Christian Science Nurses

Inspired By Silence · Sep 29, 2009

There are Christian nurses who do everything a nurse does with God in mind, and then there are these Christian Science nurses who only pray. I'm not sure I can agree with this method. Doesn't God want us to help others and ourselves through actual actions other than prayer?

bookwormom · Sep 30, 2009

I can understand your perspective, and am in fundamental agreement. Clearly, however, Christian Science nurses are convinced otherwise.

elkpark · Sep 30, 2009

I have no issue with their religious beliefs or practices, but I have a problem with them calling themselves "nurses," when that is a protected title in most states. I would like them to use some other title/term unless they are state-licensed as RNs or LPNs (I know that Christian Science "practitioners" don't call themselves "physicians" or "doctors").

psychonaut · Sep 30, 2009

They share a program with the Jehovah's Witness phlebotomy school.

Zookeeper3 · Oct 2, 2009

They share a program with the Jehovah's Witness phlebotomy school.

:smackingf Now that was a good one, thanks for the 330am laugh

Sirapples · Oct 2, 2009

Are these the people that let thier kids die because they refuse antibiotics or pray that allergic reactions go away?

Inspired By Silence · Oct 4, 2009

I have no issue with their religious beliefs or practices, but I have a problem with them calling themselves "nurses," when that is a protected title in most states. I would like them to use some other title/term unless they are state-licensed as RNs or LPNs (I know that Christian Science "practitioners" don't call themselves "physicians" or "doctors").

I think they are RN's. They just won't do anything other than pray and simple CNA tasks.

elkpark · Oct 4, 2009

I think they are RN's. They just won't do anything other than pray and simple CNA tasks.

I did a quick Google search because this didn't sound v. likely to me. Why on earth would someone go to the time, expense, and grief of completing nursing school and getting licensed if you don't believe in any kind of medical interventions, and aren't planning on doing anything that requires licensure? (Again, I'm not taking issue with their personal religious beliefs or practices -- they are welcome to them, as we all are.) From the results of my search, it seems that they are not educated or licensed as RNs or LPNs -- they are "purely" religious practitioners, and the national Christian Science church is working on getting exceptions to the title protection legislation for nurses in the states that have it (i.e., that, legally, they can call themselves Christian Science "nurses" even though they have not completed any recognized nursing program and are not licensed by the state). They have succeeded in some states, and the nursing community has prevailed in others. Some examples I found:

Missouri:

"6. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, nothing in this chapter shall prohibit a Christian Science nurse from using the title 'Christian Science nurse', so long as such person provides only religious nonmedical services when offering or providing such services to those who choose to rely upon healing by spiritual means alone and does not hold his or her own religious organization and does not hold himself or herself out as a registered nurse, advanced practice registered nurse, nurse practitioner, licensed practical nurse, nurse midwife, clinical nurse specialist, or nurse anesthetist, unless otherwise authorized by law to do so." (http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C300-399/3350000076.HTM)

West Virginia:

"The West Virginia Nurses Association sought introduction of House Bill 4495 in response to their alarm in learning of another bill that would have held individuals exempt from holding a nursing license when caring for the sick in connection with the practice of certain religious tenets. More specifically, the Christian Science community was seeking recognition for the title 'Christian Science Nurse'." (http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/AmericanNurseToday/Archive/09-ANT/Mar-09-ANT/Hill-Mar09.aspx)

South Carolina:

"At the meeting of the State Board of Nursing on November 20, 2008, a presentation was made by Mr. Joel Orr representing Christian Scientists in South Carolina. Mr. Orr's presentation is a follow-up to the proposals made during the last General Assembly session to permit the use of the title 'Christian Science Nurse' in South Carolina. The proposal was not passed thanks to the efforts of those who worked hard to maintain the current law that protects the title 'Nurse' in South Carolina." (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4103/is_200901/ai_n31426939/)

Nebraska:

"(1) In the interest of public safety and consumer awareness, it is unlawful for any person to use the title nurse in reference to himself or herself in any capacity, except individuals who are or have been licensed as a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse. A Christian Science nurse may refer to himself or herself only as a Christian Science nurse." (http://www.legislature.ne.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=s3822028000)

Washington (state):

"(4) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a person listed as a Christian Science nurse in the Christian Science Journal published by the Christian Science Publishing Society, Boston, Massachusetts, from using the title 'Christian Science nurse,' so long as such person does not hold himself or herself out as a registered nurse, advanced registered nurse practitioner, nurse practitioner, or licensed practical nurse, unless otherwise authorized by law to do so." (http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=18.79.030)

I still don't see why they can't just find something else to call themselves besides "nurse," in the same way that the Christian Scientist practitioners don't call themselves Christian Science "doctors" or "physicians."

bookwormom · Oct 5, 2009

Thanks for the great quotes!

I also have some issues with the term "nurse" used by Christian Science nurses. I think the development of the web site I noted above is an attempt to clarify/justify their practice. For a long time, Christian Science nurses had only a small presence on the internet.

As I understand it, and I may be wrong, the reason Christian Scientists refuse many medical treatments is because they believe that only mind is real, and that a perception of physical illness is an error of thinking--that there is no real disease. My understanding is that C.S. practitioners attempt to address errors of thinking. But people do become ill and disabled, so there is a need for care--thus the need for Christian Science nurses.

Inspired By Silence · Oct 5, 2009

Maybe we've gotten our underwear too much in a knot over issues like this. Does it really matter if they include the word "nurse" in their three word-long title? If they simply called themselves "nurses" without at least having CNA certification, I might understand the problem and may even go as far as to be alarmed for the safety of our oblivious public. But by the definition of the word "nurse", they qualify. After all, what makes a nurse a nurse? I would hope it is a caring heart, helping hands, and a simple prayer when requested by a patient. I think Jesus intended for all of his followers to be nurses. That's not to say he wanted all of us to go out and get a 2 to 5 year degree, an RN license, and earn somewhere between $20 and $40 an hour. He simply wanted us, as Christian nurses, to have the compassion, patience, and wisdom that are traditionally associated with nurses.

Truth be, if we act like nurses, in our hearts, we are nurses.

elkpark · Oct 5, 2009

Maybe we've gotten our underwear too much in a knot over issues like this. Does it really matter if they include the word "nurse" in their three word-long title? If they simply called themselves "nurses" without at least having CNA certification, I might understand the problem and may even go as far as to be alarmed for the safety of our oblivious public. But by the definition of the word "nurse", they qualify. After all, what makes a nurse a nurse? I would hope it is a caring heart, helping hands, and a simple prayer when requested by a patient. I think Jesus intended for all of his followers to be nurses. That's not to say he wanted all of us to go out and get a 2 to 5 year degree, an RN license, and earn somewhere between $20 and $40 an hour. He simply wanted us, as Christian nurses, to have the compassion, patience, and wisdom that are traditionally associated with nurses.
Truth be, if we act like nurses, in our hearts, we are nurses.

"Truth be, if we act like nurses, in our hearts, we are nurses"???? Tell that to the BON ...

In the states with title protection, people aren't legally allowed to call themselves a "nurse" (and take money from other people for being one!) without a license from the state, which these people don't have. They are getting special exceptions to the state laws to allow them to use the title even though they don't meet the qualifications everyone else is required to. Those of us in states with title protection went to a lot of trouble to get the title protection written into state law, and we did not do it so that unqualified and unlicensed people, however well-meaning, would still be able to legally call themselves "nurses."

Since what they do is CNA level interventions anyway, why can't they call themselves Christian Science "assistants," "carers," "healers," or anything other than "nurses"? Again, I have no problem with them doing what they do -- I just object to them calling themselves "nurses."