Christian School and Atheism

sailornurse · Aug 21, 2015

I attended a Christian private university for my RN2BSN. Graduated 1988. Had to attend chapel, but they couldn't make me participate or listen. The nursing texts were standard for med-surf psych. Having a hard time understanding how an MSN-NP program can use limited texts as the NONPF (National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty) guides the course contents.

Can you list the texts & the courses you are taking? What NP specialty are you pursuing?

allnurses Guide · Aug 21, 2015

I attended a Christian University for my RN to BSN. It was fine really. None of the science-based medical curriculum was based on anything related to Christianity. I had to take two classes about Christian history and they were ok although I did think that it would have been a quicker program w/o those classes. All in all - it was good.

But then, I'm a Christian.

I wish you the best!

neverland · Aug 21, 2015

It's very weird to me that you chose to attend a Christian school and are now complaining about the "biased" curriculum. Of course there's a lens on the way the content and classes are presented...it's their RELIGION. There is no hidden agenda here,you knew this going in.

My suggestion would be to leave. It seriously confuses me when people attend schools/events taught by religious groups they disagree with and then act bewildered/ offended by the audacity of the program to actually expect them to follow along with it. I wouldn't attend a Muslim academy and then bash the Quran...

Golfer87 · Aug 21, 2015

This reminds me of the time I visited that new pizza place that was raved about by all of my friends.

It was supposed to offer dozens of ways to make pizza and advertised it was open to all people of varied tastes and they would leave satisfied.

When I got in my order I mentioned I was unable to have cheese due to my lactose allergy and I could not have any sauce due to GERD. She said that would be no problem. When I told her I also had reactions to Gluten free bread she said that they could not serve me anything.

She offered me ice tea, which I could have but that just agitated me more because I specifically wanted pizza. I don't think that was too much to ask for.

My buddy said I should have sued, which I now regret.

My advice is you should sue them to Kingdom Come.

vicstown · Aug 21, 2015

That is very unfortunate. I do not like organized religion and I am starting a catholic nursing program in a few days. So far none of my material seems to be related to religion at all. I will keep an eye out for it though!

lhflanurseNP, APRN · Aug 21, 2015

I attended a Catholic university and had 2 religion requirements. I did one in World Religions - very interesting and the other in regards to Death and Dying (appropriate for nursing). Other than that, the actual nursing classes were the same as anywhere else.

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Aug 21, 2015

Good day:

For me, I would consider it intellectual dishonesty to believe that if I went to a "Christian" school they would leave the "Christian" view out of the picture or only have a dash of it. Really? What difference is that mind set about going to a French School and complaining the world view, language, etc. is in French? Hmm.. let me write the authors and let them know they need to change their bias towards all things French because I'm I don't believe in French this or that or believe that it should be a small %.

Thank you.

allnurses Guide · Aug 22, 2015

I attended a Catholic university and had 2 religion requirements. I did one in World Religions - very interesting and the other in regards to Death and Dying (appropriate for nursing). Other than that, the actual nursing classes were the same as anywhere else.

Mine was not Catholic but same with me. The religion came in the two classes related to religion. World Religion was one and to be honest I can't remember the name of the second one.

But the science behind the medicine was taught. Same as in secular nursing schools.

So I'm curious what exactly was being taught in the medical part, the nursing part, that this school changed to coincide with their religious beliefs?

The only religion I know of that makes a mockery of science is Christian Science folks who don't believe, for the most part, in going to the doctor if you are sick.

Otherwise, the rest of us are thrilled that people who believe in a higher power also believe that we are supposed to change the world by being involved in medicine. Research is so important to helping cure diseases.

Emergent, RN · Aug 22, 2015

I have an idea. Let's force the Christian schools to be more secular and take those nasty beliefs behind closed doors where they belong. That'll make our nation more diverse and inclusive.

Oh, I have a better idea. Let's force Christian beliefs on the secular schools. That'll encourage our large, heathen population to have a relationship with Jesus Christ and make a more inclusive and diverse nation!

direw0lf, BSN · Aug 22, 2015

I'm sorry I honestly thought this was a joke post until I saw the OP has over 1,000 posts.

I'm at a Catholic university and we had 1 religion requirement as well as mandatory community service and reflection (not church unless you want to go).

The school I go to teaches from a certain lens but it's a good one: the mercy core values. It has little to do with organized religion and dogmas though and a lot to do with treating people, animals, and nature with respect.

Maybe your school is teaching the values they want their nursing grads to uphold.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Aug 22, 2015

Maybe it is a fundamentalist Christian school which insists that the earth is only a few thousand years old and was created literally in seven days, doesn't teach the theory of evolution, applies moral judgments to certain medical procedures or research methods, etc.

In any case, even the most cursory of research should have given the OP a pretty good idea of how this school approaches education, what kind of culture exists on campus, etc. There should have been relatively few surprises if the OP had done his homework. JMO.