Preachy Coworker

Nurses General Nursing

Published

We have a CNA at work who, as of late, has taken it upon himself to preach religion to everyone he comes across.

Dont get me wrong, I embrace religous diversity. But there is a time and a place.

He will sing hymns in patient rooms, at the nurses station, when transporting patients. He will write out scriptures on pieces of paper, photocopy it, then distribute it to coworkers. He has started preaching to anyone who will listen, and will throw the f-word in for emphasis.

Everyone on the unit is annoyed. Any suggestions how to tell a coworker to knock it off?

Specializes in Onco, palliative care, PCU, HH, hospice.

What irritates me is when a patient or patient's pastor asks me "Have you been saved by Jesus?" I live in the bible belt so I get asked this often :angryfire I am here to take care of you, I'm NOT here for your minister to make an attempt to "save" me.... Guess something about me screams out sin to those who are holy lol :devil:

Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.
What irritates me is when a patient or patient's pastor asks me "Have you been saved by Jesus?" I live in the bible belt so I get asked this often :angryfire I am here to take care of you, I'm NOT here for your minister to make an attempt to "save" me.... Guess something about me screams out sin to those who are holy lol :devil:

I get irritated when they ask, "do you believe in miracles?". In fact, no I don't and a miracle ain't gonna happen on this patient, irreversible brain damage secondary to anoxic encephalopathy secondary to difficult intubation. She is vent dependant and unresponsive.

Specializes in Onco, palliative care, PCU, HH, hospice.
I get irritated when they ask, "do you believe in miracles?". In fact, no I don't and a miracle ain't gonna happen on this patient, irreversible brain damage secondary to anoxic encephalopathy secondary to difficult intubation. She is vent dependant and unresponsive.

I know it is very irritating, I got the "do you believe in miracles?" question on a patient with liver ca with mets to lungs, brain, and esophagous, comfort care unresponsive agonal RR of 3 HR of 15, Family was convinced this patient would be going home with them.

If you receive any federal funding at your facility (Medicare/Medicaid?) it may be in jeopardy if patients are being exposed to religion against their will. It is a constitutionally guaranteed right to choose your religion or your freedom from religion. If that is being compromised, it may result in withheld funds secondary to non separation of church & state. You might want to mention that to your supervisor or HR.. After all, you know how they are about that bottom line. Once it involves income, you may see a dramatic change in policy!

What irritates me is when a patient or patient's pastor asks me "Have you been saved by Jesus?" I live in the bible belt so I get asked this often :angryfire I am here to take care of you, I'm NOT here for your minister to make an attempt to "save" me.... Guess something about me screams out sin to those who are holy lol :devil:

Yep, I get that all the time. So glad to have folks available to save my soul in a 5 minute preaching spell. It really is uncomfortable, I don't want to be rude, especially if they seem to be sincere.

No matter what reply you give- it is always the wrong one. If you say "yes"-they want to delve into your life. If you say "no"- - -well, it isn't pretty.

Is that the problem- Am I excreting sin? Can they smell the sinful ways?

I still don't understand why he'd "throw the f-word in". Usually THAT isn't tolerated in the work place. I understand that most religions urge you to share the word (but not THAT word).........maybe he needs to realize that the way in which he shares, as well as WHERE he shares is not the best avenue.

Specializes in Telemetry, Med-Surg, ED, Psych.

This guy need to be reported to HR and the Nurse Manager ASAP! This is inappropriate behavior in the workplace....and its a power struggle and a negative work environment. Stand firm and say "I am not interested". Confront him on his behavior and state how it make YOU feel uncomfortable. If he attempts to sidetrack into religious jargon..Firmly state you are uncomfortable with this discussion and that if his behavior does not improve you will go to the nurse manager and HR.

I have a co-worker right now who is try to save me from the depths of hell (I believe the world is hell, but thats another topic) and recently accused me IN FRONT OF MY COWORKERS that i am a womanizer, alcoholic, drug-addict, and unstable parent!

In a nutshell I told her that Jesus loves you but everyone else thinks your an *****.

Has anyone on the unit sat down with this guy (since the supervisor seems as she won't) & explained that this is just plain inappropriate at work? A kind of 'hate to see you get in trouble' kind of talk? Perhaps suggesting this as a CNA inservice would also be a good round about approach.

Specializes in orthopaedics.

this is one of the things that bothers me too. have a talk with him in private. let him know hey i appreciate your enthusiasm about your religion, there is a time and place for it, not here. let him know he is making others feel uncomfortable. is that what his jesus would want?

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

in a nutshell i told her that jesus loves you but everyone else thinks your an *****.

i *love* that response!

when i worked for state institutions in the past, they had no tolerance for this sort of thing. but the place i work now is a bit different. not long ago, i had a new orientee, a recent bible college graduate announce to me that "the male nurses in this unit are immoral." i had to take her aside and tell her that those sorts of value judgments were unnecessary and unwanted in the workplace and would make her extremely unpopular. i don't think she got the message, although she certainly doesn't bring these types of pronouncements to me anymore. she's still making them to other people, and she's very unpopular!

Specializes in med/surg, psych, public health.

LOL...love your retort!!:yeah:

Specializes in med/surg, psych, public health.
The singing wouldn't bother me; the handing out bits of scripture would.

First of all, tell this guy in no uncertain terms that he is annoying everyone, he is overstepping his boundaries, and that he needs to STOP with the proselytizing. Then if he does not, go above your supervisor's head. This guy's behavior is not kosher. Finally, have your own little handout prepared. Depending upon your religious inclinations, it could be about the joys of Islam, the Flying Spaghetti Monster, or Atheism.

Because I'm evil like that, my main m.o. would be to annoy the heck out of the guy with my own handouts, cartoons, songs, etc until either he backed off or management grew a pair and took care of his proselytizing.

OMG...we must be :devil: twins separated at birth, because that would be my m.o. too!! :chuckle

Would love to extoll the redeeming qualities of the Flying Spaghetti Monster to him in a totally serious and somber way. :saint: :jester:

+ Add a Comment