alikat70

I just want to thank everyone for the positive feedback. I just want to do a good job and help my patients in the best way. I guess we all have to find our own way....

Very confusing to me. I would just like to ask a few questions. If I may? ...Thank you Ok if you are agnostic borderline atheist just what is the dividing line? I have always been a little unclear, is it that agnostic is sort of nilist in other words they believe in noting and atheist beleive in other things just not religion? Second if you are concerned about morales what is your basis for morales? I mean those of us that are even semi religious basically follow the old standards you know basically the Ten commandments. So where do your values and morales come from and to what degree are they important? I mean if you don't beleive anything you do in life matters what is the point? Secondly I am curious as to what end a career of helping others is appealing to you? This is very interesting to me and I am not being flippant or sarcastic I am curious. Is lieing a big problem especially lieing about something that other people hold sacred and how do you feel that people would feel if after having prayed with them they found out you were atheist etc? If people are dying and they are looking to you for comfort and you tell them you don't believe in God or religion and you think that death is just the big dirt nap will this be a comfort to them? __________________ "Knowledge is the only tool that doesn't rust" Larry Leeds 2000 Don't sweat the small stuff...BTW it is all small stuff" author unknown IP: Logged 01-17-2004 05:47 AM I hope im doing this right....still trying to figure it all out. Well I cant speak for everyone, but to me an agnostic is someone who isnt quite sure what they belive, and an athiest is someone who doesnt belive in god. I think those terms are used loosley and may have a slightly different meaning to each person. Im always surprised that alot of people think that athiest do not have morals. My morals are based on my interpretation of what I think is right and wrong in terms of humanity and life in general. I think you should respect life in all its forms because it is the right thing to do and because doing so will hopefuly ensure the continuation of the human race. Religion aside I believe that life is a precious, precious thing and we should do what we can to enhance and appreciate it. The idea that there might not be another life after this one makes me want to make the most of this one...for myself and others. Life does matter....it is a fragile, awesome thing that I think most of us take for granted most of the time. I think helping others will be satisfying. I like the idea of being able to provide some sort of comfort or help to others. I think I can learn from the people that I care for and make myself a better person for having done so. The question about praying with someone is what Im trying to get feedback on. Im unsure about how I would handle that. I could get another nurse to come and take my place, but what would happen if no one was available? I think the humane thing to do would be to keep my beliefs to myself and comfort the patient in the way they request. No one would ever know except me and god (if I believed in that) and Im sure god wouldnt mind if I helped someone pray to him. I would never be so crass as to tell someone on their deathbed that there was no god or afterlife if they believed otherwise. I think that is a morally sound decision, but Im interested to know if you or anyone else things that I am wrong. Normally I dont think it is ok to lie, but in this case I think the best thing to do is just not offer up the truth. I think after answering this post that I have answered my own question. However, anyone else feel free to take a turn.

Erin Thanks for the positive feedback. I was thinking that it may be a good experience for me. Who knows, maybe it will give me some insight into my own questions regarding religion. I could even see something that might change my mind altogether. The more I think about it, the more I think it might be a good thing for me to do. Thaks for the insight.

Hey everyone. I am a beginning nursing student wondering about a few things. I was contemplating the idea of working in oncology, but Im unsure about how to handle the death experience. I am an agnostic/borderline athiest. I was questioning whether I would be able to provide complete care of a patient with different religious views. What Im wondering is if I can still be a good nurse in a setting where I am bound to deal with this situation over and over again. We studied clutural differences in class today. We were told that it is our responsiblity as nurses to care for patients regardless of cultural differences. Im not questioning my ability to care for a dying patient in a physical way, but more of the spiritual part of it. I try to respect all beliefs. Would it be wrong to pray with a patient even if I dont believe in it? If a patient asks for comfort and to be told that they are going to heaven would it be ok to tell them yes even if I do not belive in a life after death? I dont think I would mind doing these things for a patient if asked, Im justs wondering if it is moral to do so. I did a search for athiest nurses, and this forum is what I came up with. I got to read part of a really hot debate on this topic, but I think it got locked down. Im not trying to start another religious debate, but I was wondering about all of this. I guess the bottom line of what Im asking is if it is ok to pretend to believe what someone else does in order to give them comfort? Any feedback would be appreciated and please remeber that I am only a nursing student with no experience yet.