I am a hospice nurse. As you can imagine, religion and spirituality play a big part in the lives of many of my patients and families, and I try very hard to honor that. Oftentimes they will share their beliefs with me and nod respectfully and listen as part of therapeutic communication and supporting their process.
The other day I worked closely with a Christian family. They were playing religious music in the room all day. At times they would be praying when I went in, so I stepped out and let them finish. The patient had declined rapidly over my shift and I was closely supporting the family through that. As I was about to leave work I went in to say my goodbyes, and I said something like "It's been so nice to work with and serve such a beautiful family. You will be in my thoughts." Its a common thing for a hospice nurse to say. I was not coming back to this unit and would not see them again. The spouse then asked me, "Are you Christian?" I have never had anyone ask this before and it took me off-guard. I said I was close to God and very spiritual, but not church-going.
The thing is, I'm not Christian. And I was not sure how to answer this very personal question in a way that kept the focus on the patient, and protected my own personal spirituality and privacy without sounding rude. Any suggestions on a good way to answer this in the future?
I was recently at work on a Sunday when one co-worker who was missing her church service was playing it live on her ipad. It was in the nurse station room where patients would not hear it, but I got to. She assumed that we all would enjoy it, I guess, or just didn't care. The content was not offensive, but I still did not appreciate being subjected to a church service without asking if I minded.
I do not talk at all about my personal beliefs at work. I am not mainstream to this culture. I appreciate the importance of religion and spirituality in peoples' lives, but it's a very personal topic to me. Because I'm not of a mainstream belief, I know people would misunderstand my faith, so I don't share. I had a patient who shared my faith and the nurses were judging this patient behind his back. That was enough for me to forever stay quiet about my faith at work.
How did it make you feel when you heard your coworkers speaking behind patient about his/her believes ?
How does that effect you?
What if based on your appearance or name, people already know your faith or background. I want to respect my colleague's faith and point of views, but I don't want to be viewed as secretive
Also ' since random people's Facebook pages and google can already misinterpret and misguide certain sensitive issues '
I think work place matters and it is important to feel a sense of belonging and be part of the team.
How did it make you feel when you heard your coworkers speaking behind patient about his/her believes ?
How does that effect you?
What if based on your appearance or name, people already know your faith or background. I want to respect my colleague's faith and point of views, but I don't want to be viewed as secretive
Also ' since random people's Facebook pages and google can already misinterpret and misguide certain sensitive issues '
I think work place matters and it is important to feel a sense of belonging and be part of the team.
What's with the 'how does it make you feel' questions? A person's beliefs are private, we all have a right to privacy in regards to our beliefs, viewing someone as secretive because they do not discuss their beliefs is disrespectful of their right to privacy.
I think work place matters and it is important to feel a sense of belonging and be part of the team.
I agree, and I think that's an excellent reason to keep individuals' religious views out of the workplace, since religious beliefs can create a sense of division and possibly create conflicts among people of different belief systems.
What's with the 'how does it make you feel' questions? A person's beliefs are private, we all have a right to privacy in regards to our beliefs, viewing someone as secretive because they do not discuss their beliefs is disrespectful of their right to privacy.
I absolutely respect others and thier privacy in regards to their faith and believes specially if they don't want to share. I really don't care to identify myself based on my points of view about sprituality and how I interpret my religion. We all worked really hard to get where we are and as nurses we have a lot in common. I don't think there is a need to dissciss certain topics . I feel that it is important for me to be that professional with my patients and provide nursing care that respect their privacy and instill a sense of trust and well being .
I really want my coworkers to know me as a person than based on my religion or how I was raised .
I've had to deal with this question. And I'm not Christian.. I'm Wiccan! I find it easier just to stay away from the topic or lie to make them feel better. I've actually had a patient request not to have me as a nurse because I said I was spiritual. So, I learned my lesson.
I think it's interesting that other nurses on this thread have people assume they are Christian because they are "so nice" or whatever. I've had this happen to me many times too! I am an honest person, a hard worker, a good listener, etc. And people make this assumption all the time.
Specializes in Huntingtons, LTC, Ortho, Acute Care.
I've been asked my religion a few times, I live in the south and everyone goes to church of some denomination.
I have learned the the best way to answer a patient is that "management encourages us to not talk about our private lives, it's distracting to your healing process. But I find myself to be highly spiritual and I trust my moral compass" usually if you have a great relationship with the patient or the family they don't want you to get in trouble and back off
I think it's interesting that other nurses on this thread have people assume they are Christian because they are "so nice" or whatever. I've had this happen to me many times too! I am an honest person, a hard worker, a good listener, etc. And people make this assumption all the time.
hooboy then they haven't met some of the holy rollers I have! some of the most abrasive people who claimed they were Christian and I say claimed because they sure weren't representing Jesus like behavior or language! you can be a decent and caring human being from any walk of life and any religion and you can be a real scumbag just the same way. you don't have to be Christian to live by the Golden Rule!
Why can't you? I work with some Jewish physicians and they all wish us Merry Christmas. I wish them Happy Hanukkah. Not a big deal. To the Muslims I work with I wish them a Happy Eid, and Happy Ramadan.
Jehovah Witnesses can say"Thank You" but cannot say "Merry Christmas" back.
The person may assume you celebrate it to if you say it back.
I agree, and I think that's an excellent reason to keep individuals' religious views out of the workplace, since religious beliefs can create a sense of division and possibly create conflicts among people of different belief systems.
But remember that this division could be your ticket to deferring the work to someone else.
I haven't tried this, but if I had a Christian patient that was very strong about his or her views, and I claimed to be a Muslim, I would expect that this patient would request a different nurse.
If the patient was really easy to work with, this wouldn't be a good idea, but if the patient were difficult, it would be an easy way out.
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
It is pretty hard to avoid discussing religion when you have to tell coworkers and clients you cannot wish them Merry Christmas because of your religion.
I never have any trouble wishing anyone a happy anything. Positive energy is not religion-specific.
bsnprg
75 Posts
How did it make you feel when you heard your coworkers speaking behind patient about his/her believes ?
How does that effect you?
What if based on your appearance or name, people already know your faith or background. I want to respect my colleague's faith and point of views, but I don't want to be viewed as secretive
Also ' since random people's Facebook pages and google can already misinterpret and misguide certain sensitive issues '
I think work place matters and it is important to feel a sense of belonging and be part of the team.