Gay Boomers and nursing attitudes

Published

I read an interestiing article, in the NYT, today. Apparently the first wave of gay boomers have begun to hit our LTC, Assisted Living, home health agencies. And more and more of them are being belittled, receiving less then quality care, being transfered to units that are not appropriate to them because of other residents. I am wondering, has anyone encountered this yet? What has happen? What is your attitidue? What is being done to correct the problems?

Woody:balloons:

Specializes in Critical Care, Progressive Care.
i KNOW, you are going to be such an asset to the nsg profession.

Aw shucks, I'm blushing. My application to UCSF SON has just been submitted, so if you know anybody on the admissions committee....

With respect to the Byzantine church. A good online resource is http://byzcath.org/. In a nutshell the theological and liturgical practices of eastern catholics are essentially the same as the orthodox. The principal difference is that the Byzantine Catholic churches are in communion with Pope of Rome, whereas the Orthodox churches are in communion with the Patriarch of Constantinople. (I know this is a simplification so there is no need for an endless series of posts from eastern christians arguing over the heresies of a millennium ago. For those who are unaware, the internet is full of wacky religious wars. It is even stranger than some of the stuff one reads on AllNurses.)

With respect to caring for a Byzantine Catholic patient (this would cover a lot of churches, from Melkite to Russian Catholic to Geez) it might be a good idea to ask them what flavor of clergy they would like to see. I wouldn't assume that the in house Roman Catholic would always be their first choice. An eastern catholic might prefer an orthodox priest over a "latin" one.

Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.
I take two day off from this forum and I come page to three pages of reading. My my.

The above to two quotes struck me as deeply connected. We seem to have moved from a political bent to an ethical and theological territory. What a pleasure!

Although I live in San Francisco I have no idea what went on with respect to the Last Supper - not to sound snobbish but this sort of stuff happens all the time out here so we don't pay too much attention to it. That said, it strikes me that the person showing up at the communion rail with the intent of mocking of the Holy Mysteries is the person most in need of them. In the Byzantine branch of the Catholic Church we take the sacrament of Communion "for the healing of soul and body." Our archbishop did the right thing by administering the Sacrament. Anybody who is so wounded they would mock the church needs healing.

This brings me to Leslie's point. One might explain why one wants to work in " a place like that" by stating "Because the people there are suffering need my help." If one is of a religious bent, then one might point to the teachings of one's religion. The nice thing here is that all of them, without exception, teach us to have compassion for the suffering. Hmmm, when Buddha, Christ, Mohammed, and a host of teachers from India are all telling us to get our hands dirty and be compassionate then maybe we ought to think about it.

There is a Buddhist sutra (a verse from their Bible) that recalls the story of a group of monks that when to the temple for meditation leaving a sick brother monk behind because he had diarrhea. The Buddha came upon the sick monk, changed his soiled bedclothes, gave him some rice gruel, and comforted him. Then he went to the temple and upbraided the monks for leaving their brother behind.

A few years ago there was a story in the NY Times about an Italian doctor working in Vietnam when the SARS epidemic struck. He refused to stop working, even when he knew it would result in him becoming infected. He travelled through the countryside providing care and playing Bach on the local church organs. He died on a vent in a hospital in Bangkok.

I suggest that when we don't take the job in "a place like that," when we don't treat a pt with a disease that could kill us, when we see the prisoner as less deserving of care, when we ignore discrimination in care - we imperil our very souls.

I love visiting S.F. It reminds me so much of the Village, in NYC, only it encompasses almost the whole city. I am a Roman Catholic but am aware of the differences in the other Catholic Churches. I don't know if the people who came to Communion intended to insult either the Cardinal, the Catholic Church or our rites, no one apparently asked them but it seems a large number made some assumptions.

The only problems I have with any religion is when their believers attempt to tell me I am worshiping God in the wrong way or I am following the Pope, not God like them. They seem to be full of themselves. Just leave me in peace, to pray my daily rosary, go to Mass and go to Communion. I don't believe that God favors one religion over another. Nor is he really interested in the manner in which we worship. He just expects us to follow his laws, treat each other with respect, not judge one another, give alms and live the best life we can. He also isn't interested in our sexuality. He has more important things to take up his time.

Woody:balloons:

Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.
I couldn't agree with you more. The story mentioned several health care professionals and nonprofessionals that interacted with several of these individuals. Their behavior is appalling. I am not gay but I have several friends who are and am concerned about them. People who allow their own personal or religious beliefs to interfer with the care of sick people need to examine their own religious values.

Woody:balloons:

According to my faith, homosexuality is wrong, and I agree with that, but my faith also teaches that all people are created and loved by God, and that I am to love everyone, just like God loves me, regardless of whether I agree with them or not. Every human being deserves respect and the very best of care, no matter what their beliefs, lifestyles, choices, etc. Human beings are human beings, period.

Specializes in Trauma ICU,ER,ACLS/BLS instructor.
According to my faith, homosexuality is wrong, and I agree with that, but my faith also teaches that all people are created and loved by God, and that I am to love everyone, just like God loves me, regardless of whether I agree with them or not. Every human being deserves respect and the very best of care, no matter what their beliefs, lifestyles, choices, etc. Human beings are human beings, period.

In my religion being gay is taboo also, but so isn't child abuse and see where that has gone. But since I am gay and still practice my faith in my own way, I have to remember that most religious "rules" r man made. The God I know has his own set that we will only know in their world when we meet our maker. Till then I will believe that ,like above,all will respect and care for regardless of race,orientation or religion.I believe our elders will be fine, I really believe that.

Specializes in Cardiac/Telemetry, Hospice, Home Health.
According to my faith, homosexuality is wrong, and I agree with that...

Wrong for who? I just cannot get my brain around this concept. So God is telling you to believe gay people are wrong but love them anyway? This perpetuates judgement and shame.

How would you like to be treated like a poor sinner, "oh but your loved anyway you poor thing?" No thanks! Saying gay people are wrong is like saying it is wrong to be black. I stay clear of judgemental religious people. They(you) scare me although I am sure in many ways they (you) are a wonderful people.

If one has found God, Buddha, Yaweh, Allah, Jehovah, Goddess... and lives with that true light as a guide, then really, you have nothing to worry about if you leave judgement alone. Judgement and self-righteousness are the culprits for many wars in families and nations and this attitude in our daily life serves to perpetuate hate.

I feel passionate about this issue as do many many others - please listen and quit judging.

Sun

I have to remember that most religious "rules" r man made.

please don't lose sight of that.

man is the fallible one.

i think many of us are Godly, and lead our lives through our inner soul, rather than external dictates.

and thankfully, there are enough who innately know right and wrong.

and it has nothing to do with gender, socioeconomics, religion, etc, etc and etc.

to deem one as less than themself, is inherently wrong and short-sighted.

stay true to what you know is right, regardless of who is preaching what.

leslie

Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.
Wrong for who? I just cannot get my brain around this concept. So God is telling you to believe gay people are wrong but love them anyway? This perpetuates judgement and shame.

How would you like to be treated like a poor sinner, "oh but your loved anyway you poor thing?" No thanks! Saying gay people are wrong is like saying it is wrong to be black. I stay clear of judgemental religious people. They(you) scare me although I am sure in many ways they (you) are a wonderful people.

If one has found God, Buddha, Yaweh, Allah, Jehovah, Goddess... and lives with that true light as a guide, then really, you have nothing to worry about if you leave judgement alone. Judgement and self-righteousness are the culprits for many wars in families and nations and this attitude in our daily life serves to perpetuate hate.

I feel passionate about this issue as do many many others - please listen and quit judging.

Sun

I do not know what other Christian religions teach or believe but the Catholic Church doesn't teach that being a homosexual is a sin, surprise.:lol2: What my Church does teach is having sex outside of marriage, is a sin. A mortal sin, the number one wrong. But my Church also teaches it is a mortal sin for heterosexual couples to have sex outside of marriage. I guess that is why I have gay friends. I don't look into their private lives. I feel that it is strictly between them, their confessor and God. I also know that I follow a rather liberal interpretation of Church law but I am not alone, the Roman Catholic Church, with my more liberal view.

To be honest, I believe that those Christian ministers that teach hate the sin but love the sinner are hypocritical. And I find it equally amusing that all those hard liners against giving gays any rights or protection are eventually caught having or having had a gay relationship, then denying it like heck. As given by one of our current Senator's.

Woody:balloons:

The issue is really that *nurses,* or health care providers of any type, should not discriminate against someone ever, ever, ever. Not "but, unless, except or however." Not in the open,nor in secret because your religion says you should. Just not at all. Or you shouldn't be a nurse.

(I'm not saying "you" referring to anyone here, just avoiding the complicated third person.)

Unfortunately I have seen nurses make their private opinions far too clear to patients- unprofessional and, of course, cruel.

Specializes in Critical Care, Progressive Care.

Ouch. Things have taken a judgmental tone.

St. Isaac of Syria came to mind as I was reading the last few posts. He wrote that "we know nothing of God's justice, only His mercy." He based this argument on the parable of vineyard workers, not matter time they showed for work they all got paid the same.

I am not a religious scholar but my limited reading indicates that all of major religious traditions still kicking around these days place a pretty big emphasis on mercy and compassion. Therefore, when we are merciful and compassionate - when we set aside our human prejudices and fears and touch the untouchables - then we emulate God.

This teaching is at the core of why I want to be a nurse. In many lines of work it is hard to be compassionate - judgement and ruthlessness are rewarded while compassion and mercy are not. Life is rather short and brutal so am trying to make the best of it by behaving as compassionately as I can.

Specializes in geriatrics and hospice palliative nursin.

Unfortunately I Have already encountered ignorance in treatment of our gay population. It's 2007 for goodness sake, and I have had cases where nurses have walked off the job when they learn that the patient has AIDS..look folks UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS are to be used on all patients, and in this day and age nurses of all people should know how HIV is spread..it's by body fluid not throught the air. It is just plain wrong that a segment of our population is still being discriminated against.:angryfire

there have been judgmental tones?:confused:

leslie

Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.
Wrong for who? I just cannot get my brain around this concept. So God is telling you to believe gay people are wrong but love them anyway? This perpetuates judgement and shame.

How would you like to be treated like a poor sinner, "oh but your loved anyway you poor thing?" No thanks! Saying gay people are wrong is like saying it is wrong to be black. I stay clear of judgemental religious people. They(you) scare me although I am sure in many ways they (you) are a wonderful people.

If one has found God, Buddha, Yaweh, Allah, Jehovah, Goddess... and lives with that true light as a guide, then really, you have nothing to worry about if you leave judgement alone. Judgement and self-righteousness are the culprits for many wars in families and nations and this attitude in our daily life serves to perpetuate hate

I feel passionate about this issue as do many many others - please listen and quit judging.

Sun

I read what you have to say. I have had discussions with others who share your views. I do listen. I just don't agree. I don't understand how you can be afraid of me, simply because my views differ from yours. Please don't ignore what the rest of my post said, just because you disagree with the first sentence. Reread my post before you tell me I'm "perpetuating hate."

I know this is such a sensitive issue for so many, and I just want to say again, EVERY person deserves love, respect, and the very best of care, no matter their sexual orientation, or any other reason.

+ Join the Discussion