How to Answer a Patient Who Asks: "Does God Exist?"

Nurses Spirituality

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Many patients asked me if God exists.  I said, yes, but I failed to prove it to them? Can anyone help me?

1 hour ago, S.I.C. said:

Hi NurseBlaq

When patients get to the level of asking questions like this I refer them to the Chaplain. There are certain things I don't discuss as a nurse and religion is one of them. I let patients speak to their religion but I avoid relaying any of my own. This can be a slippery slope so I don't even breach the topic.

...........Maybe Nursing Education should provides to nursing students some strategies to address topics of this kind, in order to deliver, wholistic nursing care and subsequently high quality nursing care.  You may not always have a chaplain on your side.  In some countries, there are rural hospitals and health care centers in isolated communities; we have patients all backgrounds, but no chaplains.....We should be well equipped, so that is circumstances like theses, we don't leave our patients puzzled or look as if we are ignoring them by dodging their questions or somehow running away from them.....

I just sort of imagined that holistic care involved, not treating my patients as slow. I have never been asked the question myself but any patient venturing into those relms appears to me as intelligent enough to distinguish what is a discussion or conversation. Of course I would never engage with someone I don't know or trust. And I would definitely enquire as to why the question was ventured before any responses. 

I like to trust my patients because depending on the setting, I don't see how frank exchanges could be anything but good if you ascertain that the discussion is beneficial to the outcome of the patient's health. I actually engage in frank discussions to elicit trust and help with my assessments. 

In psych, the patient that you get on the unit is rarely the person who exists in their environment. What could be construed as psychotic delusions, are sometimes cultural remnants. Depression, anxiety almost all symptoms are a manifestation of, if not of the disease process, learnt expressions of their familial or social norms. 

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On 12/17/2020 at 10:55 AM, GrumpyRN said:

Why lie to your patients?

Of course you failed to prove it. As far as I am concerned s/he, it, whatever does not exist.

Would I bluntly tell a patient in need that? No of course not. I would get a chaplain/priest/minister/shaman/imam/rabbi for the patient and let them deal with that question.

As tnbutterfly-Mary said;

"While it is important to be sensitive to the spiritual needs of the patient, along with the physical and emotional needs, as a nurse you must be careful how you approach this.  If the patient mentions it first, rather than tell them what your beliefs are, ask them about their thoughts and beliefs.  Do not be judgemental but be respectful of their beliefs.  Ask them if they would like to speak to a hospital chaplain or a Faith Community Nurse."

The Abrahamaic God exists as much as Santa does, up until one reaches the age of reason, about 12 ?

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It depends on the definition of "God". If we are talking about the anthropomorphic interventionist high in the sky, I know for certain he does not exist and given that invariably, there are exceptions to every rule, if he does exist (miniscule probability), he definitely does not care about the needy. 

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
2 hours ago, S.I.C. said:

Hi Grumpy,

I should apologize for posting something directly to your profile.  I respect you as an "atheist" and have no need to call for arguments.  I don't you and you don't know me.  We are just meeting here and exchanging ideas and learning from each other. My purpose is not to convert you into believing in God, (although I wish I would), but is to provide my own version of God's existence.  I will prepare it carefully and come back to you. I have to take time to ovoid in hurting statements in my version.  I am not a Theologian nor representative of any faith, but just a fellow health care provider.

Its atheist, no quotation marks needed. 

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22 hours ago, macawake said:

If the patient’s question is ”does God exist”, that is not a question I can answer. I could offer my opinion, but how would my opinion help my hypothetical patient? My way of showing them respect and preserving their dignity is to make sure that the most suitable resource for the specific need they have either voiced or I have observed, is made available to them. Sometimes that person is me, both other times it’s a member of another profession on staff at the hospital. 

When you say that a patient has a right to ask us some questions (and expect an answer I assume), does that include questions of a personal nature? Does a nurse have to divulge his or her religious affiliation? Faith in a higher power or lack thereof? Political preferences? Medical history? Personal details about relationships outside of work?

I often get the feedback from my patients that I’ve successfully calmed and comforted them and that they felt confidence in my abilities, but I basically never talk about my own personal life or beliefs. Granted, my nurse-patient relationships tend to be short (hours, not days) as I work with trauma patients in the initial acute stage. 

Are you certain that your desire to answer your patient’s questions about God’s existence is 100% about them and that the desire to engage in the conversation doesn’t stem from your own needs and religious beliefs? I’m not accusing you. I don’t know you and have no way of knowing what motivates you. But I am asking if it’s possible that this is a topic that you are motivated to talk about for personal reasons?

In psych, where I mostly work, it's all about communication and interaction. I analyze everything!! Every behavior or communication. Sometimes my life depends upon it. I have never been asked the question but I can assure you that even though quite a few of my patients haven't been college educated, they are frequently quite intelligent in their own way. They are assessing me as I them. Truth has a way of eliciting trust which has a way of creating Chemistry which really helps with interaction. 

I never underestimate their motives or intelligence. Experience teaches you who and what subjects you can discuss. 

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Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

ADMIN REQUEST

Many responses have taken this discussion off-topic.  Please keep your responses limited to the topic of how, as a nurse providing spiritual care, you respond to a patient who asks "Does God exist?"  This thread is not the place to discuss your personal spiritual beliefs. 

I sincerely hope that nurses would not respond with some of the rude comments posted here but would instead think of the patient's needs as someone who has been entrusted to your care of their physical, mental, and spiritual needs. Remember, the patient's needs (not the nurse's needs) should be the focus of your care.

Additional off-topic posts will be removed.

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1 hour ago, Curious1997 said:

In psych, where I mostly work, it's all about communication and interaction. I analyze everything!! Every behavior or communication. Sometimes my life depends upon it. I have never been asked the question but I can assure you that even though quite a few of my patients haven't been college educated, they are frequently quite intelligent in their own way. They are assessing me as I them. Truth has a way of eliciting trust which has a way of creating Chemistry which really helps with interaction. 

I never underestimate their motives or intelligence. Experience teaches you who and what subjects you can discuss. 

You quoted a post of mine that was in response to OP’s statement that patients have a right to ask nurses questions about faith/religion. I’m trying to figure out how your reply to me that I’ve just quoted connects with what I wrote. I’m confused.

Was there something in my reply to OP that made you think that I don’t think that my patients are intelligent? And/or that it’s a lack of experience that’s making me unwilling to discuss my religious or  political beliefs or any other personal subjects with my patients? I’m really not understanding your reply. 

My job is to make my patients feel secure and confident that we are taking good care of them, keep them hemodynamically stable, unaware and pain-free. Even if I was inclined to have a theological discussion about the existence of God with them, time would be an issue.

If I’d worked in a different specialty where I had more interaction with patients for longer periods of time, I would adjust to that context. But I would still not be sharing my beliefs on private matters. What if my beliefs are alien or offensive to my patient? What if my beliefs makes them question their own in a time when they very much need them and depend on them for emotional or spiritual support? I genuinely feel that the focus should be on the patient and not on me.

You say that truth has a way of eliciting trust and I agree. I’m always truthful with my patients about everything concerning their health and the situation they’re in.
 

 

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4 hours ago, S.I.C. said:

Hi NurseBlaq

When patients get to the level of asking questions like this I refer them to the Chaplain. There are certain things I don't discuss as a nurse and religion is one of them. I let patients speak to their religion but I avoid relaying any of my own. This can be a slippery slope so I don't even breach the topic.

...........Maybe Nursing Education should provides to nursing students some strategies to address topics of this kind, in order to deliver, wholistic nursing care and subsequently high quality nursing care.  You may not always have a chaplain on your side.  In some countries, there are rural hospitals and health care centers in isolated communities; we have patients all backgrounds, but no chaplains.....We should be well equipped, so that is circumstances like theses, we don't leave our patients puzzled or look as if we are ignoring them by dodging their questions or somehow running away from them.....

This is discussed in nursing education. Stop assuming people are uneducated because they choose not to discuss religion. You seem to lack respecting other people's boundaries. All you've done is attack people who disagree with discussing religion with patients. Nursing care does not involve your personal religious views, but moreso respecting the patient's religious preferences. Not discussing religion doesn't equate to being ill equipped to do so. You're being judgemental and dismissive. Who said anything about "dodging and running away from them"? Referring them to the Chaplain to discuss religion with them is perfectly valid. Matter of fact, the educational aspect you failed to acknowledge, along with the annual cultural inservices, advise doing just that! Just say you created this thread to start conflict and troll and call it a day. ?

1 hour ago, tnbutterfly - Mary said:

ADMIN REQUEST

Many responses have taken this discussion off-topic.  Please keep your responses limited to the topic of how, as a nurse providing spiritual care, you respond to a patient who asks "Does God exist?"  This thread is not the place to discuss your personal spiritual beliefs. 

I sincerely hope that nurses would not respond with some of the rude comments posted here but would instead think of the patient's needs as someone who has been entrusted to your care of their physical, mental, and spiritual needs. Remember, the patient's needs (not the nurse's needs) should be the focus of your care.

Additional off-topic posts will be removed.

Admin, this thread was created for the sole purpose of doing just that since that's all OP seems to be doing. Insulting people because they're not being religious fanatics seems to be the common theme for OP. Close the thread because that's all it has been and will be.

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24 minutes ago, macawake said:

You quoted a post of mine that was in response to OP’s statement that patients have a right to ask nurses questions about faith/religion. I’m trying to figure out how your reply to me that I’ve just quoted connects with what I wrote. I’m confused.

Was there something in my reply to OP that made you think that I don’t think that my patients are intelligent? And/or that it’s a lack of experience that’s making me unwilling to discuss my religious or  political beliefs or any other personal subjects with my patients? I’m really not understanding your reply. 

My job is to make my patients feel secure and confident that we are taking good care of them, keep them hemodynamically stable, unaware and pain-free. Even if I was inclined to have a theological discussion about the existence of God with them, time would be an issue.

If I’d worked in a different specialty where I had more interaction with patients for longer periods of time, I would adjust to that context. But I would still not be sharing my beliefs on private matters. What if my beliefs are alien or offensive to my patient? What if my beliefs makes them question their own in a time when they very much need them and depend on them for emotional or spiritual support? I genuinely feel that the focus should be on the patient and not on me.

You say that truth has a way of eliciting trust and I agree. I’m always truthful with my patients about everything concerning their health and the situation they’re in.
 

 

In my job almost every thing is vague and up for interpretation. We initially rule out physical causation and then move on to the psychological if unresolved. 

I did my share of medical but I guess I found it too easy mostly and pediatric oncology did me in. Especially when the pastors or Father had simple explanations for the parents. It was a catalyst for the spiritual exploration. 

I never impose my belief systems on patients, but based on the OP's question, I believe in answering all their questions respectfully after assessing contextually, how it should be answered. I don't walk in their shoes, so I don't judge their reasoning for their questions. I assume automatically that it's relevant to them. 

I back my intelligence and experience to tell me what's pertinent. I am not questioning what you do but based on your responses, you are very capable of selecting the right ones. 

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Specializes in Dialysis.
On 12/16/2020 at 8:28 PM, S.I.C. said:

Many patients asked me if God exists.  I said, yes, but I failed to prove it to them? Can anyone help me?

I once had a patient ask me that when I was working hospice. I asked her what she thought. Her answer was yes. I told her that her answer was the only answer that mattered. It helped. She passed peacefully that night, with her family by her side. One of her sons was an atheist, and I'm sure that it did mess with her mind a bit at the end

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical Nurse, Community Health Nurse.

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Top right corner, hit account, then sign out. 

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