Has being a nurse made you examine your own spirituality?

Columnist · Jan 25, 2008

Being a nurse has certainly strengthened my faith. In the position that I am currently in, that of a Parish Nurse, I am constantly in contact with people going through the challenges of dealing with terminal illness and dying. I am often called upon to offer spiritual care as well as nursing care. I have witnessed many times the agony of people of strong faith dealing with the imminent death of a loved one. I have seen dying patients display a peace that passes all understanding in the face of death. Being able to be present at such intimate times has been a real blessing for me. No, it's not easy. But being a part of these peoples' lives and deaths has given me a real sense of awe and a renewed belief in a power greater than that of any modern medicine.

Chaya, ASN, RN · Jan 25, 2008

I have become more spiritual, in a fashion. I have learned that even giving state of the art medical and nursing care, bringing about healing is never totally guaranteed. There's too much we don't know and that science hasn't learned yet. We just aren't there yet and for all we know, we may never be. I have come to listen to my "nursing intuition" to guide me beyond the limitations of conventional medical knowledge.

SonicnurseRN · Jan 25, 2008

i have always been one who skirted the edge of religion, never committing. i am also a very science minded person, which generally kept me out of the temple, chapel, synagogue, what have you.
i believe that nursing has reinforced the scientific side of me, making even more connections between body and dysfunction, leading me further from religion. i value religion in the part it plays in helping comfort my patients. however this knowledge has made me realize that tenderness and compassion is necessary as a nurse because we really are the ones here to look out for each other.
not trying to start a flame war, just stating that i deeply respect religion and the power of its comfort, however i am one who has not swung closer to it because of my career.
tait - i couldn't agree with you more! i am in my last semester of rn school & it has reinforced my love for science and reason!!
also, how great our responsibility is as nurses to care for people in a holistic way.
... but, to cut a long story short, i did have a moment of 'imagining' that a god's hands were on my shoulders telling me "everything would be ok".
i hadn't believed in that feeling since i was a child, it really opened my eyes to how soothing religion can be and necessary it is to our culture.
i appreciate your point of view, and respect religion as well.
- sonicnurse2b : )

SonicnurseRN · Jan 25, 2008

i think that i would say that being a nurse strengthened my spirituality. i have had issues with death as well over the years, but i am solid in what i believe spiritually. i think that i am seeing more proof of why i should continue to believe as i do.
i have learned that life and health is not promised, and to better appreciate the blessings i currently have. i can't stress myself over trying to be someone that i am not, and doing things that clearly do not make me happy. nor, will i waste my time trying to control others. i tend to be protective of my loved ones and friends, and when i see them making the same mistakes over and over again, i always try to guide them, but then, i realized that i was inadvertantly trying to get them to see things my way. my intentions may have been good, but we all have to learn at our own pace. what is good for me may not be for you. somehow, i have learned not to be judgemental, and that also, i am an instrument being used by the creator to help people, but there is a power bigger than me that is in control.

that was really, beautiful. thank you :cheers:

allnurses Guide · Jan 25, 2008

Strengthened my faith. Actually, that started in nursing school and in Anatomy, Physiology and Microbiology.

Life is too complex to have happened by accident.

I also have certification in Parish Nursing, but I'm not actively doing that right now.

My experiences as a nurse, especially with the terminally ill and being a labor and delivery nurse and being an ER nurse have also strengthened my belief in God.

steph

Dalzac, LPN, LVN, RN · Jan 26, 2008

Dalzac, I have found myself saying little prayers too. But as I work with a diverse cultural community, I have had to accept that other ppl view God differently.

never once said I was religious, but I am very spiritual. I view God as a power greater than myself. Think, the first step in Alcoholics Anonymous.

fronkey bean · Jan 29, 2008

i have always been one who skirted the edge of religion, never committing. i am also a very science minded person, which generally kept me out of the temple, chapel, synagogue, what have you.
i believe that nursing has reinforced the scientific side of me, making even more connections between body and dysfunction, leading me further from religion. i value religion in the part it plays in helping comfort my patients. however this knowledge has made me realize that tenderness and compassion is necessary as a nurse because we really are the ones here to look out for each other.
not trying to start a flame war, just stating that i deeply respect religion and the power of its comfort, however i am one who has not swung closer to it because of my career.
tait - i couldn't agree with you more! i am in my last semester of rn school & it has reinforced my love for science and reason!!
also, how great our responsibility is as nurses to care for people in a holistic way.
... but, to cut a long story short, i did have a moment of 'imagining' that a god's hands were on my shoulders telling me "everything would be ok".
i hadn't believed in that feeling since i was a child, it really opened my eyes to how soothing religion can be and necessary it is to our culture.
i appreciate your point of view, and respect religion as well.
- sonicnurse2b : )
i don't think science and religeon are as mutually exclusive as your post seems to imply. throughout history many leading scientists believed in god and even today there are scientists in every field who are very religeous. belief in a supernatural being doesn't suspend my acceptance of the laws of the natural world. if anything, understanding of scientific subjects increases my respect for the one who created the sciences.

time4meRN · Jan 29, 2008

I've been thinking about this more lately as I am graduating soon, and learning more about death. I'm not a hugely religious person, I don't go to church, but am starting to feel like I need/want to return to it. I feel that getting back in touch with my spirituality may help me cope with / feel more at peace with death in general...
Has nursing changed your views on your own spiritual beliefs at all?

I'm glad to hear your thinking about this before you start. As nurses we sometimes forget to take care of ourselves. I think anything you can do to give yourself some peace about the difficult issues, is a good thing. And yes nursing has changed my belief about death. After almost 27 years of critical care, ER and a short bout in hospice, I actually found that when I worked hospice, I felt very satisfied. I think it was because I was caring for pt's while giving them dignity. In ICU, ER etc. there are many times I feel pt's are simply tortured before they die. I also learned in hospice that people are ment to die, it's part of life. I knew that in ICU, but it was easily clouded by the continuous fight to keep a pt alive despite the pt's need to die. Good job thinking about these things before you start. You will be fine, sounds like there will be many pt's that benifit from your care. The better care we take of ourself, means better care for our pts. (don't forget to laugh,have fun and see good in everything you can) :nurse:

Indy, LPN, LVN · Jan 29, 2008

I have always been one who skirted the edge of religion, never committing. I am also a very science minded person, which generally kept me out of the temple, chapel, synagogue, what have you.
I believe that nursing has reinforced the scientific side of me, making even more connections between body and dysfunction, leading me further from religion. I value religion in the part it plays in helping comfort my patients. However this knowledge has made me realize that tenderness and compassion is necessary as a nurse because we really are the ones here to look out for each other.
Not trying to start a flame war, just stating that I deeply respect religion and the power of its comfort, however I am one who has not swung closer to it because of my career.
Tait

Oh, gosh no. No flames. It seems you've had to do some self examination, or you wouldn't know this about yourself. I don't ever think that's a bad thing. One thing you said hit home, though:

"tenderness and compassion is necessary as a nurse because we really are the ones here to look out for each other." That really does apply to our coworkers as well, even if we don't seem too terribly tender when running around working, no time for a pee break!

Speaking as a confirmed heathen (there's not a single religion that calls me one of its own), I've had to come to some sort of terms with a higher power in order to function sometimes. I'll say I've got a relationship with God but it isn't always a good one, and it is definitely personal so I don't invite others to tell me what to do with it. One thing that I can't abide is people who intentionally treat others badly. We all get snappish and sometimes we have good intentions and bad outcomes; but we can all apologize. I have no tolerance, though, for mean people. Period. Ain't nobody leaving this life alive, and since we all gotta cross the same threshold sometime, may as well make our journey count.

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · Jan 29, 2008

Spirituality? No.

Sanity? Maybe.

katie258 · Jan 29, 2008

Perhaps more my mortality and the fragile path we walk as human beings. Higher power? Hmm, I don't know about that. sanity? Well yes I would have to agree there! LOL!!

fronkey bean · Feb 1, 2008

Spirituality? No.
Sanity? Maybe.

:rotfl::chuckle:yeah::rotfl::rotfl: