I'm three months into my new job as a hospice RNCM and have been learning a lot. I generally love, love, love my job.
My question today is about praying in the workplace. I know that Medicare requires a spiritual counselor on staff, but I also know that patients can refuse that service.
At my work place, meetings have recently started to begin with prayer lead by the SC. This seems a bit odd to me, coming from years of experience in the work world where things like prayer before meetings did not happen.
Also, I hear a lot of statements from fellow workers that I find offensive regarding patients having a hard time with EOL because they "don't have a belief system." They have a belief system, it just may not be the same as other people. From my limited experience, it seems people die differently, not relatable solely to their belief system. Some with strong beliefs have a hard time, others who don't believe find peace at the end.
I will pray with my patients all they want if that brings them peace and comfort, but prayer in the work place feels like a violation.
Since it's where you work and not something that is being forced upon your personal life, it doesn't seem right to fight it. It's how your coworkers cope. They have just as much right to pray before a meeting as you have to sit quietly while not praying.....it's a matter of mutual respect. I could understand feeling uncomfortable if you were asked to be the one praying before the meeting, but it is only right to grant others the right to their belief system and allow them to pray before the meeting.
Nurses tend to resort to prayer when they are stress-out. For example whenthe patient is recieving aggressive treatment or whe the doctor is not listening to what the nurses are saying, i feel so bad for the patient and the patient family. So i can do is to pray and that made me feel better.
and then ask them if they have taken Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. What is EOL?
And that would be way out of line and really none of your business unless THEY bring it up to YOU.
I'd be curious to know how you respond when they tell you they haven't? I'd be curious to know understand how you would ever think this is an OK burden to place on another human being at the end of life.
Since it's where you work and not something that is being forced upon your personal life it doesn't seem right to fight it. It's how your coworkers cope. They have just as much right to pray before a meeting as you have to sit quietly while not praying.....it's a matter of mutual respect. I could understand feeling uncomfortable if you were asked to be the one praying before the meeting, but it is only right to grant others the right to their belief system and allow them to pray before the meeting.[/quote']
So in that sense you wouldn't mid waiting while the wiccans did a ritual? Would even defend their right to do it? What about Buddhists to lead a group meditation (with Buddhist mantra, none of this stolen Christian meditation), and of course you wouldn't be upset on a busy day shift when your Muslim co-worker took time to say their daily sets of prayers right?
Posting from my phone, ease forgive my fat thumbs! :)
I am always available to pray with my patients and family members should they be open to it; it is a fundamental (I believe) aspect of nursing, and a predominant reason why I chose hospice. We are in a unique position to reflect God's desire (Jesus Christ) for all mankind thru His living Word - the Bible. However, should my patient or their family/friend decline such an offer I will treat and regard them no differently...everyone needs unconditional love.[/quote']
I think the problem comes with you asking. As a non-Christian I would be very bothered f someone asked me if I wanted them to say a prayer with/for me. What you choose to do on your time "for" me is your choice, if I don't ask you to pray for me, don't offer.
Posting from my phone, ease forgive my fat thumbs! :)
Nurses tend to resort to prayer when they are stress-out. For example whenthe patient is recieving aggressive treatment or whe the doctor is not listening to what the nurses are saying i feel so bad for the patient and the patient family. So i can do is to pray and that made me feel better.[/quote']
This is one nurse that doesn't "resort" so anything other than interventions. Again, do SOMETHING for me and mine don't just hope and "pray"
Posting from my phone, ease forgive my fat thumbs! :)
In my experience it is because I have to be tolerant of any Judeo-Christian religion, but when this white girl says she's a Buddhist I'm treated like I have a fourth eye.
Posting from my phone, ease forgive my fat thumbs! :)
And when this white girl says she's a Buddhist it becomes the most interesting thing about her. :-) not the fact that I do 100 mile bike rides on the weekend or volunteer for everything under the sun.
If you aren't working in a place that is owned/operated by a particular religion then I think it would be respectful to all to have a quiet moment or some other similar wording. Or take turns! I would love it if someone chanted a morning gatha with me!
As a Buddhist I do not want to be prayed for, I do not want to answer the question of "have you accepted..." I do not thank God for my successes. But I do respect your beliefs.
One of the large hospitals where I am (Midwest) is a catholic hospital. They pray before every shift and meetings. I'm not catholic but if I got hired there I would respectfully bow my head and have a quiet moment.
And when this white girl says she's a Buddhist it becomes the most interesting thing about her. :-) not the fact that I do 100 mile bike rides on the weekend or volunteer for everything under the sun.
If you aren't working in a place that is owned/operated by a particular religion then I think it would be respectful to all to have a quiet moment or some other similar wording. Or take turns! I would love it if someone chanted a morning gatha with me!
As a Buddhist I do not want to be prayed for, I do not want to answer the question of "have you accepted..." I do not thank God for my successes. But I do respect your beliefs.
I would LOVE to take turns! My first bought through college I was a religion major! I love learning without something being forced upon me! This would be great!
Posting from my phone, ease forgive my fat thumbs! :)
It's funny, we can get desensitized to why EOL patients would have a 'crisis or faith'. We're all going to be there one day.
There are so many benefits to appealing to a higher power when you aren't in control of your own body. Having one's mind and thoughts on the hope of a positive outcome to their situation keeps people and even animals alive in stressful situations. Scientist did a study on rats put into buckets of water, one in total darkness and one with a light in the corner of the room. The first rat drowned after 30 minutes. The second rat swam over 36 hours because the light gave it a continual reminder of a way out. Prayer is very much like the light. It increases the will to survive and puts people at peace. There are tons of studies on the positive effects of prayer:
"Furthermore, prayer may have an effect on patients' responses to disease processes. A 2011 study of inner city youth with asthma by researchers at the University of Cincinnati indicates that those who practiced prayer and meditation experienced fewer and less severe symptoms than those who had not (Schiffman, 2012). Also, research suggests that patients who are religious have speedier recovery times after major medical procedures. Research at Dartmouth Medical School found that patients with strong religious beliefs who underwent elective heart surgery were three times more likely to recover than those who were less religious (Schiffman, 2012)."
I respect the autonomy of people who don't believe in prayer. It's their right. But it doesn't mean others' should not be able to pray simply because people who don't want too are present. If you don't want to, don't. But, my dear friends,may I please add, it works. God is up there and He is good!
I am always available to pray with my patients and family members, should they be open to it; it is a fundamental (I believe) aspect of nursing, and a predominant reason why I chose hospice. We are in a unique position to reflect God's desire (Jesus Christ) for all mankind thru His living Word - the Bible. However, should my patient or their family/friend decline such an offer I will treat and regard them no differently...everyone needs unconditional love.
I'm sorry....perhaps I missed that " fundamental" teaching during my 4 years in University....and was further absent during these " fundamental" clinical days.
If your patient isn't a Christian, you aren't denouncing Christ by not ramming your beliefs down their throats. Christ never tried to force anyone to believe, and he never told us to try that method, either.
I agree. I'm a practicing Christian and would never ever do that. If you feel the need to pray for them, you can do it without them present. As a nurse you need to be respectful of your patient.
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tigerRN2013
43 Posts
Since it's where you work and not something that is being forced upon your personal life, it doesn't seem right to fight it. It's how your coworkers cope. They have just as much right to pray before a meeting as you have to sit quietly while not praying.....it's a matter of mutual respect. I could understand feeling uncomfortable if you were asked to be the one praying before the meeting, but it is only right to grant others the right to their belief system and allow them to pray before the meeting.