Prayer and patient care.

MzMouse · Nov 17, 2007

Not everyone prays; I don't. But if a patient asked, I would certainly make every attempt to find someone who does.

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Nov 17, 2007

I will bow my head respectfully if a patient wishes to pray. But if a patient needs more, we have pastoral care for that.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Nov 17, 2007

I think it is inappropriate to bring up spirituality unless the patient brings it up first, and even then, the focus should be what they need instead of ours.

I can say, though, that with the high volume of patients I see, I really don't have time to inquire much about their spiritual or even emotional needs (as bad as I feel about it) unless it is impacting on adherence to the plan prescribed by the physician. I think that holistic care is nice in theory, but too many factors are infringed on us by useless paperwork and unrealistic demands placed on us by administration.

TiredMD · Nov 17, 2007

Thought this was interesting. I guess we (hospital personnel) don't have to pray with them, but we do have to assess the impact of spirituality in their lives. From the JCAHO website:

http://www.jointcommission.org/AccreditationPrograms/HomeCare/Standards/FAQs/Provision+of+Care/Assessment/Spiritual_Assessment.htm

Q: Does the Joint Commission specify what needs to be included in a spiritual assessment?

A: Spiritual assessment should, at a minimum, determine the patient's denomination, beliefs, and what spiritual practices are important to the patient. This information would assist in determining the impact of spirituality, if any, on the care/services being provided and will identify if any further assessment is needed. The standards require organization's to define the content and scope of spiritual and other assessments and the qualifications of the individual(s) performing the assessment.

Examples of elements that could be but are not required in a spiritual assessment include the following questions directed to the patient or his/her family:

Who or what provides the patient with strength and hope?
Does the patient use prayer in their life?
How does the patient express their spirituality?
How would the patient describe their philosophy of life?
What type of spiritual/religious support does the patient desire?
What is the name of the patient's clergy, ministers, chaplains, pastor, rabbi?
What does suffering mean to the patient?
What does dying mean to the patient?
What are the patient's spiritual goals?
Is there a role of church/synagogue in the patient's life?
How does your faith help the patient cope with illness?
How does the patient keep going day after day?
What helps the patient get through this health care experience?
How has illness affected the patient and his/her family?

Agnus · Nov 17, 2007

I have prayed upon their request with a patient. I prayed the specific prayers they asked for. I do not assaullt the ears of the comatose with whispered prayers.

This is not a new topic by any stretch. This forum has a long history of "holy angles" who would like the whole world to be saved and go to heaven. Without ever realizing that in some religions that whole concept is repugnant.

For the record I will attend church tomorrow (Sunday). I sit on my Church's governing board. It is against my religion to impose my religion on others. We do not accept the concept of being "saved" or having to rely on someone to "open the doors of heaven for us." Or even the concept of "miracles" or the idea that prayers have the powers claimed by the OP.

My religion does respect the rights of everyone to their own beliefs and we feel no one religion, group, country etc has a corner on holiness, virtue or anything else for that matter.

Assaulting my ears with what ever prayer you deem is appropriate for me is

not respectful of where I am at spiritually.

If you feel you must pray for me do so. I give my consent. Just don't do this to anyone without their consent.

Did you know that in our ethical code we are not supposed to pray for people without their permission even when it is silent and private prayer.

When they were doing research on praying for people and their recovery they had to get permission to pray or the person could not be included in the study. This was true even in the studies where the subject would not know if people were praying or not. To do otherwise is unethical.

I will give my consent as I suspect the OP and possible others feel I need it. Maybe I do. I doubt it can hurt. When someone says "pray for me" Such as "pray for me when you go home tonight" I send them good thoughts which is as close as we get to praying in my religion.

I expect you to pray in what ever fashion is right for your religion when you pray for me privately. I do not want such prayers spoken in my ear comatose of fully awake. I do not want to hear what it is you said to your god on my behalf. That is your believe your spiritual practice not mine.

harley007 · Nov 18, 2007

I work in a cath lab and I tend to the spiritual needs of every single patient I care for. I greet all waiting patients with a smile, a warm "Hello, we will be with you in just a minute" even if this patient is going to another one of our labs. The whole pre-cath time from stretcher to table and all while draping the patient is the center of our attention for emotional support. We make sure they understand the proceedure and assure them that we will "be there" for them - in the room - the whole time. They know our first names. We reasure them that the IV sedation will work and we will advocate for them if they still feel anxious. If they are really nervous I stand at the head of the table with my hand under the drape holding their hand and verbally reassure them while the MD gives the local and I talk them through the introduction of the FA sheath. Once we have reach that point the discomfort has stopped and they ususally drift in and out of sleep. As we circulate we still ask how they are doing and maintain eye contact - inbetween assiting the MD and checking the monitors . It is tough to totally be there when we move to do a plasty. It is a whirlwind of getting everything ready but thankfully the MD is usualy engaged with the patient explaining things. After the proceedure we are happy for a negative cath or if the news is CABG or they have just had a plasty we give them admiration for not waiting for an acute event to have their diagnostic cath. Even in the event of an acute MI plasty we tell them what a great job they did of verballizing their symptoms and getting themselves to the hospital. The last thing they see from me is a smile and a wish for good luck. Sure I love all the high stress technical stuff but number one for me is the spitual well being of each pateint. I think I really do meet that goal and I never even had to use the word pray.

Templedoll · Nov 18, 2007

I don't think there is a right and wrong answer to this question. I feel that if a patient wants a nurse to pray fro them and she is not comfortable with that then get in the priest,chaplain. You will still be sensitive to the wishes of the patient. If you are happy doing the praying then go for it.

Editorial Team / Admin · Nov 18, 2007

Posts #37 - #55 merged with thread of like topic.

RN1989 · Nov 18, 2007

You can tell the patients that are wanting prayers. When I get the vibe that someone is wanting a prayer, or to talk about God, I am more than willing to do so. I always ask if they would like me to pray with them. I have had patients call me to their rooms and say a specific prayer for me, not the generic "doctors and nurses". Having worked in several hospitals that were religious affiliated, patients pretty much know on admit that the hospital is religion oriented. Pt's will ask if I am a Christian sometimes and if I would talk with them about it.

I don't force my religion on anyone. And the spiritual assessments that the hospitals do for JCAHO requirements are a crock anyway. But I will continue to assess my patients and ask if I can pray for them if I feel that they are needing it. But I don't do it for everyone.