Today, while attending my final day of orientation at a new facility (I am a travel nurse... this is my 20th orientation in 8 years) the nurse educator, while discussing meeting patients' spiritual needs, asked the 30+ nurses in attendance, while raising her own hand in the air, "How many of you are Baptist?" (two hands went up) "How many are Catholic?" (three hands) "How many are Muslim?" And she continued to ask.... "Jewish? Hindi? How about Atheist?" I then interrupted her and said, "Umm... I don't think you can ask these questions." She then replied, "Well, you don't have to raise your hand!" Is this legal? Honestly, she was an excellent educator. Having attended so many orientations over the years, I must say she is really good at her job. But am I being petty or did she cross a serious line? I plan to say nothing to anyone, on my unit or in HR... at least, not until my contract has been completed, as my job is to show up and be the very best nurse I can be. But I strongly feel one is not permitted to ask a co-worker, especially a new hire, about their religious affiliation or beliefs. I have had patients ask me about my religious or political preferences, and I always answer the same, in a gentle tone with a pleasant smile: "My personal choices have nothing to do with the quality of care I will provide you over the course of your hospital stay, nor am I permitted to discuss them. Now, is there anything I can do for you?" Am I wrong, or was she out of line?
Specializes in acute rehab, med surg, LTC, peds, home c.
I would be annoyed by the questioning just because religion is a very touchy subject. It is kind of like asking who you voted for or what political party you belong to. If it happens to come up in a conversation that is one thing but otherwise I think it is none of her business.
Specializes in ER, Ortho, Neuro, Med/Surg. oncology.
Thank you all for your input. I have come to the conclusion that if I was teaching an orientation class on Spirituality, I would NOT ask the class what their religious preferences were. Doesn't matter. Teach the importance of respecting diversity, but don't question the beliefs of the nurse. Orientation is not the place to bring up personal beliefs, be they religious, political, or sexual, and as I mentioned, as a traveler, having attended so many oreintations, I've never had it brought up before. (and yes, I am currently working in the "Bible Belt" so that surely made me more sensitive to being questioned, since my beliefs don't fit the "norm".)
It sounds very weird to me. She certainly put you all on the spot!
Religion can be a very emotion laden subject, eliciting controversial discussions. That's why people admonish not to talk about religion (or politics) in some social settings. It just tends to be a hot button topic.
Really quite odd of her to grill people like that. I would feel uncomfortable.
It's not being uncomfortable in our religious beliefs; it's being uncomfortable experiencing the kind of intolerance that some of us have endured simply for holding those beliefs. It's not a good way to start off a working relationship.
Justiceforjoy, THIS was a killer-question you raised:
"Do your patients make you uncomfortable when they share their own beliefs? How about when their beliefs go against what you believe in?"
The patients may be ill, but they're not stupid. Not even talking about patients who try to evangelize; just ones that mention their faith, and get responses similar to those posted here.
The original post was about new employees being one by one asked to tell everyone their religion. It wasn't about how, in your role of a nurse, you deal with you patients' spiritual needs and religious faith.
If a patient asked me intrusive questions that I didn't want to discuss, whether about religion, personal finances, politics and so forth, then I certainly have a right to privacy. If the patient wants to be supported in their own religion, then I'm obligated to find the resources to help them do that.
Ah. Perhaps I misinterpreted the first words of the thread. My apologies.
"Today, while attending my final day of orientation at a new facility (I am a travel nurse... this is my 20th orientation in 8 years) the nurse educator, while discussing meeting patients' spiritual needs..."
The educator then went on to one by one put everyone on the spot and ask them their own religious affiliation. That was uncalled for. That would be similar to if she had asked them who they voted for in the last election, or what they think of gay marriage.
Firestarter , no where in the original post did it say she asked one by one what their religious affliation was. She simply asked for a show of hands as she mentioned each religion. No one was forced to raise their hands.
I personally wouldn't have any problem with it, but i know many others would. I don't think it is out of the line to ask what religion you are d/t the fact that some jehovah's witnesses will not take care of blood product admin because it is 'against their religion', so i could see the point if it was directed towards this, or diversity.
meluhn
661 Posts
I would be annoyed by the questioning just because religion is a very touchy subject. It is kind of like asking who you voted for or what political party you belong to. If it happens to come up in a conversation that is one thing but otherwise I think it is none of her business.