How to drop subtle hints with my nursing students about faith.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Jul 6, 2013

Like many people here, I'm not that religious of a person. While I wouldn't take offense to an instructor that was religious, I would be quite irritated if my instructor did discuss praying and God along with clinical care. Probably one of the best ways to share your religion without sharing it would be simply to display those qualities that should be evident in a person of faith. You don't have to vocalize praying or that someone should trust in God. Instead, show us patience, humility, charity, and so on. Model how those all fit in within the context of Nursing. We all need and want to learn the skills that are necessary, but we also take great notice about how our instructors treat their students and patients. We will remember those lessons too.

Here's my own disclaimer: I'm a 3rd Semester student. I don't want my hand held, but I do need for someone to point me in the right direction when it comes to new skills. So, when you treat me with respect, point me in the right direction, and treat the patients with respect, I'm going to remember that and want to model my own behavior after yours... even if I'm not religious. You will have done your duty simply by doing that and the rest of us won't have any idea that you're actually showing us what you think a good and faithful person should do and how to act... without actually bringing the question and issue of religion into the picture.

MedChica · Jul 6, 2013

I had many Christian instructors in nursing school and only one crossed such a boundary. Once.

He went all holy-roller and made a single disparaging comments about atheists during one of our mental health classes.

Guess what? I'm an atheist. Pretty certain that I wasn't the only one because only a portion of the class laughed.

Didn't complain about it and it only happened once but people need to keep their religious (and nonreligious views) out of the classroom. I should've spoken to him about it after class or escalated the matter up the chain to the Director or something. I just brushed it off.

Some of these other posters will root you on, because you're on the same team and they don't care how uncomfortable all of you tend to make 'everyone else' feel. However - if you want others to have respect for your faith, then show consideration and respect to those of different beliefs and those who lack them.

I'm very particular about who I approach on matters of faith, anyway.

benegesserit · Jul 6, 2013

Not only is it potentially offensive to those who are not Christian, but it's potentially misleading to Christians who get the idea that they can get a good grade through the power of prayer. If you're bound and determined to say things like this, make sure they know that God is helping with the anxiety, not with the answers.

However, as a non-Christian, I would not have a problem if prayer (to an unspecified deity) was mentioned in the context of a discussion of ways to reduce test/school anxiety, along with other non-religious methods (exercise, meditation, studying gradually instead of cramming, etc).

priorities2 · Jul 6, 2013

Hi all! I am a new clinical nursing instructor and am wondering how to drop hints if possible about having faith. Especially as these are future nurses. I know that carrying the love of Christ shines bright and that in of itself is pretty awesome and an awesome testimony. Occasionally when they get stressed out about exams ill say..." besides studying now would be a great time to learn how to pray about things that concern you...and trust God. "

I am not a Christian, but I am of a similar religious background and belief system and I respect and honor Christianity and followers of Christ. I, too, am interested in faith and spirituality. BUT there are two lines that must be drawn.

(1) You are in a position of a power over these students. If someone in a position of power over me tried to influence my religious views in ANY way- even subtle, even if it were the same belief system as me- I would feel violated or feel that others were at risk for being violated and, if it were often/severe enough, I might take it to a dean/supervisor (assuming you don't work at a Christian college that lets students know from the get go that proselytizating is an open part of the curriculum).

(2) Pushiness in general is rude. I've had people come try to have conversations with me about Jesus in the cafeteria, and in a situation like that, it's hard to get up and leave - once, I was forced to go back and forth with a young woman about 5 times before she took the hint. I don't like to be mean to someone with good intentions, but enough pushiness should send anyone over the top.

Instead of class, try starting a Christian Student Nurse club at your school. That way, everyone's voluntarily there.

Based on your follow-up posts i think you have a great attitude. Keep going!

MiGab · Jul 6, 2013

My first response was that it is inappropriate that you use your position to proselytize. Your students look up to you. They are also vulnerable in that they may feel like they have to agree with you or it will impact their grade negatively. If this is something that you feel strong about you should look for a religious educational institute. In my area there are a lot of Christian colleges and universities. This may be a good way of accomplishing your desire to teach nursing and Christianity. In a secular setting I think it is inappropriate and presumptuous to think students want to hear about your religion. You could offend students and jeopardize your job.

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Jul 6, 2013

I just graduated and we as students prayed before each test The teachers prayed with us. It wasn't anything that they started, but we would call them "announcements".

You're not serious are you? Did you go to a Christian school? In this day and age where even the hint of praying in a school is not even remotely allowed, I am surprised that this happend.

swansonplace · Jul 6, 2013

If we want a system whereby individuals treat each other with respect, good communication, helping others, and kindness, we need to have our education system model this behavior.

These are not religious views, but just ways acceptable norms for behavior.

It is not by mouth that people learn, but by example. When our school system models behavior of bad communication, disrespect for it's students, bad ethics, remember that is what we will get in mass since our education system is in effect modeling what we will become as individuals and as a country.

In essence, our standard of behavior in what we teach or model in our education system, is of utmost importance as we are doing this on a mass scale.

If you want to change our country, a good place to start is with our modeling behavior in the education system.

It is darn right unacceptable to me to choose to have our professor and education system do anything but model characteristics of: great communication, great ethics, respect of students and of each other, etc. These are the exact items that we need.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 6, 2013

But you have to remember at public institutions you need to be very careful.....her job could be at stake. Keep your personal views separate unless at a religious school.

[h=2]Religion In The Public Schools:

A Joint Statement Of Current Law[/h]

swansonplace · Jul 6, 2013

It is not against the rules to model excellent communication skills, caring, trust, respect of fellow students.

bsartor · Jul 6, 2013

While it's clearly considered inappropriate by many to share your religious views as a instructor, I personally would not find it offensive. In fact, subtle mentioning of your spirituality or religious beliefs is probably one of the least offensive things I can think of no matter what your religion was. If your instruction is excellent and you consider your spirituality one of the qualities that aides in your compassion and helps you cope with the stress of the profession then maybe it can inspire others. It may or may not inspire me but it definitely will not offend me. When I think of things that offend, I think of racism, bullying, hate, intolerance, etc....

allnurses Guide · Jul 6, 2013

It is not against the rules to model excellent communication skills, caring, trust, respect of fellow students.

Very true! It's a good thing your religion neither includes or excludes any of the above.

Feistn · Jul 6, 2013

Put the shoe on the other foot. How upset would YOU be if your nursing instructor dropped "hints" about their faith or values system that didn't match yours? I'm a student in MN, and there was a brief, thankfully benign incident where an instructor told a gay student how disappointed she was that the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage didn't pass. Luckily, she recovered well, and the student in question is not a boat rocker and is generally pretty mellow. That could have gotten ugly real fast. I do have instructors who mention going to church, ect, or things they went to do that are faith-based in conversation, and that is totally fine. What is NOT fine is seeking students out to suggest how they should cope with the stresses of nursing school. Trust me when I tell you that the students who want that kind of input will seek you out. On our campus, the professors that are "allies" have a sticker on their doors. It's never brought up, never solicited, never offered. We all know what it means. And I have one instructor who had an Obama pin in a place in her office that I don't think anyone else would have thought to look. And even then I would be super careful. Nursing students are super sweet until something doesn't go their way, and then they're hell-demons. It's all fun and games until someone gets kicked out because of bad clinical performance or not being able to cut it academically. Trust me when I tell you they will make a federal case out of you "sharing" your faith. More likely than not they won't get anywhere, but do you even want to go there?