Prayer and patient care.

Columnist · Sep 5, 2007

I thought Parish Nurse mean they were from Louisiana?

No.....a Parish Nurse is an RN who has special training, including pastoral care, and works mainly with members of a congregation, meeting their various health needs including education. The Parish Nurse visits those members while if the hospital as well as at home or in the nursing home, meeting spiritual and physical needs, often in the role as a patient advocate.

Another name for a Parish Nurse is a Faith Community Nurse.

For more information on Parish Nursing, visit the Parish Nursing Forum

https://allnurses.com/forums/f40/

Sorry, this is a bit off-topic, but I wanted to address motorcycle mama's comment.

leslie :-D · Sep 5, 2007

i don't know if it's "praying" per se, but i am in continual conversation with God, when i am caring for a pt with urgent acuity levels.

i always seek Him to guide me in the resolution of pain/suffering.

i always seek Him to bring the pt peace.

no one knows i'm doing this.

when the crisis has dissipated, often the pt will ask me to pray with them.

it is then, i let them know that i've been praying all along.

this often brings a smile, or even an ironic chuckle.

but i stink at formal prayer.

leslie

Always Learning, RN · Sep 5, 2007

I watch for the bolt of lightning to strike my agnostic butt dead.

:lol2: Same Here! Way down south, where I am, you are EXPECTED to join in. I try to avoid them (prayer circles) whenever possible, but when in the room when it is initiated, I'm just stuck. And I agree, I leave my beliefs concerning religion at the hospital doors. I do feel however, that if my participation fulfills the clients spiritual needs, then it is one step closer to recovery -- be it a physical and emotional recovery for the patient, or an emotional recovery for the family of a dying patient. It's all about the patient's needs, and yes, I do offer to have a minister of the patients faith come visit, some patients accept, others just want a quick prayer with the family. I see it as a comfort measure, and a basic element of nursing, regardless of whether on not their beliefs on religion conflict with mine or not.

woody62, RN · Sep 5, 2007

As a practicing Catholic, I have always prayed every day. I do not however, ever offer to pray for a patient. I have joined in on prayers when asked. And have gotten a representative of a patient's faith whenever requested. A person's relationship with his God is a personal one. One that no one has a right to enter unless invited.

Woody:balloons:

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Sep 6, 2007

i don't know if it's "praying" per se, but i am in continual conversation with God, when i am caring for a pt with urgent acuity levels.
i always seek Him to guide me in the resolution of pain/suffering.
i always seek Him to bring the pt peace.
no one knows i'm doing this.
when the crisis has dissipated, often the pt will ask me to pray with them.
it is then, i let them know that i've been praying all along.
this often brings a smile, or even an ironic chuckle.
but i stink at formal prayer.
leslie

So do I, Leslie. You'd think that as a Catholic I'd be great at formal prayer, but at times of crisis or thanksgiving, I forget every prayer I know and just talk to the Lord as if He were sitting in the La-Z-Boy across the living room from mine. And usually, nobody knows it but us.

Columnist · Sep 6, 2007

I'm with you Leslie and mjlrn. I'm not too good at "formal prayer", but just look at it as having a conversation with God. I'm sure the patient doesn't really care and I know God doesn't care.

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Sep 6, 2007

That's how I was raised. You talk to God like He's your friend. Because He is.

sharona97, BSN, RN · Sep 6, 2007

As usual Woody, well said.

Sharona97

leslie :-D · Sep 6, 2007

That's how I was raised. You talk to God like He's your friend. Because He is.

the best friend ever!:heartbeat

leslie

sharona97, BSN, RN · Sep 6, 2007

So do I, Leslie. You'd think that as a Catholic I'd be great at formal prayer, but at times of crisis or thanksgiving, I forget every prayer I know and just talk to the Lord as if He were sitting in the La-Z-Boy across the living room from mine. And usually, nobody knows it but us.

God's lovin that Lazeboy and your heart,mind,and soul!

woody62, RN · Sep 6, 2007

As usual Woody, well said.
Sharona97

Gosh I didn't say what I did for praise. I said it because I have always practice my faith in such a manner. I have no right to impose my faith on anyone else. And I try very hard not to. I once had a twenty six year old man, who had been married for six months when he was diagnosed with leukemia. He and his wife were both Catholics. He had many visitors, when I went into his room to check his IV site. There were two priest sitting near his bed. One look kind of familiar to me but I couldn't place him. I returned to him later, to hang another IV. I had to stand on a chair because his IV was so high (it was the only way we could run it). While up there, he introduced me to these two parish priest. I could remember what I was suppose to do because I was so surprised. So I said "hi Card". Got down and left the room. Shortly before the patient died, he asked me to take part in his funeral Mass. It was celebrated by Cardinal Cook. I later had dinner with his wife and the Cardinal. We were the only two women there and the Cardinal ribbed me about how I had addressed him. I share this story because both the paitent, the Cardinal and I all found my initial response very funny. God's messengers and I never take ourselves too seriously. It is when a person takes himself and God to seriously that we all get into trouble.

Woody:balloons:

psalm, RN · Sep 6, 2007

I pray while I drive to work but I keep my eyes open :rolleyes: I pray with pts. if they request. If I see a Bible in the room and I see the pt. anxious, I ask if they'd like a chaplain or their pastor or a prayer...I work nights so my IV checks are a good time to send a quick prayer up for the pt.