Are you a nurse with "alternative" spiritual beliefs?

[GadgetRN71]

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.

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

I am Baha'i, which I usually wind up explaining to people when they ask. I try not to interject religion into my practice, although its moral principles guide my actions, and I believe that all religions have their good points and therefore may be valuable to those who practice them. I was raised in the United Methodist Church, and while you don't quite get the degree of indoctrination in the UMC that you get in some other religions, in retrospect parroting back memorized prayers that as a child I had no concept of the real meaning of was of little value. It took some time, but I found a faith that closely matches my values as a human being, and that is more of a personal journey than having someone schooled in a particular way of thinking standing in front of me telling me what I should be doing, saying and thinking.

[kabfighter]

Why a lack of belief?

We are all born atheists until we are brainwashed by the society around us. Atheism is not a system of beliefs any more than not believing in Santa is. We find insufficient evidence to accept religious claims as fact, and therefore reject the claims as preposterous. The Bible is less believable than Homer's Odyssey, yet a great majority of Americans accept it as fact (at least in part). This makes me shake me head in disappointment in my countryfolk. I was fortunate to grow up in the least religious state in the country. We also have the highest rate of high school graduation and one of the lowest crime rates. It's a good place overall.

[savoytruffle, BSN, RN]

Pagan here as well. I go through cycles, falling in and out of practice. I lack some of the discipline my friends have. I would say I'm a humanist as well. This has made for some very interesting discussions at my Christian College. I went there for the excellent program and just sit quietly through prayers. It's their thing. Not mine. No big deal. I do find it very hard when I need to ground and center in the middle of a crazy day. My needs are a little different than what most are used to. I have be discreet so as not explain myself over and over. (Like why I love to take walks outside even if its snowing- just to clear my mind) I think I'm more sensitive to energy around me, so sometimes I have a hard time blocking out all the negative and I can get down pretty easily when I neglect my spirituality.

On a "not my best moment" note: don't Get in a fight with a catholic and call Easter "zombie Jesus day". No matter how angry you are that she just called you a dirty satanist. Going through "sensitivity training" (the other lady didn't have to go, just me) is no fun and the pagan will always be the odd ball after that. I don't work there any more- of my own choosing. And I think Jesus is lovely and wish I could be more like him, but it just isn't meant to be for me.

[somenurse]

so i thought i would, too.

.....although the title of this thread does not apply to atheists, as, by definition, we have no "belief system" about gods.(alternative or otherwise) Might be why you have 6 pages of mostly pagans and wiccans, etc, replying to this thread, and very few atheists.

Atheism is a belief system, the way bald is a hair color.

Atheism is a belief system, the way not collecting stamps is a hobby.

Atheism is a belief system the way abstinence is a sexual position.

Things have vastly improved for atheists in just my lifetime, oh wow, you guys should have seen the 70s! shiver! First remark ws always "you wil burn in hell!" and First question, invariably, was "Well, do you worship the devil then?"

Not that long ago, people had never heard of an atheist, we were not on tv, no one was out at all, our numbers were far far less than they are today, and no books or mags would be on the shelves, and only were mentioned negatively, always.

Only atheist i ever saw for first many decades of my life, was my own reflection in the mirror, and Dr Ohare being pelted with eggs when she left her home, and mocked by the reporters and anchors with much relish.

I once had "you will burn in hell" keyed into my car for being out. People could treat a person with almost horror upon finding out you were not a christian, let alone an atheist. OH, i could bore you all with tons of stories of the typical reaction: to anyone finding out you were an atheist back then.

things have changed!!

Now, there are well spoken atheists all over tv, all over the internet, websites dedicated just for us!! Although atheists are hard to count, some counts have us as hight as 20% of the population!! (some nations, we are the majority, like Norway, for example).

it's becoming a whole different atmosphere, so glad i lived to see it. Most everyone today has met or at least heard of an atheist. They've stopped throwing eggs and keying our cars. (well, most of 'em)

We've come a long way, but, have a long way to go yet.

LIke many atheists, I have learned to not bring it up at work, instead, i do this: (reply #2)

https://allnurses.com/nursing-and-spirituality/do-you-have-799254.html#post7046581

that^ could work for all of you with alternative belief systems, too.

[St_Claire, ADN, RN]

I'm Zen Buddhist. The only time it has been made an issue is when another nurse on the floor told the DON that since I do not believe in God I should work Christmas Eve a d Christmas day without talking to me the DON did schedule me for both. The usual policy is each nurse takes a 4 hour shift so we all have the chance to be home. We straightened it out through an in service and went back to the four hour schedule.

The only other problem it has created is when someone "finds out" I'm Buddhist it becomes the most interesting thing about me. :)

[Indy, LPN, LVN]

I'm a heathen, and what I mean by that is that I don't belong to a religious group, and I refuse to be accepted into one. I don't trust large groups of people at all, and I prefer to be what I am, and let my actions speak for themselves. I very much enjoy being part of a profession that washes feet and cares for all people in their time of need, and if people need to label that then they can, but I do not belong to those people.

[bigsick_littlesick]

I'm an atheist. I try not to talk about it at work but the subject has come up in breakrooms and whatnot. I'll be honest and my co-workers are pretty nonchalant about it which is awesome. I think I get more flack from my own family more than I do at work. I might keep it a secret from prospective employers as I think they subconsciously take that into account even though they're not supposed to. As far as patients, I've been asked things like if I believe or not or which church I go to... I think I do a pretty good job at redirecting it back to them and it usually works.

I have never been asked to pray at bedside and I hope I never have to. I used to be Christian and I was always so horrible at praying in front of other people. Made me really nervous, I don't think even if I tried to, I would be any good at it. I dunno... I would probably call a chaplain in at that point. I try to live my life honestly and I would feel rotten pretending to pray for someone if I wasn't of their faith. Likewise, if I was a patient and I knew my nurse was faking it just because, I probably wouldn't be too happy about it.

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

I'm a Christian but my patients don't know it. For background, I was raised pagan and when I became a Christian my family mocked me. (That was fun!) I still consider myself culturally pagan, meaning although my beliefs don't align with being pagan anymore, I recognize it as an important part of my life.

Anyway, it is all about the patient. I don't wear any sort of Christian or pagan symbol because being a nurse is not about ME or my beliefs. Nursing has a spiritual side but the patient dictates it. That does not mean that patients of any belief system should preach to their nurses or anything; rather, it means that if the patient desires any sort of spiritual input in his or her care, it must be the patient desiring it.

Wearing a cross, to me, might make a non Christian patient uncomfortable, or a Christian patient TOO comfortable with me.

When you are my patient, what I believe does NOT matter.

[db2xs]

I am a fusion of Hinduism (primary) and Native American spirituality. My grandfather was Buddhist but my country of ancestry is now riddled with fanatical Christians.

To say the least, whatever my spiritual leaning is, when I am with a patient, it is about supporting their beliefs, whether they're Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, whatever. That's what hospital chaplains do as well--or at least are supposed to do.

[SuzieVN]

We are all born atheists until we are brainwashed by the society around us. Atheism is not a system of beliefs any more than not believing in Santa is. We find insufficient evidence to accept religious claims as fact, and therefore reject the claims as preposterous. The Bible is less believable than Homer's Odyssey, yet a great majority of Americans accept it as fact (at least in part). This makes me shake me head in disappointment in my countryfolk. I was fortunate to grow up in the least religious state in the country. We also have the highest rate of high school graduation and one of the lowest crime rates. It's a good place overall.

"Any god that would allow such misery to exist cannot be GOOD, and any god that is powerless to prevent it cannot be GOD." -The Buddha

"You are your own god." -The Buddha

[kabfighter]

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?

Then he is not omnipotent.

Is he able, but not willing?

Then he is malevolent.

Is he both able and willing?

Then whence cometh evil?

Is he neither able nor willing?

Then why call him God? -Epicurus

[JordanHudson]

I am a Christian and attend a private christian university. I big on religion and take my faith very seriously. I just applied for a nursing program that is part of a Christian based hospital system but i'm sure many nonbelievers attend it. When I am working in hospitals I won't be one to push my beliefs or judge my patients based on their beliefs. I will however be more than happy to discuss my religion and pray with patients and their families IF they request that service. I believe that it is just as important in healing as the physical aspect of nursing. With that being said, I also would like to point out that their mission statement is "

To extend Christian ministry by caring for the whole person--body, mind and spirit--and by working with others to improve health and quality of life in our communities." To me this applies to the way that I will approach my patients but I would never overstep boundaries by pushing my beliefs on my [COLOR=#5a5f69]patient coworkers or on anyone for that matter.