If "life after death" or prayer were proven true how would it affect nursing care?

ScarlettRN · Oct 8, 2004

Actually, prayer and faith are becoming more accepted in the medical field because it does work. As far as a care plan, that won't happen because not everyone believes in it as an intervention the same as, oh say, monitoring vital signs, lol.

But there is a nursing diagnosis relating to spiritual issues, so if it can be given to a patient, I don't see why prayer can't be a legitimate intervention for that particular ND, right?

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Oct 8, 2004

Unless we had a "Taliban" type society that requires everyone to "believe" the same thing, I doubt much will change. There are a lot of things that have been proven by science that many still do not embrace. There are even Christian denominations that shun modern medicine. There is debate over creation vs evolution (and degrees of each) in scientific and religious circles. I know well educated people who hold what I consider bizarre ideas. I am sure they think of me the same way. While my Christian beliefs are "true" to me, mine may not seem "true" to your Christian beliefs. That doesn't make either of us wrong, but we have different interpretations. As long as we remain a free society and have such varied ideas and ideals, things will remain much the same. I wouldn't want it any other way.

gwenith, BSN, RN · Oct 8, 2004

By scientifically proven I mean to a point where "mainstream science" especially medicine understood it to be empirically demonstrated (perhaps in the same way that mainstream science accepts black holes, gravity, and the big band theory). For instance would praying for patients become part of care plans?

Interesting that you have chosen those parts of cosmology that are still somewhat in dispute.

leslie :-D · Oct 8, 2004

interesting....but if the following were undisputedly proven and acknowleding that life after death and prayer are 2 different concepts:

it would depend on what one is praying for.

as for life after death, yes, it could impact nsg care for if it could be proven that there is indeed life after death, then wouldn't this perceivably reduce many of the interventions applied by medicine/nsg?

Roland · Oct 8, 2004

I didn't realize that gravity or "black holes was still in dispute. Gravity has been on fairly solid ground since Newton published Principia way back in the 80's, that's the 1680's! As for Black holes their theoretical basis was described around 1917 by German astrophysicist Karl Schwayschild. Since the 1970's hundreds of them have been indirectly observed via their effects on other planetary bodies. Indeed, astronomers now believe that MOST galaxies (especially spiral galaxies such as our Milky Way) have massive Black Holes at their center. As for the Big Bang Theory, two scientists Penzias and Wilson received a Noble prize for their work which showed that a weak "cosmic back ground radiation" permiates the universe explainable primarily only by the Big Bang Theory.

fergus51 · Oct 8, 2004

I think if life after death was proven we would see people accept death more easily (less families wanting their 90 year old granny to be a full code!). I don't know about prayers....

ScarlettRN · Oct 8, 2004

the big bang theory is in direct conflict with the second law of thermodynamics, the black holes are indirectly observed....but you have thousands on millions of people who swear that there is a God based on what they have seen, felt or experienced first hand and they are just antedoctal evidence? I don't get the so called scientific community at all....but that isn't the point of this thread either.

BayMae10 · Oct 8, 2004

just to add a little bit of what i have seen, its not been uncommon for me to "pray" with a family. i feel that as giving the best care i can if the patient or the family expresses a need to pray discuse god or any other belief then it is part of my job to alowe that to happen. whether i have the same faith, sometimes faith is all that pulls people though and i should make my pt. feel that comfortable that it is ok for them to be able to express that in their finial days. should it be part of the nursing plan, no, but it should be part of the pt. plan.

talaxandra · Oct 8, 2004

I'm with fergus - I would hope that it would result in people in general being less fearful about death, less resistant to withdrawing treatment etc

sleepless in norman · Oct 8, 2004

The only thing to be proven, is your faith in the Lord. Just believeand it will be allright. :)

SmilingBluEyes · Oct 8, 2004

It would not affect my care one bit. I already render care respectful of people's belief systems, period. I believe in life after death, therefore, dont' fear death myself.