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?
But, is there reason to believe that care of humans requires a different approach than that used by a mechanic? Are a patient's "spiritual needs" a legitimate part of physical healing, and therefore open to discussion?
erm, I never ever want to receive healthcare from someone who treats me like a car with a mechanical problem. it's totally fine if there are people out there for whom this is a desirable thing, but I treat even a houseplant way differently than a car. any system that automatically treats people like machines has crossed a major line, in my opinion.
She was given a copy of the pt. rights/privacy act. DON asked her to please practice her right to privacy.
hahahaha, that's wonderful
Especially in my area of the country, Muslims are held in quite low regard. Those who to the uncivilized look like Muslims, such as the Sikh, have even had their businesses attacked and violence threatened against them (in one particularly sad ongoing case, by our very own police).
ugh...I heard a story a year or so back. my friend and I helped arranged an inter-religious field trip to the local Hindu mandir (a BAPS mandir) and the people there told us that they had a lot of trouble trying to get a building permit for their place of worship. they had to go to great lengths to convince the city planners that they were not Muslims, and once that was proven, they could get their permit. w+f? even if they were Muslim, the city planners have no right to deny them a permit based on that. something about property values going down...bullsh!t pure and simple. it's also pretty damn sad that people can't even tell a Hindu or a Sikh from a Muslim. I think religious literacy (taught neutrally...I've had some horribly biased religion classes, usually from either the Christian or Atheist direction) should be a gen-ed requirement like writing or math.
I guess I've lived in the south as a religious minority for too long to even be bothered by this. my parents are missionaries. I disagree with them about pretty much everything. you get over it. silence on the subject of religion feels less like peace and more like tension, to me.
the basic difference between the American concept or religious freedom and, say, the French, is that in America it means everyone can express themselves equally, without fear of discrimination. In France you can't wear religious garments in public schools, you can get kicked out for your hijab or a crucifix. Tyranical enforcement of some naked "equality" that means nobody can express anything is neither fair nor democratic. I'm a gay pagan, I know what it's like to be discriminated against, and I'd still rather people talked about it than just hid behind political correctness. people can deal with religious conflict, and that entails accepting diversity, not hiding it.
Good point Jolie. I would have been offended if someone asked about ethnic backgrounds. That is way more invasive and makes certain people stand out. The same thing happened to me once and I simply didn't raise my hand as I am not in any religious category.
My two cents worth. I'm an athiest. I don't admit that to anyone. I would be very uncomfortable with a nursing educator asking for raised hands. Probably the next day I would think of a good response, raise my hand for every religion and athiest, she asked about! I have no problem, if the patient brings up god or religion, in saying yes I will pray for you or with you.
I'm pretty shocked to see so many nurses so uncomfortable with their religious beliefs.
Do your patients make you uncomfortable when they share their own beliefs? How about when their beliefs go against what you believe in?
I'm not attacking -- just curious how you are able to practice cultural humility without being comfortable in your own beliefs.
Maybe I just find it odd, because it was stressed so much in my program already.
I'm wondering where you get that so many nurses are uncomfortable with their religious beliefs? Personally, I was raised that religion is a private matter (along with politics and money) that you don't discuss with other people outside of very specific situations with people to whom it is relevant (ie, those who share your beliefs and opinons or are dealing with your money). I'm very comfortable with what I believe and am quite open to sharing it in situations I feel are appropriate. It just so happens that I don't find it appropriate at work as even within the same denomination there are often differences in beliefs and values.
When a patient shares their beliefs with me, it doesn't bother me because it's not about me, it's about the patient. I redirect their questions to keep the focus on them and if they become insistent, I politely let them know my personal beliefs are not relevant and not something I can discuss with them but that I want them to feel free to share with me. I also offer a pastoral care consult or to call someone for them if they wish.
feralnostalgia
178 Posts
I guess I've lived in the south as a religious minority for too long to even be bothered by this. my parents are missionaries. I disagree with them about pretty much everything. you get over it. silence on the subject of religion feels less like peace and more like tension, to me.
the basic difference between the American concept or religious freedom and, say, the French, is that in America it means everyone can express themselves equally, without fear of discrimination. In France you can't wear religious garments in public schools, you can get kicked out for your hijab or a crucifix. Tyranical enforcement of some naked "equality" that means nobody can express anything is neither fair nor democratic. I'm a gay pagan, I know what it's like to be discriminated against, and I'd still rather people talked about it than just hid behind political correctness. people can deal with religious conflict, and that entails accepting diversity, not hiding it.