When Is It Appropriate to Share Faith at Work?: One Nurse's Story

This article will discuss my personal views on when it is appropriate to share your faith at work. Religion can be a touchy subject for many. Some are offended when you mention religion. Others are comforted. Where is there balance in this? Let's discuss this further. Nurses Announcements Archive Article

As nurses, we wear many hats. To name a few: we are caregivers, providers, assessors, comforters, encouragers, teachers, an ear to listen. Are we to be evangelists or preachers? In my opinion, no and....yes. I believe that it is appropriate to share my faith when the patient has already started the conversation and I am adding to it. Here are a few stories to make my point.

It was 6:40 pm. Twenty minutes left until shift change. (At last!) Of course, this is when my new admit wheels down the hall. I knew she was coming so I was able to finish my other duties and check on other patients before she arrived. I greeted the patient with a smile and introduced myself. She said hi and smiled back. She said "You're a Christian aren't you?" She saw the look on my face that said "Wow, how did you know?" She then smiled again and said. "I can tell by your smile, you have a glow of happiness. You must know the Lord." She was a very spiritual lady.

She was there for 24 hour cardiac observation. We talked and shared our love for the Lord for a few minutes while I checked her vitals and got her settled in her room. We prayed for her situation. She also prayed for me and then I said thank you and goodbye. I went on to shift change report. We both left that situation blessed and at peace.

One more. Some time ago I worked in a surgery center preparing patients for surgery. A patient walked in to my area and sat in the chair. My job was to screen the patient and start an IV. We hit it off from the get go. We learned quickly that we were both Christians. (You know, the smile/glow thing?) I only had one arm available to start an IV due to health issues with the other arm. She also said that she was a hard stick and from her body language she didn't like needles. I tried once but wasn't successful. She asked if anesthesia could start the IV. I let the doctor know and went on to my next patient.

She was a very difficult stick, small veins that blew easily. The doctor and a few other nurses tried with no success. I was busy with my new patient but would look over to her wishing I could hold her hand while they tried to start her IV. When I finished with my patient, I had a moment to go talk with her. She was almost in tears. She really didn't like IVs but could not have surgery without it. Surgery was needed. The doctor did not want to postpone the surgery if possible. When I went to the patient I saw one vein on her hand that was like a neon saying "pick me! pick me! I'm the one!"

I asked the patient and anesthesia if they minded if I tried "one more time". The patient said ok. I didn't want to use a tourniquet. I will have the patient hang their hand over the chair. "gravity is my friend" I always say with hard stick IVs. When I hang their hand over the arm of the chair, I need to be lower. I will put the stool low or sit on my knees. I was on my knees and the patient grabbed my hand and started praying. (She read my mind, I wanted to pray too.)

We both prayed, quietly, only loud enough that we could hear each other. I prayed that God would use this situation for His glory. That it would be a witness to others in the room that God can do anything. Even something as easy as calming a patient and getting a good IV. After we finished praying I was about to start the IV. I started praying again while I was starting the IV. I instantly felt her body and hand relax. I got it! She was so happy. She gave me a big hug and a peck on the cheek.

I found out later on that at her post op visit she described the whole story to the staff at the doctor's office. She couldn't remember my name but I was "the little angel who started her IV".

Times like these stories, this is when I believe it is appropriate to share. When the patient starts the dialogue. If it is started by the nurse and the patient is not a believer I think it can come across as unwelcomed. We as Christians are to go about the world spreading the good news. But I believe this should be done on our own time, not our employers.

What about you? Do you like to share with your patients? Any thoughts?

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Do people actually put that information on applications?

Yes, I agree. Anyone telling any patient that they're "doomed to everlasting destruction" would not be supportive or compassionate and would most certainly inflict needless distress on the patient.

Well said.

During the interview process they are going to be careful to make sure people aren't going to try to push an agenda on their patients.

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Thank you for your honesty. I completely hear you on this. It's so unfortunate that people would act like this. If I were a patient, I would never in all my life report someone or conspire to have them terminated, no matter how they treated me. So sad...

3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

I will most certainly proceed with abundant caution, especially within the workplace. I want to become a nurse, more so to take care of the sick, then to preach the gospel to them. But I'm sure, I'll have wonderful moments that I'll be able to freely discuss the gospel of Jesus Christ with another fellow Christian patient.:)

I will pray that you find the strength that you need to avoid discussing the gospel of Jesus Christ and quoting scripture when you become a nurse. This in a majority of situations...will find yourself in trouble with the hospital administration. Really..you can't go around quoting scripture. I am just trying to save you from being terribly disappointed and shocked ....or fired.....at the reality of the situation. OR you will need to find a fundamentalist christian hospital.

People will report you for wearing the wrong hair ribbon. Trust me the hospital world is NO DIFFERENT than your banking corporate world....the patients is the customer and the customer is always right.

I wish you the best.

I will pray that you find the strength that you need to avoid discussing the gospel of Jesus Christ and quoting scripture when you become a nurse. This in a majority of situations...will find yourself in trouble with the hospital administration. Really..you can't go around quoting scripture. I am just trying to save you from being terribly disappointed and shocked ....or fired.....at the reality of the situation. OR you will need to find a fundamentalist christian hospital.

People will report you for wearing the wrong hair ribbon. Trust me the hospital world is NO DIFFERENT than your banking corporate world....the patients is the customer and the customer is always right.

I wish you the best.

I don't have to "quote" scripture, to relay a comforting message to a fellow Christian patient, that as a believer, they have eternal life and therefore, will not be appointed to God's wrath.

If you heard a nurse having a discussion, such as this, to a fellow Christian patient and they (the patient) initiated the conversation, would you report that nurse or argue in "favor" of their termination?

I don't have to "quote" scripture, to relay a comforting message to a fellow Christian patient, that as a believer, they have eternal life and therefore, will not be appointed to God's wrath.

If you heard a nurse having a discussion, such as this, to a fellow Christian patient and they (the patient) initiated the conversation, would you report that nurse or argue in "favor" of their termination?

Given the workload of most nurses it would have to be quick. Since most nurses have 12 to 14 hour bladders and minimal food needs met while at work anything more than a short acknowledgement of faith would deprive others of care.

I would not argue for termination based on having a discussion. If it impacted others workloads or impacted care of patients I would have a problem with it. Religious discussions are after work discussions the same as other avocational discussions. You want to talk about the football draft beyond a few words then you offer to come back on your own time to discuss. Same with religion. You are not being paid to discuss religion. Nurses need to be conversant on many topics. That does not give them a free pass to neglect other duties.

Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.

Exactly what aknottedyarn said. In addition, I would ask that you also be respectful of the patient in the next bed. They may not share your views and might be offended if you start talking about who is "saved" vs. who isn't. One of the very unattractive things about any group or religion is when it is implied that one viewpoint or set of beliefs is the only right or true one.

What a controversial thread. I do not believe for one second that Christian nurses "glow." There are compassionate nurses who aren't Christians and Christian nurses who aren't compassionate to patients. If a patient asks, fine, share your faith and pray away. But please do not "share your faith" uninvited. Your patient gets to define the role of spirituality in the therapeutic relationship. Missionary work should be reserved for days off.

The comments about jeopardizing your job by sharing faith are very concerning. The bigger issue is infringing on your patients right to peace. They are a captive audience. It is not fair to them.

I don't have to "quote" scripture, to relay a comforting message to a fellow Christian patient, that as a believer, they have eternal life and therefore, will not be appointed to God's wrath.

i would guesstimate that 99.9% of your posts have included scripture.

and so respectfully, i remain skeptical of the bolded (by me).

I do not believe for one second that Christian nurses "glow."

i *think* it's an exclusive type of language that devout Christians share amongst each other, re the light of the holy spirit or Jesus.

still, i fully agree with your perspective...that religion has nothing to do with the glow...the light.

rather, i've seen so many people that are joyous...

that they have the glow/light of love, of peace, of contentment within their souls.

this is why that type of Christian banter doesn't offend me...

as i replace the religious concept with a more universal one, and they are one and the same.

it is important to me, not to get hung up on labels. :)

leslie

eta: fwiw, i DESPISE that smiley face. he just looks so darned smug.

Specializes in Med Surg.

I think Esme said it best. Nursing is about the patient. It's not about you.

I think you assume a lot when you delve into spiritual matters. Spirituality tends to be quite individual, even among those of the same denomination. Allowing patients to express themselves - absolutely. Putting in your own two cents... Why go there?

ah...i'm glad you've come around and seen the light.

good answer. ;)

leslie

Come around from where? I've thought this all along.

The only light I know of is this:

12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Please don't get upset from this post. You say I've "come around", but from where? That is implying that my statements have somehow contradicted themselves. I never once said I would be telling any patient they are doomed to God's wrath. What I said was that if a Christian patient asked me about hell or God's wrath, I would politely tell them no need to worry..."you're a believer and will therefore not appointed to God's wrath".

Hey, don't get mad at me. The Bible says it! In my opinion, it's THE truth. You feel otherwise. I'm cool with that.

Given the workload of most nurses it would have to be quick. Since most nurses have 12 to 14 hour bladders and minimal food needs met while at work anything more than a short acknowledgement of faith would deprive others of care.

I would not argue for termination based on having a discussion. If it impacted others workloads or impacted care of patients I would have a problem with it. Religious discussions are after work discussions the same as other avocational discussions. You want to talk about the football draft beyond a few words then you offer to come back on your own time to discuss. Same with religion. You are not being paid to discuss religion. Nurses need to be conversant on many topics. That does not give them a free pass to neglect other duties.

It might very well depend on the hospital one works in. My wife tells me she has time, many of nights, to converse with patients.

still, i fully agree with your perspective...that religion has nothing to do with the glow...the light.

rather, i've seen so many people that are joyous...

that they have the glow/light of love, of peace, of contentment within their souls.

this is why that type of Christian banter doesn't offend me...

I agree, "Religion" is such an ugly label.

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

Just out of curiosity, what "motive" would the apostle Paul have for writing a verse such as this? And he has countless others like this too, since we penned half of the New Testament. If Jesus Christ is really not God, Paul and all the other disciples of Christ, must have been some really wacked out loonies! Don't ya think?

I agree, "Religion" is such an ugly label.

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

Just out of curiosity, what "motive" would the apostle Paul have for writing a verse such as this? And he has countless others like this too, since we penned half of the New Testament. If Jesus Christ is really not God, Paul and all the other disciples of Christ, must have been some really wacked out loonies! Don't ya think?

There are many who might argue that Paul was a brick or two short. There are many who see him as a zealot. This by definition includes the possibility of a fanatic. He was tasked with spreading churches through many areas. A good teacher shares the material. A great teacher uses methods that hold the interest and make for good conversation.

zeal-ot (zebreve.giflprime.gifschwa.gift)n.1. a. One who is zealous, especially excessively so.

b. A fanatically committed person.

2. Zealot A member of a Jewish movement of the first century a.d. that fought against Roman rule in Palestine as incompatible with strict monotheism.

This is not to put Paul down. He is not my favorite disciple, but then I think much of what we read by him was intended for a specific audience and we are not it.

I do agree with the conceptual things. I just think his presentation was for an audience that no longer exists. That does not mean that I do not believe in Christ as the Son of God. It means I believe Paul as a human with human frailties. To say that his words are God's words is a stretch for me. Christ shared God's word. The rest of them shared their interpretation of Christ's presentation.

In a similar way we see the entire issue of "gay marriage" presented from a religious POV for those who are against it. The issue is not who is having sex, it is about equal rights for all who wish to be joined in marriage, a state definition.

You deny a part of our citizenry the opportunity to have equal rights because you do not think that a Christian bible says it is OK. What you are objecting to is a wedding, a ceremony by a religious person to join two as one. The state definition is that a legally binding contract has been signed and witnessed that two people have all the rights and privileges of all married people.

If you are trying to deny this I can only think it is because of prejudice and judgmental thinking. A same sex marriage does nothing to harm you and it might even have some take a more close look at their own different sex marriages.