I was so excited to get a job at the largest healthcare system in my state. They have an excellent reputation, all of my peers enjoy working there, and I was offered great pay and great benefits. I knew it was a Catholic hospital, and even though I am an atheist I did not think that this was going to be an issue as I respect all religious beliefs and will aid my patients in any way possible with their spirituality. I thought the fact that I am a compassionate person would be enough but am second guessing this after the orientation today.
I really enjoyed the orientation and otherwise would have had a perfect perception of the system. I am not sure if I am being overly sensitive or not so please give me your opinions.
I was okay with the two prayers and one blessing that they performed as I discreetly declined to participate. The only issue I had was with the system stating that their system has all management titled "ministry leaders" and that they must provide healing through the power of Jesus. This makes me worried that in order to be promoted I would have to pretend to be Catholic? (Of course I would not be willing to do this and would just hide my lack of beliefs while I am here)
klone, I think you mean contraceptive options. The Church has no problem with parents regulating births responsibly, and in fact supports and teaches scientifically-based natural methods for doing so.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
klone, I think you mean contraceptive options. The Church has no problem with parents regulating births responsibly, and in fact supports and teaches scientifically-based natural methods for doing so.
You said you weren't allowed to offer birth control options. There's such a thing as natural birth control. Contraceptives actively work against conception, either physically or chemically. Birth control does not have to be contraceptive. Natural family planning methods work with the system to solely deny opportunity.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Okay, but ONE option (NFP) is not "birth control options." As a family planning nurse, I use the term "birth control method" and "contraceptive method" interchangeably. Not interested in getting into a semantical debate.
In Catholic parlance, though, those two are not interchangeable and have different technical definitions. That's the only reason I brought it up. Saying the Church is against sterilization and contraception is absolutely correct. Saying it's against "birth control" is not.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Saying the Church is against sterilization and contraception is absolutely correct. Saying it's against "birth control" is not.
[/threadjack] sorry
Well, I didn't say anything about what the church is and isn't against. I simply said that at the Catholic hospital I worked for, we did not provide sterilization procedures and we were not allowed to discuss or provide birth control options to our postpartum women. That is fact, not a debate point.
I have worked in Catholic Hospitals since I was fourteen years old. When people on 3-11 talk about a prayer meeting after work it means they are going to meet at the pub on the corner.That is about as religious as it gets.
There is a priest in house all of the time. Ecumenical services are offered on Sunday after Mass. Sexual orientation is a non issue. Religious preference is a non issue. As someone else said we are very private about our beliefs and theology. It is personal.
Our mission is to serve the poor.
We believe in the sanctity of human life from conception to death.
Medical ethics and integrity are given the highest priority.
Our tradition may not appeal to everyone but everyone is welcome and it is a good place to be a patient or a nurse.
@ red kryptonite: the dynamic I was talking about is commonly known as mobbing - a kind of group bullying. It was something I mentioned to explain my own hyper-vigilance.
It doesn't seem relevant to the OP's situation, though. PPs who have worked in religious facilities have said it was a non-issue for them.
OP, I believe you need to decide how much of a closet you're willing to tolerate against the possible consequences of being known on the job as a non-believer. A tricky line to walk, but it can be done.
I want to add something. At a public hospital I heard an RN comment about a patient wearing "that dumb string thing around his neck."
It is a great honor for a priest to give a Roman Catholic a devotional scapular and it is worn at all times. Which is exactly what I said to the person who made the rude comment.
Red Kryptonite
2,212 Posts
In Catholic hospitals?