Atheist or Agnostic?

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I know, I know, you're never supposed to talk about religion or politics, right....

I'm really not trying to start a religious debate, but just get a sense of where people are at. I'm a first year student and an atheist, yet all my fellow students and the nurses I'm meeting are believers.

If and when I become an atheist nurse, am I going to find myself a fish out of water?

Specializes in Happily semi-retired; excited for the whole whammy.

Flying spaghetti? Noodly appendage? What's that all about?

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FSM is a false god. "Bob" reigns forever!

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Specializes in Cardiac.
I don't know why your religious beliefs or lack thereof should be an issue on the job.

Well, I can understand the OP's concern. She doesn't say which part of the country she's in, but I know that in the Southeastern US (aka "Bible belt) it can be a frequent source of pressure, both from co-workers and patients. And there are certainly other areas with substantial percentages of very religious people of various denominations.

I am a Unitarian Universalist, while the overwhelming majority of my co-workers and patients are evangelical Christians. There is no question that I am "out of the loop" concerning their interests. It's been very hard for me to develop personal friendships with co-workers because they are so into their church activities, Bible studies, Christian books, political activism, etc. that I often find I have no place in the conversation and it's best for me to just back away and not rock the boat. I'm not going to influence their beliefs any more than they will influence mine; I think it best to just focus on work and not invite a debate that will ultimately just encourage divisiveness.

Occasionally patients will also ask me if I am a Christian (which means "born-again Christian" to them.) I will respond something to the effect that my spiritual life is very important to me and I am constantly searching for deeper truth. No one has ever requested a different nurse on this basis, but I would have no problem trading assignments it a pt were to persist in pushing for a nurse with fundamentalist beliefs (there is no shortage!).

I work in critical care, so often my patients are too sick to ask such questions. But I do pray for my patients, and will tell them so under appropriate circumstances.

I will happily let them take the lead -- and I have also had agnostic/athiest patients whose beliefs I completely respect. If they do not indicate an interest in spiritual support, I will in no way push it on them.

I will also respectfully defer to any clergy who come to visit my patients. As long as the pt is stable, scheduled meds, BG's, vital checks etc. can be put off for 15-20 minutes, I would rather they have some private time with someone who can offer a spiritual comfort that is way beyond my scope of practice.

It is a touchy subject -- I simply keep quiet about my beliefs unless pressured. For me, the problem is fitting in with the other nurses more than satisfying my patients. But I am not willing to compromise my beliefs, and as long as we can all continue to work together as a team, I am OK with keeping at-work relationships professional but not deeply personal.

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.
Flying spaghetti? Noodly appendage? What's that all about?

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2006-03-26-spaghetti-monster_x.htm

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.
Well, I can understand the OP's concern. She doesn't say which part of the country she's in, but I know that in the Southeastern US (aka "Bible belt) it can be a frequent source of pressure, both from co-workers and patients. And there are certainly other areas with substantial percentages of very religious people of various denominations.

I am a Unitarian Universalist, while the overwhelming majority of my co-workers and patients are evangelical Christians. There is no question that I am "out of the loop" concerning their interests. It's been very hard for me to develop personal friendships with co-workers because they are so into their church activities, Bible studies, Christian books, political activism, etc. that I often find I have no place in the conversation and it's best for me to just back away and not rock the boat. I'm not going to influence their beliefs any more than they will influence mine; I think it best to just focus on work and not invite a debate that will ultimately just encourage divisiveness.

Occasionally patients will also ask me if I am a Christian (which means "born-again Christian" to them.) I will respond something to the effect that my spiritual life is very important to me and I am constantly searching for deeper truth. No one has ever requested a different nurse on this basis, but I would have no problem trading assignments it a pt were to persist in pushing for a nurse with fundamentalist beliefs (there is no shortage!).

I work in critical care, so often my patients are too sick to ask such questions. But I do pray for my patients, and will tell them so under appropriate circumstances.

I will happily let them take the lead -- and I have also had agnostic/athiest patients whose beliefs I completely respect. If they do not indicate an interest in spiritual support, I will in no way push it on them.

I will also respectfully defer to any clergy who come to visit my patients. As long as the pt is stable, scheduled meds, BG's, vital checks etc. can be put off for 15-20 minutes, I would rather they have some private time with someone who can offer a spiritual comfort that is way beyond my scope of practice.

It is a touchy subject -- I simply keep quiet about my beliefs unless pressured. For me, the problem is fitting in with the other nurses more than satisfying my patients. But I am not willing to compromise my beliefs, and as long as we can all continue to work together as a team, I am OK with keeping at-work relationships professional but not deeply personal.

This is excellent advice.

Wow. UU in North Carolina. That is a tough experience. I'm UU also. I won't live in certain parts of the country because I don't want the conflict.

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Specializes in ICU, Education.

I don't really think it should matter what anyone's private belief is. However i will say that no matter what you believe, it should not have any place in your patient care and that goes for fundamental western religious beliefs, eastern, atheist, or whatever. Last week i worked next to a nurse who was disgustedly shaking her head and said to me, "Oh my god! they're all in there praying! I am not religious at all and that disgusts me. They even have a cross on the wall where the clock is supposed to be, and when the family leaves i'm taking it down" (patient was sedated and intubated). Now, I don't really care what anyone believes, unless it is imposed on their patients. It is not really about us.

Doris

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Thanks for the post NurseEcho. I have a lot of respect for UUs. Many congregations accept atheists into the fold. I'm a "nontheist" Quaker myself. As an atheist I'm not anti-religion, but perhaps anti-dogma.

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.
I don't really think it should matter what anyone's private belief is. However i will say that no matter what you believe, it should not have any place in your patient care and that goes for fundamental western religious beliefs, eastern, atheist, or whatever. Last week i worked next to a nurse who was disgustedly shaking her head and said to me, "Oh my god! they're all in there praying! I am not religious at all and that disgusts me. They even have a cross on the wall where the clock is supposed to be, and when the family leaves i'm taking it down" (patient was sedated and intubated). Now, I don't really care what anyone believes, unless it is imposed on their patients. It is not really about us.

Doris

That's really too bad. Even though I don't believe in any god - I certainly understand that those who do have strong feelings on the matter. I would always support patients need to express their belief, with kindness, accommodation and compassion.

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FSM is a false god. "Bob" reigns forever!

HEY! Don't dis the Pastafarians!

(Who is Bob?)

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HEY! Don't dis the Pastafarians!

(Who is Bob?)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_SubGenius

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Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.

Interesting thread. I'll have to read that thread that was linked too. Personally, I like to give a non-commital response that doesn't really say anything. I think spiritual beliefs are private matters. ;)

But as you can see I am Pagan and I do respect everyone's path because I believe that is the right path for them.

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