else. The act of giving of one's time was what got us through some dark times. Visiting the sick and sitting with them is a part of our faith and an expression of the love we share for our church family.

I'm blessed to work in a facility that is very faith based. Is it exclusively c of C? No. We have basic beliefs that we can encourage and build each other up and have devotionals and try to start our shift with prayer...totally voluntary.

Nursing is a 24/7 job and I feel that it is part of serving others. I may not be at worship in body, but my spirit is. God knows my heart and I am at peace with that.