Prayer @ staff meeting

Nurses General Nursing

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At a recent "mandatory" staff meeting the ADON requested one of the nurses to open our meeting with a prayer. We work in a state correctional facility. No one seemed offended, I just thought it was inappropriate. In discussing it with other staff that was present, they are thinking of notifying Human resources about it. Any thoughts?

I cant believe that anyone would get offended at praying. IF YOU DONT WANT TO THEN JUST DONT DO IT

So then you won't be offended when we sacrifice a goat at your next staff meeting...

Get real. It's offensive.

Just because you belong in the majority DOES NOT give you permission to trample on the minority. ;)

:twocents:

Take it to HR. You are NEVER required to go to your 'supervisor' if that supervisor is the offender.

Professionalism has nothing to do with it. That's why HR is there. Period.

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So then you won't be offended when we sacrifice a goat at your next staff meeting...

Get real. It's offensive.

Just because you belong in the majority DOES NOT give you permission to trample on the minority. ;)

:twocents:

Take it to HR. You are NEVER required to go to your 'supervisor' if that supervisor is the offender.

Professionalism has nothing to do with it. That's why HR is there. Period.

Excellent post!!

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Professionalism has nothing to do with it. That's why HR is there. Period.

Professionalism has everything to do with it. If rather than prayer a bit of professionalism had been inserted into the scenario in the first place, there would be no need to involve HR. :twocents:

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Professionalism has everything to do with it. If rather than prayer a bit of professionalism had been inserted into the scenario in the first place, there would be no need to involve HR. :twocents:

That's not what I meant LOL.

Someone prior to me implied it was unprofessional to side step the ADON and go straight to HR.

They were wrong...

I agree with you. A professional wouldn't have even MENTIONED prayer at the meeting. ;)

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Take it to HR. You are NEVER required to go to your 'supervisor' if that supervisor is the offender.

Professionalism has nothing to do with it. That's why HR is there. Period.

if there were issues between colleagues/peers, i would certainly recommend approaching the person before anything else.

but when the perp is your boss, i can see why many would hesitate to deal directly w/the source.

in this case, i do believe hr would be the more appropriate option.

leslie

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That's not what I meant LOL.

Someone prior to me implied it was unprofessional to side step the ADON and go straight to HR.

They were wrong...

I agree with you. A professional wouldn't have even MENTIONED prayer at the meeting. ;)

I apologize for the misunderstanding. We are on the same page. . . ;)

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I think you are missing the point. The scenario as presented was at a MANDATORY staff meeting. Those present had no choice but to listen. This situation created an imposition and was, in my opinion, inappropriate in a professional setting. :twocents:

I agree with you. In cases like this, the same people who demanded the prayer may be the ones to haze the ones that speak up openly about it. If anything, maybe an anonymous letter to the ADON first would be in order. I have seen where autocratic managers zero in and intimidate persons who feel that their rights have been infringed upon. This is not appropriate at all.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Usual rule of thumb in HR handbooks pretty much everywhere state that you should endeavor to bring your complaint to the individual in question - unless you feel you would be in danger (sorry, lack of a better word escaping me at the moment) doing so.

This is so even for sexual harassment cases.

I think this is the issue at hand. The person that does approach the ADON may be in danger of hazing, and of their secure position at work.

I remember once, about 5 years ago, staff members gathered their collagues together when Joint Commission arrived for a group prayer. I could not support this and walked out right in the middle of it. I mean, what were we praying for? That Joint Commission, the alleged agency that is supposed to ensure safety does not uncover the many lies that were perpetrated by the managers that really do infringe on safe patient care? That they don't discover the forged documents, the legitimate patient complaints? To me, a prayer that made more sense is that the surveyor does not approach me, but otherwise, that prayer, as far as I am concerned, perpetuates the cover-ups and that is not what I think that our Creator is too interested in doing.

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Specializes in HomeHealth / geriatrics.

Pray at home in private , not on the clock in public !!!

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Specializes in Psych/Rehab/Family practice/Oncology.

I once interviewed with a physician who told me he liked to start the day with a prayer, and asked me if I would be offended. My response was, "I won't be offended if you pray, if you won't be offended if I don't." Case closed. I worked for him and we got along famously. To tell you the truth it rather comforted me when he prayed, knowing who and what we sometimes had in front of us for the day.

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Specializes in LTC, office.

My manager likes to push the limit with religious talk. She starts opening meetings with a prayer I am calling HR ASAP.

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I choose to work at a Catholic LTC and didn't find prayer at openings of mandatory meetings offenseive.

I also agree that I would discuss it with the person who started the prayer rather than go to HR.

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