Cultural sensitivity project atheism

Janus Rising · Apr 12, 2007

Hey all. I am to do a cultural sensitivity project for atheists/agnostics. I am to come up with a 15 minute presentation with visuals. It is to cover the background of antheism, and what in entails. It is to include any considerations a client with this belief (or lack of) would expect. It is difficult because this is not a united group such as christians,jews, etc there is no structure to the atheists so its difficult to come up with cultural aspects. Now, I have no problem in explaining an atheists beliefs, and the background. However I am expected to come up with how as a nurse we should be sensitive to atheist/agnositc patients... and I can't seem to come up with many. Any of you have any suggestions or special consideations for them? only thing that comes to mind for me, is not to request a pastor or priest... Also any of you who are atheists or agnostics yourself might be able to help by telling me when you are ill in the hospital what a nurse might possibly do to offend you, and also what you would like them to do in order to feel more comfortable. Thank you all very much.

If you wear a crucifix, put it under your shirt (personally I think ANY religious symbols should be hidden from ANY patient)

Don't say things like God bless you, you're in my prayers, etc.

Remove the Gideon's bible from the room

Be careful when wishing people Happy (insert holiday) Easter and Christmas are very commercialized, but they ARE religious holidays.

Don't preach or try to convert the pt (I've seen this happen)

Don't be offended and get into dialog if the client says something anti-religious.

That's all I can think of at this moment. I know some are very PC and may sound silly, but they are just suggestions.

PS: I'm sure you've already seen this but: http://www.atheists.org/

JaxiaKiley · Apr 12, 2007

I'd avoid things like, "It's in God's plan." Or, "God helps those who helps themselves." Things like that ...

RedCell · Apr 12, 2007

This a problem with undergraduate nursing education. They spend so much time teaching you to be concerned with what someone else might think, or what might offend some dude because of "cultural differences". What they should do is cut out this crap and simply say, treat others how you would want to be treated. This could sum up an entire semester Cultural Awareness 101. I remember having to put together a ten page paper on what it means to be a Sunni Muslim and how they should be treated when in the hospital. Let me tell you how valuable that experience was to my nursing education.These professors need to be teaching their students useful knowledge so that when you graduate, it doesn't take a hospital 3 months to teach you basic skills and critical thinking that you should have learned in your past two years of nursing school.

teelee · Apr 12, 2007

A very good book to check out is by Dr. Vigo Olsen. As an agnostic MD he tried to prove there was no God. In the end he says understanding science the way we do How can someone not believe in something greater than our selves. Too bad I can't remember the title right now. It is published by Intervarsity press.

The book starts out with all of the "fo-pa's" that healthcare workers say and do around the person with kind of belief system. I do wish I could remember the title, oh well Im old and it was 20 years ago when I read it.

madophelia · Apr 14, 2007

As an atheist myself, going to extremes of avoiding taking the bible out of the room, removing religious symbols - doesn't matter as much. I mean if you find yourself in say, a Catholic hospital, its not like I wouldn't know so I'd expect religious symbols in the room. I guess I would like for a nurse to not assume I'm religious - it happened when my husband was in hospice. I realize the nurse at the time was trying to offer comfort - but I would have preferred she asked me how I felt first - to listen so she knew where I was coming from. However she immediately started talking about how she was a Christian and believed God had a purpose etc. It didn't make me mad but it did make me uncomfortable because I had no response - what do you say to that? I didn't want to say I didn't believe in her religion cause that would have made it even more awkward and because she immediately assumed I would agree with her I did not feel I could be open about what I was feeling as an atheist. As a result I felt uncomfortable talking to her about my feelings at all - if I was upset I did not want her to offer to pray with me or something - what would I pray to?

So I guess my advice - just listen to them first. Avoid religious statements - I mean some atheists don't care - but until you know a person's beliefs you don't want to assume they are Christian cause you may make them feel as if they have to not offend you if you are religious because they have experienced being preached to or had a bad experience with someone who could not accept that they didn't believe in god. I mean I don't talk to my mother about religion cause she would not accept me being an atheist.

Also some Buddhists are atheist, as are Taoists. I myself am a secular humanist. Atheism is just lacking a belief in one less god than those of monotheistic religions. Other than that what they do believe in as far as values is an individual thing.

I hope that helps. If you have any questions I'm happy to discuss this with anyone who wants to.

Ciao.

Jules A, MSN · Apr 14, 2007

This a problem with undergraduate nursing education. They spend so much time teaching you to be concerned with what someone else might think, or what might offend some dude because of "cultural differences". What they should do is cut out this crap and simply say, treat others how you would want to be treated. This could sum up an entire semester Cultural Awareness 101. I remember having to put together a ten page paper on what it means to be a Sunni Muslim and how they should be treated when in the hospital. Let me tell you how valuable that experience was to my nursing education.These professors need to be teaching their students useful knowledge so that when you graduate, it doesn't take a hospital 3 months to teach you basic skills and critical thinking that you should have learned in your past two years of nursing school.

I agree 100%!

I think its almost insulting to the different groups we are trying to "figure out". Who comes up with this stuff anyway?

Natkat, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 14, 2007

Google Madalyn Murray O'Hare to learn more about atheism.

roxxy3773, RN, APRN · Apr 14, 2007

This a problem with undergraduate nursing education. They spend so much time teaching you to be concerned with what someone else might think, or what might offend some dude because of "cultural differences". What they should do is cut out this crap and simply say, treat others how you would want to be treated. This could sum up an entire semester Cultural Awareness 101. I remember having to put together a ten page paper on what it means to be a Sunni Muslim and how they should be treated when in the hospital. Let me tell you how valuable that experience was to my nursing education.These professors need to be teaching their students useful knowledge so that when you graduate, it doesn't take a hospital 3 months to teach you basic skills and critical thinking that you should have learned in your past two years of nursing school.

While I understand what you are saying here, I find there are a lot of people who need some cultural awareness. Things that might seem natural to one person in treating others may be completely different to another. I'm not saying that a cultural class will suddenly make you a great nurse or anything, but sometimes getting a better understanding is needed. I am amazed at some people's behavior. I had a nurse tell me that she hoped my father found Christ before he died so that he would go to heaven (he was a hospice patient at the time). To me this was completely inappropriate and should not have been brought up. People need to be aware of the effect these things have.

I agree with you madophelia, it is very important to ask before beliefs or religious type comments are made. Sometimes it doesn't matter to people, but other times it does. It is important that we are conscious of the effect it can have. I know that religion can be a very passionate point, but there is a time and a place and sometimes it is in the hospital and sometimes it is not. Not everyone gets this and people need to be trained on this. We are a very diverse country and it is very important to keep beliefs separate from the work environment if it is not appropriate.

Although unrelated to this atheism subject, I found my cultural diversity classes very interesting, there is a huge disparity between American culture and other cultures. Nurses are required to treat people of many backgrounds and things that may bother some people, may not bother other people at all. It is very important to have an understanding and attempt to be aware of these differences. I am not a nurse yet, but I work in a health clinic and I am a patient education representative for the clinic I work. It is REALLY important that we are aware of differences. We watched a video not too long ago about the importance for one family (can't remember their background) to discuss treatment options with ALL of their immediate family before making a decision, regardless of what the problem is, and to deny or disrespect this need would cause a big problem. It is our responsibility to treat this person appropriately, regardless of beliefs on either side or the way we think they should handle the situation. This is just the reality of the work environment, so I have to say I see the need for cultural classes.

Just my opinion :)

firstyearstudent · Apr 14, 2007

I think two of the misconceptions about atheists that you might want to address is that they are not spiritual and that they antireligion. It really depends on the person and where they are coming from. (Those atheist who aren't anti-religion often refer to themselves as "nontheists.")

As a nontheist, I consider myself to be a very spiritual person. I am also a Quaker. There are many non-theist Buddhists and Unitarian Universalists.

Don't assume just because your patient is an atheist that they don't need spiritual guidance. They may even want to talk to clergy that aren't interested in "saving" them. A UU minister, a reform rabbi or other progressive clergy come to mind.

RedCell · Apr 15, 2007

Look Roxxy3773, cultural awareness and being respectful to other people is fantastic, but it is something you are supposed to learn from an authority figure such as your parents or Saturday morning cartoons by the time you graduate from the first grade. This Sunni Shi'ite should not be taught in nursing school. The bottom line is, if my undergraduate nursing program had spent more time teaching me the difference between a pansystolic murmur vs a midsystolic or diastolic murmur and less time teaching me how to be nice/respectful to an atheist, muslim, jew, christian, homosexual, racist, redneck, etc..... I would have been much better off.

roxxy3773, RN, APRN · Apr 15, 2007

Obviously it is not good enough to hope that parents teach that, it is a piece of the job and needs to considered in the overall picture.