Hello everybody. I can not think of a better place to ask this questions other than a forum full of what I believe to be Gods angels in human form.
In your experience taking care of the injured and specificaly the dying, what are your thoughts and experiences regarding those ready to pass being able to see something just prior?
THere are so many accounts but from people and professions that dont fit the bill in terms of those qualified to answer this. In your opinion is there more after this? Aside of any religious beliefs do you on a personal level feel there is something else beyond?
Everyone has a right to their belief system and we all need to be more sensitive to the possibility of negating anyones personal experience or belief system, I try not to do this, but alas I am still human,that is until I enter that tunnel, and hope and pray to come out at the other end in something other than the OR.
Ha! There's a hell vision for you...you die and wake up in the OR, permanently on call!! I get a chill just thinking of it.
To me, the scary thing is people who think they have all the answers. We've had quite a few coworkers who fail to realize that everyone's beliefs and religions(or even a lack of one) are valid. I think as professionals, we shouldn't attach our religious beliefs and values to our patients. I had a classmate in clinical that was trying to "save" her terminally ill patient. Not appropriate and the patient later confided to me(our patients shared a room) that it made him unconfortable. This student was reprimanded, as she should have been. On the flipside, I have prayed with some of my fundamentalist patients when THEY have asked me to, despite the fact that I do not share their belief system. We need to meet our patients needs when they are passing, not try to win spiritual brownie points by converting people. Sorry if I sound angry, but that poor man was having a hard time of it as it was, and now he had this student trying to convert him. Just my 2 cents, but telling a dying man you think he's going to roast in hellfire because he doesn't share your beliefs is CRUEL plain and simple.
We have to remember, it's not all about us. Ps..ingelein, I agree with your post BTW..I am not implying that you impose your beliefs on others..I just remebered that classmate of mine and it still makes me angry. OK, off of the soapbox now!
I just wanted to touch base with you about "death bed visions". I have been a hospice nurse for almost 20 years, and worked an inpatient hospice house for almost 1/2 that time, mostly on the night shift. There are no words to express what I have seen and experienced in that time. Please do not ever doubt what your patient's are going through. I have had some very unexplainable things happen where other nurses have thought they "bumped" into someone in a dying patient's room, when there was no one else there, a clinically brain dead (yes proven by tests) patient has not only climbed out of bed, but spoken to his "mother" and brushed her hair with his hand. All of this witnessed at a distance, and verified with another nurse (two different nurses in two very different circumstances). I could go on and on. Take it for what it is. Unexplainable, yet we are blessed to be able to experience it with them. Do not EVER tell these patient's or families that they are hallucinating, or that it is a chemical imbalance, or "medications". The patient who was clinically brain dead had zero meds in his body for 3 weeks. Someday, perhaps we all will go through this, and let's hope that the persons caring for us will understand and not judge us. It has nothing to do with religion, and everying to do with humanity, and the circle of life. I tell my patients and their families that just like we are waiting here for the babies that are about to be born into this world, others are waiting "on the other side" for our loved ones to cross over. God bless each and everyone of you for taking care of the people you do. If you ever lose your compassion do everyone a favor and get out of caregiving. Take care, HeavensNurse...
While no one doubts that patients go through something, what exactly they go through is always open to interpretation. Also don't forget that what we perceive and experience is colored by our thoughts, experiences and beliefs.
The thoughts the Son of Sam had are just as real as your thoughts. Everyone experiences something when they die but what it is will always be beyond our explanation. You are right that it is inexplainable and it does happen. Just be open minded enough to realize that what is happening is not what you assume it to be.
It's not about religion or spirituality. It about personal experience and you will get your chance to find out what exactly is seen when your turn comes.
I think that what you said, and what I said are very similar. Do not judge what they are going through. They are experiencing something. We may very well have the chance to go through it ourselves someday. For sure do not try to change their view or their beliefs. It is what it is... Have a good day Everyone!
the thoughts the son of sam had are just as real as your thoughts. .
quite true--but thousands of people haven't reported having the exact same thoughts.
there is "something" that happens at death (or just missing death)that is beyond human experience, and it has been well documented to affect a change in behavior in the overwhelming majority of folks who survive, or are "sent back".:redpinkhe
Specializes in Med/Surg, IMC, ICU, Pedi, Hospice, LTC,.
Eric,
I witnessed this many times while working as a hospice nurse. One event sticks out in my mind still today. I went out for an initial visit with a man who was dying of cancer; and it just happened that the chaplain showed up the same time I did. The patient told the chaplain that he was glad to see him and that they had a lot of work to do, quickly. I dont know what all they discussed, but from what I understand, the man did a lot of things he felt he would have to answer for once he passed. For two days before he died, he kept saying that there were demons at his bedside and that they were telling him that they were going to torture him by filling his mouth and nose with sand until he could no longer breath. When I went out to pronounce his death, he had a look of fear/terror on his face that even the best movie producer could never imitate. It gave me the willies and still does when I think about it.
There is a very good book that I've read by a cardiologist by the name of
Maurice Rawlings entitled, "To Hell and Back". In it, he writes about many
of his patients who had coded and lived to tell about their out of body
experiences at the time of the code. Many wrote about going to a very
dark and terrifying place where they felt that they were on fire and yet
in a place so dark that they couldn't see anything but yet sensed an
extremely evil presence coming toward them. Many other descriptions
are given. Some of the author's credentials include personal physician
at the Pentagon for the Joint Chiefs of Staff and being on the National
Teaching Faculty of the American Heart Association. His associations with
cardiovascular institutions are extensive, which he lists at the end of the
book. At the beginning of his book he tells how he had a patient who
was dying and being coded and that the patient would at times regain
consciousness and would scream out that he was in hell. The doctor,
although not a Christian at the time but not knowing what else to say, told the man to believe in and accept Christ as his Savior, and that when the man did, an amazing transformation took place, where the man stopped screaming and was at peace. He went on to live after the code, and the doctor, having seen such a miracle take place in front of him, also put his faith in Christ and also accepted Christ as his Savior. This started the doctor to want to talk to his patients who would code and live afterwards and gather information on what, if any, experiences they had while in the code. This became data for the book and so it's a series of true life events where people had the most frightening experiences of having left this world to go to the next - but it wasn't toward "the light". The point of the whole book is that yes, there is an afterlife, but depending on whether or not you have trusted Christ as your Savior, will depend on whether you experience heaven or hell.
Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes
unto God except by Me." - the book of John in the New Testament,
What is strange is every religion has people that claim to see these visions. Like we were saying before this is not about religion. What we think we know about religions is purely based in conjecture and beliefs passed through generations. What we do know is that everyone has a personal experience and we shouldn't try to tell them it didn't happen or cheapen it by trying to attach our own beliefs to their experience.
I am a Christian. At times I have wanted to speak to someone about Christ, but I follow the person's lead. It is a terrible thing to feel that a person is headed for hell. I feel that Jesus is a gentleman and He does not force anyone to believe. I do pray for all of my patients though, and I believe that our actions are a big witness to our faith.
I am a Christian. At times I have wanted to speak to someone about Christ, but I follow the person's lead. It is a terrible thing to feel that a person is headed for hell. I feel that Jesus is a gentleman and He does not force anyone to believe. I do pray for all of my patients though, and I believe that our actions are a big witness to our faith.
:) My actions must confuse people then. A big, friendly guy full of compassion and love for his patients. Yet an atheist. Heh. Testify!!!!!!!!!
GadgetRN71, ASN, RN
1,841 Posts
To me, the scary thing is people who think they have all the answers. We've had quite a few coworkers who fail to realize that everyone's beliefs and religions(or even a lack of one) are valid. I think as professionals, we shouldn't attach our religious beliefs and values to our patients. I had a classmate in clinical that was trying to "save" her terminally ill patient. Not appropriate and the patient later confided to me(our patients shared a room) that it made him unconfortable. This student was reprimanded, as she should have been. On the flipside, I have prayed with some of my fundamentalist patients when THEY have asked me to, despite the fact that I do not share their belief system. We need to meet our patients needs when they are passing, not try to win spiritual brownie points by converting people. Sorry if I sound angry, but that poor man was having a hard time of it as it was, and now he had this student trying to convert him. Just my 2 cents, but telling a dying man you think he's going to roast in hellfire because he doesn't share your beliefs is CRUEL plain and simple.
We have to remember, it's not all about us. Ps..ingelein, I agree with your post BTW..I am not implying that you impose your beliefs on others..I just remebered that classmate of mine and it still makes me angry. OK, off of the soapbox now!