Are you a nurse with "alternative" spiritual beliefs?

Nurses Spirituality

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If so, have you gotten grief from coworkers or patients because of it? Tell your stories here!!I'm pagan, and I'm pretty low key about it. I have nothing against Jesus. If he existed, I think he must have been a pretty cool dude. But, I don't consider myself a Christian per se. I've worn jewelry that represents my faith and gotten raised eyebrows and a few comments here and there, but nothing I can't handle. Patients have been pretty ok with it but maybe that's the pre-op drugs doing their job, lol.

Specializes in CEN, CFRN, PHRN, RCIS, EMT-P.
I'm guessing this was a synonym gaff rather than a pun? ;)

As for the rest, I find danger in many places, both in religious settings and most certainly OUTSIDE of religious settings. I could argue that those without a foothold in a spiritual understanding could also fall 'prey' to many things as well.

Viva la difference! :)

Pun intended LOL, ok truce, not trying to convince you of anything hahahaha

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and now we've scared everyone else away...!:eek:

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Specializes in CEN, CFRN, PHRN, RCIS, EMT-P.
and now we've scared everyone else away...!:eek:

LOL :-)

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I'm an atheist. I haven't had many problems yet, but most of my coworkers are vocal evangelical Christians and they assume that everyone else is as well. One time they insisted on doing a prayer circle. I was approached by one of them because she was concerned about making sure that I could participate because they were waiting for me. I kept working and they started without me but it was awkward.

I've worked hard to become comfortable with being honest about my beliefs since then. I try not to parade it around but I am honest if asked. I don't want to be disingenuous. It's a balance.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Home Health, Primary Care.

I work in the Bible Belt and am not sure what to call myself. I'm not a big fan of organized religion. I do believe in God and in the TEACHINGS of Jesus (if everyone followed his lead we'd be in a better place) but I'm not quite a Christian. I think some type of agnostic is my best guess.

Anyway I do home health and I'm kind of leery to tell my patients that I don't quite believe in the Bible like they do. I feel like I'm on their turf. And there are some that just might spend the entire visit trying to sway my beliefs, pray for me, or some might even ask me to leave. Heck I dunno. Again I'm in their house. It's awkward enough saying I don't go to church much less explaining the rest.

I don't discuss it with my coworkers either. I prefer to keep my opinions to myself unless I'm asked directly.

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Specializes in hospice.

I saw this on another thread, and thought it was relevant here. The poster described him/herself as a practicing Buddhist.

Sickness and death are scary, and I have realized that people cling to God in their time of fear and uncertainty. A lot of people don't necessarily ask you questions about religion or preach because they want to interrogate you or beseech you to worship their Gods. I find that they do it in a genuine attempt to make a human connection or to make a divine connection.

I don't think it's necessary to be ugly about it.:no:

If your patient's intention is to be good, I don't see the value in resigning to sarcasm and dismissal, as previous posters have aspired to do.

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I'm a nursing student in a very Xtian area who's been wondering about this topic. I'm an atheist pagan (as in I believe the gods and goddesses aren't actual people), with some Buddhist leanings. Nice to see other nurses with "alternative beliefs." I'm mostly quiet about my beliefs at school unless I'm asked. I agree with what was mentioned above, people usually bring up beliefs to find comfort and connection.

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I'm a nursing student in a very Xtian area who's been wondering about this topic. I'm an atheist pagan (as in I believe the gods and goddesses aren't actual people), with some Buddhist leanings. Nice to see other nurses with "alternative beliefs." I'm mostly quiet about my beliefs at school unless I'm asked. I agree with what was mentioned above, people usually bring up beliefs to find comfort and connection.

Regarding the bolded area: wouldn't your belief in gods and goddesses by definition NOT make you an athiest? You are a pagan for the multiple deity worship....believing them as gods (and not actual people) makes you the opposite of an atheist. I don't believe G-d is an actual person either, but I"m clearly not an atheist, because I believe He's "out there". :)

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Specializes in CEN, CFRN, PHRN, RCIS, EMT-P.

I believe god is a man made concept created out of a human necessity to fill gaps in knowledge.

My comments are not meant to insult anyone, they are merely the irrelevant opinion of someone on the Internet so take it for what is worth.

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Specializes in hospice.

5 reasons atheists shouldn't call religion mental illness

http://chrisstedman.religionnews.com/2014/02/24/5-reasons-atheists-shouldnt-call-religion-mental-illness/

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Specializes in CEN, CFRN, PHRN, RCIS, EMT-P.

Thanks for sharing the link, It actually made some good points, except for number 1. I specifically like the 1st comment after the article.

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Specializes in hospice.

What about point #1 do you disagree with?

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