The patient, who is christ

[Bro. David BSN]

One Day we are on our patient audit for 3-11 shift in the next day in one of the hospital in the Philippines. I was called by our Clinical Instructor (CI) and I was assigned in a patient with full thickness burns. The patient was in the 50's . During our conversation and Nurse Patient Interaction getting the necessary health data and information of the accident there is something I feel inside me, It is very strange, something unusual, my heart beats fast, and then suddenly I saw the scourged Jesus in Him , the one that is likely shown in the passion of Christ. I saw in his eyes the suffering that he was encountering as what our Lord experienced during the time he was hanging on the tree of cross. I heard in his voice the agony and pain, like Jesus whispering in me "Come my Dear, come and comfort me" . I feel the totality of putting myself before the tree of the cross when our Loving lord was in HIS last moment of His life.

As the time gone by, I am enjoying the moment with my Lord, but I cannot bear the felling within , I want to cry ! I want to hug him! I want to say "Lord I love you please forgive me of my hardheadedness!" . But I must do the right thing, maybe if I did such thing he may encountered more injury because of the open tissue ; or maybe get insulted. I did not show to my patient the tears within my eyes. I didn't want to allow my patient to see the uncovered pain of my sliced heart.

I politely excused myself and run to the chapel of the Hospital, where my tears burst and my heart weeps. Once again I felt that I am placed on the time where the Loving lord was being whip by the sharp metals of the Roman soldiers. I felt the pain of being scourged, persecuted and left.

During the night I can't sleep . All my mind was occupied by the tender love of God to us. Giving His most precious son Jesus Christ. Meditating on the Paschal mystery of Jesus. The pain and the joy combined. Pain because of my sins, my shortcomings and my naughtiness. Joy for this treasured moments and experienced that HE (Jesus) unveiled to me.

I had served the patient with all my Best. Serving a King. I saw in him the Lord . My Master my Love my all! And that experienced was cherished inside me. The calling within the call as mother Theresa said was experienced by me.. Thank you Lord... Thank you Jesus!!!

[Zen123]

This article has disturb a quiet mind. Ommmmmm

[NightOwl0624]

I can, of course, speak only for myself - at no point in reading or contributing to this thread have I felt anger. What I have felt is concern for the OP and for his patient. Some of that has since been assuaged during this discussion, though some remain.

I just don't get all the concern for this patient. Or why some people would not want a nurse such as the OP caring for themselves. What happened to the OP was private and he seemed to handle it with professionalism and integrity. Perhaps by writing about his experience allowed him to process his feelings. (I found it very interesting, and not in a disturbing way). That he chose to share it with us, well, I don't know what his motive was. I do think one should be very careful before labeling an experience as psychotic, as some people on this thread have done.

I feel as though people, in general, seem to be extremely 'tolerant' of every kind of race/culture/religion unless it involves Christianity, and that saddens me.

[XXWeaponX]

Psychosis (from the Greek ψυχή "psyche", for mind/soul, and -ωσις "-osis", for abnormal condition) means abnormal condition of the mind, and is a generic psychiatric term for a mental state often described as involving a "loss of contact with reality". People suffering from psychosis are described as psychotic. Psychosis is given to the more severe forms of psychiatric disorder, during which hallucinations and delusions and impaired insight may occur.[1] Some professionals say that the term psychosis is not sufficient as some illnesses grouped under the term "psychosis" have nothing in common (Gelder, Mayou & Geddes 2005).

People experiencing psychosis may report hallucinations or delusional beliefs, and may exhibit personality changes and thought disorder. Depending on its severity, this may be accompanied by unusual or bizarre behavior, as well as difficulty with social interaction and impairment in carrying out daily life activities.

Why others began labeling this OP as potentially psychotic, and why I, as a MH nurse would agree with them. Religious delusions and hallucinations where one is experiencing visions of a patient as Christ on the cross, mid scourge as he is dragging his burden is hardly a normal patient interaction, and in terms of this story, seems like a break from reality that causes a lot of concern of many readers.

Being concerned about a person having religious hallucinations in the workplace is not being intolerant of Christianity. Additionally, it's pretty ridiculous to claim that there is an intolerance of Christianity in a country that is 76% Christian. As the MAJORITY, there's not exactly any oppression going on.

Instead, it's quite common to excuse behavior like the OP's as "oh he's just religious." Were you to find a homeless person, rambing on about the same things, experiencing the same visions, doubtless you'd want to see him 5150'd. Since this poster is a nurse with religious affiliations, you chose to ignore symptoms and signs that the DSM IV tells us are evidence of psychotic behavior, and chalk it up to a religious person being persecuted. Who suffers for that? (Here's a hint, it's probably the patient, first, and OP, second.)

[NightOwl0624]

Psychosis (from the Greek ψυχή "psyche", for mind/soul, and -ωσις "-osis", for abnormal condition) means abnormal condition of the mind, and is a generic psychiatric term for a mental state often described as involving a "loss of contact with reality". People suffering from psychosis are described as psychotic. Psychosis is given to the more severe forms of psychiatric disorder, during which hallucinations and delusions and impaired insight may occur.[1] Some professionals say that the term psychosis is not sufficient as some illnesses grouped under the term "psychosis" have nothing in common (Gelder, Mayou & Geddes 2005).

People experiencing psychosis may report hallucinations or delusional beliefs, and may exhibit personality changes and thought disorder. Depending on its severity, this may be accompanied by unusual or bizarre behavior, as well as difficulty with social interaction and impairment in carrying out daily life activities.

Why others began labeling this OP as potentially psychotic, and why I, as a MH nurse would agree with them. Religious delusions and hallucinations where one is experiencing visions of a patient as Christ on the cross, mid scourge as he is dragging his burden is hardly a normal patient interaction, and in terms of this story, seems like a break from reality that causes a lot of concern of many readers.

Being concerned about a person having religious hallucinations in the workplace is not being intolerant of Christianity. Additionally, it's pretty ridiculous to claim that there is an intolerance of Christianity in a country that is 76% Christian. As the MAJORITY, there's not exactly any oppression going on.

Instead, it's quite common to excuse behavior like the OP's as "oh he's just religious." Were you to find a homeless person, rambing on about the same things, experiencing the same visions, doubtless you'd want to see him 5150'd. Since this poster is a nurse with religious affiliations, you chose to ignore symptoms and signs that the DSM IV tells us are evidence of psychotic behavior, and chalk it up to a religious person being persecuted. Who suffers for that? (Here's a hint, it's probably the patient, first, and OP, second.)

Interesting.

I just felt that in the OP post he saw Christ in his patients...

"During our conversation and Nurse Patient Interaction getting the necessary health data and information of the accident there is something I feel inside me, It is very strange, something unusual, my heart beats fast, and then suddenly I saw the scourged Jesus in Him , the one that is likely shown in the passion of Christ. I saw in his eyes the suffering that he was encountering as what our Lord experienced during the time he was hanging on the tree of cross. I heard in his voice the agony and pain, like Jesus whispering in me "Come my Dear, come and comfort me" ...."

I felt his post was conveying his feelings, and relating his religious beliefs to the patient. I guess I don't see this as hallucinating or delusional. It also seems as though he remained in control of himself even as he was overcome with emotion. That's just my opinion; I wasn't present when it happened, I didn't speak personally to the OP, I certainly didn't find him rambling about it, and I am not even an expert in mental health nursing. So maybe you are correct in your assessment. I would just be more cautious in labeling him as psychotic by what he wrote.

Of course if the OP had a history of mental illness or if this was a pattern in behavior, if there was family history involved, if he had been drinking or using mind altering substances before it happened, ..., then it would be a different story.

[DebblesRN, ASN, BSN, RN]

I never took Brother David to say he had a religious hallucination. Maybe I just interpreted his post differently, but I felt like the suffering of his patient, which was SO APPARENT due to full thickness burns, awakened in his mind what Jesus must have gone through, the kind of suffering Jesus must have endured, and made him feel pity for this man AND for his savior. It gave him a humbling reminder that Jesus ENDURED that suffering for HIM. It also reminded him that God presents himself to us in strange places, and that we should look for him always. We should behave in this life as if he were right there watching us and guiding us to do what we know is right. That when we are helping others, we are helping Christ. That when we are helping others, we are ministering to them the love of Jesus. You don't always have to thump your Bible at a person to exude the love of Christ and minister that love to another human being. He had these feeling because he is a christian and this is what he believes.

I don't consider that "Psychosis." I consider that someone with a deep faith in a higher power and his higher power happens to be Jesus. I don't think his religion clouds his judgment, or makes him a danger to anyone. I think it colors how he cares for people, and if it makes him love his patients as he loves Christ, and cares for his patients as if they were Christ laying in front of him in need, then I want him as my nurse when I am in need.

I would feel the same about ANY nurse of ANY faith. He's not looking to convert anyone, or chastise them or discriminate them due to their personal religious preferences. He is simply caring for his patients under the principle that MOST ALL religions teach--Love one another, help each other, and treat each other as you would like to be treated. Wish more people felt that way.

[XXWeaponX]

Interesting.

I just felt that in the OP post he saw Christ in his patients...

"During our conversation and Nurse Patient Interaction getting the necessary health data and information of the accident there is something I feel inside me, It is very strange, something unusual, my heart beats fast, and then suddenly I saw the scourged Jesus in Him , the one that is likely shown in the passion of Christ. I saw in his eyes the suffering that he was encountering as what our Lord experienced during the time he was hanging on the tree of cross. I heard in his voice the agony and pain, like Jesus whispering in me "Come my Dear, come and comfort me" ...."

I felt his post was conveying his feelings, and relating his religious beliefs to the patient. I guess I don't see this as hallucinating or delusional. It also seems as though he remained in control of himself even as he was overcome with emotion. That's just my opinion; I wasn't present when it happened, I didn't speak personally to the OP, I certainly didn't find him rambling about it, and I am not even an expert in mental health nursing. So maybe you are correct in your assessment. I would just be more cautious in labeling him as psychotic by what he wrote.

Of course if the OP had a history of mental illness or if this was a pattern in behavior, if there was family history involved, if he had been drinking or using mind altering substances before it happened, ..., then it would be a different story.

I don't believe that anyone should be diagnosed via the internet, but I am backing up where the term "Psychosis" was first mentioned on the first page of this thread. That the OP uses the words "saw" "heard" and describes the imagery projected onto this patient so vividly he was moved to tears and forced to leave the room is not normal behavior, and not professional nursing behavior. If this is behavior you want in your colleagues, I am glad that I am working where I work, and you are working where you work. I would think being patient centered, and providing evidence based care would be everyone's priority.

[DebblesRN, ASN, BSN, RN]

"I would think being patient centered, and providing evidence based care would be everyone's priority."

Who says this is not the OP's Priority??

[XXWeaponX]

"I would think being patient centered, and providing evidence based care would be everyone's priority."

Who says this is not the OP's Priority??

OP, try rereading the article.

I'm done in this thread.

[NightOwl0624]

I don't believe that anyone should be diagnosed via the internet, but I am backing up where the term "Psychosis" was first mentioned on the first page of this thread. That the OP uses the words "saw" "heard" and describes the imagery projected onto this patient so vividly he was moved to tears and forced to leave the room is not normal behavior, and not professional nursing behavior. If this is behavior you want in your colleagues, I am glad that I am working where I work, and you are working where you work. I would think being patient centered, and providing evidence based care would be everyone's priority.

I did not say that I want this behavior in my colleagues. And I am very happy where I work, thank you very much. I'm glad you are, too. I don't understand what that has to do with this post.

I can accept that nurses are human and have feelings. I can accept that nurses have different religious experiences than me. The OP stated that he excused himself from the room to deal with his emotions. I have seen that happen before, even among some pretty tough nurses.

Again, if this is a pattern, it would be a problem.

[tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN]

I would think being patient centered, and providing evidence based care would be everyone's priority.

I would want that patient-centered care delivered in a compassionate manner as was evidenced by the OP.

I have seen many a doctor and nurse moved to tears by a patient's or family's suffering. I definitely did not view them as any less professional due to their emotional response.

[Sparrowhawk]

Well...rats, Im out of popcorn. Lemme go get some more, then we'll continue this roast.

[GilaRRT]

We all have different emotional reactions based on our personal beliefs and past experiences. I took care of a battered little girl and her distraught father while in Afghanistan and through it I "saw" or relived another traumatic incident involving a small child in vivid detail from years earlier. The situation reasonated in a specific way psychologically. Through looking at the eyes of one patient, I saw another. Does this mean that I was experiencing some sort of psychosis, or because I didn't make some sort of supernatural connection, I'm in the clear?