Being a born again believer in The Lord Jesus Christ, has been good for me. I am a nurse, and every nurse may at some time or other experienced the frustrations, stresses, dissatisfaction, that is experienced by many nurses. Despite it all, I just love nursing. I love to see when my intervention make someone happy. I love to make patient or people in general feel important. When I smile to people, i love the way they respond. The joy I see on their faces makes it very rewarding, even when it seemed that they are angry. I have come to understand how to treat others with kindness even when they may be rude or unfriendly. You may ask, Why? My relationship with the Lord has made it all possible. I just finished studying for my Bachelors Science in Nursing, and I must say, without my solid foundation. I would have been pulling my hair out. I remained positive, while at the same time encouraged other nurses to look on the bright side. I firmly believe, having a relationship with The Lord Jesus Christ will make one a better nurse, because of the love, compassion, empathy, understanding, calmness, and seeing people as unique human beings. All these can be yours when one accepts the Lord in ones life.You want to be a better nurse? Trust in the Lord!
that is your interpretation, but suppose that was the actual intended meaning of the post
do you always feel insulted when someone's believe or opinion differs from yours or just
when it comes to God
speaking for myself, no, I'm not always insulted when someone's beliefs differ from my own. I am, however, insulted when someone implies their religion makes them better at their job than people who aren't of that religion. How is that not insulting?
I do not believe in God, but did notice that the OP posted in "Nursing and Spirituality" which is an appropriate place to voice one's beliefs. If this were a workplace, or even a different forum, I'd feel otherwise. Normally, I do take offense at someone telling me that I must incorporate God or some religion into my life to be a good nurse. But, I really did not take this post that way. Generally, as much as I expect others to respect the fact that I am a good, competent and kind nurse without any religiosity in my life, I respect others' choice to look to God or other deity for guidance and strength in their daily practice of nursing if that is their way. So, I saw this post and just thought that it is nice for someone to know what they believe in (as much as I know what I don't believe in), and I choose to move along....Peace.
i'm a believer of the Lord Jesus Christ and i understand the experiences guyna shared. surrendering your life to Jesus will indeed change your life that is beyond human knowledge. it's difficult to relate with what she was talking about if you don't have that personal relationship with Jesus in the first place. i don't think it was part of her motive to insult others' personal beliefs. although i agree that there are those who are not christian and yet are good at what they are doing. why is that? i believe it's God given grace. he does not show favoritism and wants everyone to come to repentance and be with him in eternity. true, we don't have the right to judge each other because at one point we are also condemning ourselves for we are guilty of doing the same things. i am prone to wander from God's fold and just like others still commit sins. Christianity does not make us "sin-proof" and consider ourselves better compared to others. It allow us to recognize our helplessness and how God's great love and mercy covered it, and has forgiven all our sins, shame and guilt though Jesus' sacrifice. it's God's unconditional and unfathomable love that compels us love him as well. Still i pray, that God in his great mercy and grace and appointed time will bring you to the state where guyna and those who have a personal relationship with Jesus has experienced.
Why is it every time I hear a Christian talk about their "relationship with Jesus "they end up sounding like a battered spouse making excuses for why they deserve dthat black eye?
Why is it every time I hear a Christian talk about their "relationship with Jesus "they end up sounding like a battered spouse making excuses for why they deserve dthat black eye?
I think it's a kind of security based on surrender. It reminds me of the sort of double-edged saftey/oppression that cloistered Muslim women enjoy/endure.
Interesting thread! I had a couple of knee-jerk reactions and slapped my own hands before letting them near the keyboard. And then I continued to read, and think about what was being posted, and why it made me react certain ways. And this is what I came up with...
"Do I believe that belief in G-d makes a person a better nurse". That's the point of the original post, I think. Of course, the OP's position was that belief in Jesus AS her G-d is really what makes her (and anyone, I believe she said) a better nurse. And that's where the road will diverge for many.
I gave this some real thought. If I were being honest with myself, I'd have to admit that simply knowing the right treatments or the correct dosages or whatever isn't what makes me a better nurse than someone else. It's a human science, if you know what I mean....it's not cold-steel science, where robotic correctness makes for perfect nursing.
What makes me a better nurse than someone else is knowing my own moral compass. Knowing that overt judgment is wrong, and trying to achieve greater compassion is a virtue. Do I judge overtly? Yes. I try not to, but there it is. Do I demonstrate greater compassion than someone else? Probably, usually. Not always.
Thing is, it's my belief in doing what's kind and just that tends to lead to all the rest of it: if you believe in kindness, you are naturally going to work to diminish pain, including checking the medical end of things to make sure you are doing right by your patient. If you believe in justice, you'll want to ensure no one else brings harm to this other person, and if you KNOW that harm is occurring, you darned well better do something about it.
I don't think that all comes with a belief in G-d, although I suppose those qualities *should* also be coming along for that ride. Would someone with no belief in any higher power be as willing to work this way? Maybe. Perhaps just belief that caring for another human IS righteous enough. Without going any higher. Perhaps reflecting on what that higher power might *think* of you for not doing "the right thing" is what it takes for some.
The motivations might not be the same for the religious believer as they are for the athiest. But as long as the motivations are THERE, who is to say that one type of motivation is BETTER than another?
Suzy Christian believes that she's a better nurse than Joey Athiest because of her devotion to Jesus. Is she right? If Joey Athiest is only concerned with himself, than she probably IS right; her motivation keeps her on track. But if Joey Athiest has a strong moral compass, perhaps he is as good a nurse as Suzy...or better. HIS motivation isn't Jesus, it's knowing that being kind and just is exactly the right thing, period.
Not incidentally, I'm Jewish. More observant than most Jews I know, but not nearly as religious as others. So while G-d most definitely plays a significant role in my life, Jesus....not so much.
I do not believe in God, but did notice that the OP posted in "Nursing and Spirituality" which is an appropriate place to voice one's beliefs.
I would have thought that a "Nursing and Spirituality" forum would be a place where nurses could post about providing spiritual care to PATIENTS.
However, focusing on patients' spiritual needs very rarely happens on this board as it is mostly used for proselytizing and reactions to proselytizers or others who claim superiority of their own religious beliefs.
Please note that even though I have not stated any religious belief or lack thereof in this post, others will for some reason accuse ME of proselytizing, being angry, or "not respecting other's beliefs." Examples can be seen above.
Specializes in Medical-Surgial, Cardiac, Pediatrics.
While your beliefs work well for you personally, it is quite presumptuous to state that belief in a specific deity makes someone a better nurse.
Wholeheartedly second this sentiment.
I'm an atheist, have been for pretty much my entire life. I get the same joy from patient experiences and my profession, and I have never had a god in my life.
But I'm glad your beliefs give you so much joy to put back into your profession.
They do have that right. They even have the right to say things that may be hurtful or offensive.
And I have the right to say "I find your presumption that you are better than me based on your belief in a god different from mine to be false ."
I totally agree with you. I definitely will never ever want OP to be my nurse. HOwever, I appreciate the fact that she is outspoken about her beliefs. I have had bad experience with Christian fundamentalists. After a false friendship with a Christian who condemned me because of my sexual orientation, I have sworn that I would never be friend with a fundamentalist. When Christians expose their belief publicly, I can avoid them.
I wish as a patient I can check a nurse's belief before I give her my consent to take care of me. The last thing I want when I am sick is to put up with their good news.
BrandonLPN, LPN
3,358 Posts
speaking for myself, no, I'm not always insulted when someone's beliefs differ from my own. I am, however, insulted when someone implies their religion makes them better at their job than people who aren't of that religion. How is that not insulting?