Nurses and religion

tvccrn, ASN, RN · Sep 17, 2008

To me, it's not about my beliefs, but about the patient's and their family's. I guess it also helps that I hold to the belief that all gods are one god so it doesn't matter much to me the name you call your god by.

flea44 · Sep 17, 2008

if you are honest and open and respectful you will find life very interesting as to religion/spirituality in the hospital. I have been in some heated discussions at the nurses desk at "break time" however dealing with cultural and religious just takes a little awareness that We are all different even within our culture and religion and I don't want to offend you nor do I want to compromise myself and never take anything personal when dealing with a patient. Ex. I had just read an article on handshaking. they did not take into account culture and religion. I went into work and attemted to use it and bang ran into an ultra othodox Jewish man who quite politely said "I don't shake hands" no prob bob. We got along nicely so well that he willingly talked with me about some "no-nos" so I would not step into too many oops the next time, which occurs at least every two or three months around our area. I have sent many a patient to face open heart sx after praying with them the night before. Yes we have pastors and spiritual leaders on call but at 3am they aren't there with a sniveling frightened big eyed patient. I have never prayed outloud without permission but I have joined in and never been berated but have gotten hugs and secret, shy smiles. A simple "amen" goes a long way. It is well known among my fellow workers I have a Bible in my bag and I know how to use it, and it is not over their heads to make an impression. :rolleyes:

BlueRidgeHomeRN · Sep 17, 2008

i can leave my spirituality at the door when i go to work with no problem.

i disagree slightly, but it may only be a matter of semantics.

i can easily stow my relgious expression, along with my politics, distaste for "country" decor (i do home health/hospice) and rap music at the door to care for a patient/family. what i can't leave behind is my spirituality, anymore than i can be anything other than female, american, or a nurse. it is part of who i am, but the focus is on the patient. i only draw the line at behaviors that i consider to be grave moral evils, such as euthanasia and abortion, and do not work in areas where these would be an issue for me. :twocents:

ScoopsPerson · Sep 18, 2008

Reading your post reminded me of an incident that happened to me. I was a PCT while going to nursing school. I was caring for this one male pt who was very nice and he was telling me how he had been saved by Jesus Christ and was "born again". We had talked a few times during the day while I was doing I/O's, etc. Later in the day I went into his room to remove his dinner tray and his wife was in the room with him. I could hear them praying very loudly with the bible open on the bed. I started to back out of the room when he looked up and started cursing me out for walking in during their prayer session! I was frozen in place as he called me names and rolled his eyes and pounded on his bedside tray about how rude I was to interrupt him. I walked out into the hallway and just started lauging and shook my head. Dude, did you miss the part where Jesus taught us to love one another? I must admit now I am wary of any fundamentalist whether they be Christian, Muslim, Jewish or whatever...I find them to ususally act and behave the opposite of what they "preach". Scary.....

rnmomtobe2010 · Sep 18, 2008

There is really nothing that can be done about beliefs...Just respect their decision...

TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN · Sep 18, 2008

So long as they are not trying to convert me, I am more than happy to sit quietly with a patient while they say a prayer to whatever higher power they wish. I don't see this as an afront to or betrayal of my own personal beliefs and if it makes them feel better to have a little company and support, then who am I?

leslie :-D · Sep 18, 2008

Not an issue for me, either. I will provide what I can regarding obtaining a Muslim or Catholic chaplain (depending on their faith), and I am open about religious expression. I don't discuss my personal views, even when asked, because it is not about me, it is about them. I can leave my spirituality at the door when I go to work with no problem.

*smile*

i totally agree about it being about them, the pts.

but leave my spirituality at the door?

never...

oh boy....never.

that would be like leaving my entire core behind, with only a shell for a nurse.

it's my spirituality that enables me to enjoy and embrace everyone else's cultures, rites, beliefs.

my spirituality is what keeps me connected in fellowship, respect and praise.

it is my spirituality that enables me to laugh, cry, hug/touch, connect with the housekeeper, the homeless guy, the snooty-snobs and of course, my pts.

w/o my spirit, i would only exist.

and pagan, i suspect you can relate to what i say.

always remember, that your spirituality has little to do with religion and everything to do with life itself.

much love, sweetie.:redpinkhe

leslie

sandyteele · Sep 5, 2010

" All major religious traditions carry the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness, the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives."

Dalai Lama

elkpark · Sep 5, 2010

Thank you so much for your responses... I'm happy to hear this hasn't been a problem for anyone.
I have been looking at the curriculum for a lot of different nursing schools and have seen many with nursing courses strongly tied to religion and required chapel attendance ... that coupled with all of the hospitals with religious affiliation... I didn't know how strongly religion tied into the entire occupation.
I realize there are plenty of schools and hospitals that aren't tied to religion... but the overwhelming majority seem to be.
Thanks for the input!

I'm wondering where you're located, because, in the areas of the US in which I've lived over the years, only a minority of nursing programs have been affiliated with particular religions/denominations. The majority of programs these days, as far as I can tell, are in public colleges/universities which are completely non-sectarian or proprietary schools that couldn't care less what you believe as long as you pay them. :)

Even the schools affiliated with a particular religion with which I've had experience do not require anything like "chapel attendance" or push any particular set of beliefs/values. I attended a hospital-based diploma school at a Presbyterian-affiliated hospital many years ago, and there was no particular mention of religion or religion-related practices, either in the school or the hospital. I've worked at a SDA-affiliated medical center that had an attached health occupations (inc. nursing) college and they required a course on spirituality and world religions, but it was more like a "cultural competence" focus, not pushing the SDA beliefs. And, again, nothing like "required chapel attendance."

Are you possibly talking about someplace other than the US? In the US, there is no official or unofficial connection between nursing and religion. Religious and spiritual beliefs and practices are entirely the private business of the individual nurse, and, as others have already noted, we are professionally obligated to support our client's beliefs and values without imposing a personal spiritual agenda of our own.

dudette10, MSN, RN · Sep 5, 2010

If as an atheist, I can sit quietly at my table every night while my husband and children pray before dinner, I think I can handle any of my future patients that want to pray while I hold their hands.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Sep 5, 2010

I am an atheist. I have absolutely no problem praying with someone, turning the telvision to the Mass, saying a Rosary with them (or at least sitting while they do - I wasn't raised Catholic), or telling them they are certainly going to Heaven because he's a good person.

It isn't about me. At all.

Scarlette Wings · Sep 6, 2010

i am not currently a nurse but am pretty set on becoming one and was wondering how nurses dealt with responding to patients with conflicting religious beliefs. i don't think religion is that big of a deal, but i have come into contact with people (especially in times of illness) where religion becomes a huge deal.
have any nurses who aren't religious/affiliated with a religion had difficulties connecting w/ patients who are religious? has it ever been a problem? any insight?
much thanks!!

i assess my patient's spiritual needs (and the families) as i do any other aspect of care. if they express a need for support, solace, prayer, counseling, or even making a "connection" with whatever higher power they desire, then i do my best to call whomever they want. i always phrase my question "is there someone you would like me to call for you?" if the pt/family say "yes" but have no religious affiliation i offer them the hospital pastor on-call. (unless they state a denominational preference in which case i would see whom we have on call for their specific request.) if they say yes but have no idea who they want then i offer social services, the on-call pastor, or a consult for counseling/psyche services dependant on the circumstance.

i have called for priests to perform the sacrament of the sick, communion, and for elders and bishops to help sit with families. i have observed everything from use of anointing oil placed at the windows and doorposts and over the bed of the patient to feather and sage cleansing rituals. (that presents some fire saftey issues i had to deal with delicately)

i have seen people bring in scissors to put under the pillow of laboring women to "cut the pain from contractions." (i did make sure the scissors were clean and not dirty however.) i am pretty open to whatever makes the patient more comfortable as long as it does not carry in germs or disease nor interfere with care. i do offer the family/pt. the services they want or feel they would like.

personally i do not believe that spirituality is what a nurse should be doing nor is it part of our actual "practice." i think of spiritual services as one similar to a dietary consult, surgical consult, speech therapy, or other tasks there have specialists on hand to deal with them.

i am a bit uncomfortable with nurses or healthcare workers who i have heard "insist we pray" before procedures so they will go well. the pt is so vulnerable at that point they cannot, and often will not speak up even if they are uncomfortable or opposed. i have had patients verbalize that to me afterwards but they did not want to offend the person.

our facility has one elderly lady volunteer who ends her "visits" to the patient by stating "i am not a believer in jesus but i am going to pray to god that you get better" and then proceeds to loudly pray. her heart is in the right place but it sort of tickles me the way she words it and then proceeds to pray without waiting for any answer from the patient. i have also wondered if the patients that do believe in jesus christ feel offended or wonder what is going on since we are not a hospital affiliated with any church or doctrine.