Prayer as a Nursing Intervention

Nurses General Nursing

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Greetings, Fellow Nurses!

I am doing research into the use of prayer as a nursing intervention (thus, the title of this thread.) I have had the honor of praying with patients and families at the bedside and I am sure that many of you can say the same. What I am looking for is both anecdotal and research-based evidence that prayer is an effective and valid nursing intervention.

If you have stories to share, I will be delighted. I will also appreciate any suggestions regarding published material on this subject.

While I believe that there is probably nothing better that I can do for a patient and his or her family than to ask God for His intervention, I would like to hear from the experience of others in the profession that it really is effective.

Thank you in advance for your comments!

This is from a EHS Nursing Care Plans site connected with Mosby.

i too, have been reading all sorts of links re interventions for spiritual distress...

and did see the one where it said, if requested, pray w/pt.

IF requested.

all have said to seek chaplain, rabbi et al...

and never stating nurse should be providing this service.

and so, i cannot fathom it ever becoming an official nsg intervention.

leslie

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Specializes in n/a.

If you want evidence if prayer works then read the Bible, lots in there for ya! Further more, Pray for your PT's See how thier lives change, as well as yours!

Jeremiah 17:14

Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For You are my praise.

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If you want evidence if prayer works then read the Bible, lots in there for ya! Further more, Pray for your PT's See how thier lives change, as well as yours!

Jeremiah 17:14

Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For You are my praise.

I believe that the Bible would have to be considered anecdotal evidence (at best). Show me some solid, respectable, double-blind studies with statistically significant results and then we can talk ... :rolleyes:

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I believe that the Bible would have to be considered anecdotal evidence (at best). Show me some solid, respectable, double-blind studies with statistically significant results and then we can talk ... :rolleyes:

I'd have to strongly agree with this. Quoting the bible as evidence when most of it (new testament at least) was written 100+ years after Jesus of Nazareth died like saying The Odyssey is evidence. In a field as scientific as nursing, even with respect to holistic practices you can't call the bible evidence...especially since it's one of the smaller of the major religions of the world.

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Specializes in n/a.

Well it sounds like you have already made your mind up that prayer " dont work" ALL religons pray to thier Gods for healing. There are all kinds of medical

miracles that DR's cant explain out there, even they will tell you " it had to be some kind of devine intervention" So try opening your eyes to something bigger than you !

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Specializes in Obs & gynae theatres.

People who think that the bible is a reputable source of evidence should look at the biblical errancy website.

I don't believe that your nursing governing bodies would expect their members to pray if they were not religious. As an atheist, I'd find that offensive.

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Well it sounds like you have already made your mind up that prayer " dont work" ALL religons pray to thier Gods for healing. There are all kinds of medical

miracles that DR's cant explain out there, even they will tell you " it had to be some kind of devine intervention" So try opening your eyes to something bigger than you !

I disagree. They want evidence. Not anecdotal stories in a book called "The Bible". That doesn't mean they have made up their mind. You're asking them to have faith, not providing them with evidence.

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