Would You Pray if your Patient asked?

[LasVegasRN]

If a patient asked you to pray with or for them at the bedside, would you?

I had this discussion with some other nurses and the responses were interesting. Some said they would have no problem, others said it was too personal a request for a patient to ask, and others said they would call the chaplain as they felt it is a chaplain function only.

I witnessed one occurence where a patient asked his nurse to pray with him. Without hesistation, she took his hand and prayed a very nice non-denominational prayer. I realize not everyone can or might not want to do this, but it really brought solace to that patient.

Your thoughts?

[Burnt Out, ASN, RN]

I have prayed for patients and with them and their families.

If it makes them feel better, I do it!!!:)

[NatlovesFifi]

Oh Yes...Gladly!

[renerian, BSN, RN]

I have participated but not lead the prayers.

renerian

[RNConnieF]

In a heart beat.

[stressedlpn]

I pray for my pts all the time, I pray for mercey, courage, healing, pain relief the list go on and on, sometimes I am asked other times it is a silent prayer,(while I am doing their care)and I always say a prayer b-4 wk

[MollyMo]

pray with them. pray for them. laugh with them. cry with them. sing with them. sing for them. been there. done it. looking forward to every opportunity to do it again. one thing though--if you walk in the room and family and friends or whoever are praying, stand still or quietly leave the room!! do not interrupt the prayer!!. i've had family and clergy thank me for acknowledging the sanctity of the moment. it may not be important to you but it is to them. i've seen nurses bust in the room and disrupt things. very uncool.

[Mattigan, RN]

Yep, to any god they want. Even if I don't believe it I can bow my head in respectful silence if it makes them feel better. I think I would draw the line at standing there while they mutilitated chickens or something like that, though.

[Jessica Fish]

I would do it with out a second thought.

I have a stong faith in GOD. Even if the patient didn't follow my beliefs I would still pray just maybe not out loud unless someone else was to lead it.

[shygirl]

I would get on my knees with them. I have prayed many times over our dying people. They need to hear the Lord is with them. We pray with our patients all the time. It's beautiful and I'm proud to be a part of it!

Shygirl

[a sharpe nurse]

I have in the past and will continue to pray with my patients. Being a nurse is the coolest, we have the opportunity to be a part of a person's life at its most difficult. Sharing a prayer with him/her is a fantastic gift. And often it truly is more effective at treating pain and sadness than most anything else.

[Aussienurse2]

Yeah, well.....it's not on my list of things I need to do.... My eldest brother is a tree hugger, the next is a C of E Chaplain in a hospital, Mother a missionary attatched to Church of Christ as was Father, me, well I prescribe to mother earth for my help and she usually comes up with the goods. Never been asked by a patient to pray ( well this IS Australia, heathen bunch us Aussies) but would not do it, bearly have time to scratch my a$$ let alone sit down... we have a great chaplaincy program for many religions and thats what they're there for....could just see the look on my current NUMs face if she saw me praying...probably start evacuating the building as she would be sure the roof was about to tumble!!LOL!!

[researchrabbit]

Yep. I'd shake skulls with peas in them over a patient if the patient thought it would help. (no, I've never been asked to do that, but wouldn't it make for an interesting day?)