I would love to hear from some more experienced ppl some ways to deal with these types of personal questions. In my region, there are many devout evangelical Christian people who I think are genuinely concerned about the state of my soul. When folks like this are in the hospital, they're also feeling vulnerable, and they probably want to discuss their faith with someone who can help them feel more grounded. I am not necessarily that person.
I get the questions, "Are you saved?" "What church do you go to?" "Have you accepted Jesus as your lord and savior?" etc. frequently in the hospital where I work. 1. I don't believe my personal religious stuff is my patients' business. 2. I do not want to be dishonest about my personal religious/lack of religious stuff.
So far, the best I've come up with is, "It sounds like Christ is important in your life. Tell me more about that."
I find it rather fascinating to read the various post on this thread because I had no idea so many healthcare workers thought about or really had so much to say about religion. :uhoh21:
Why do some healthcare workers feel offended when a patient ask about your chosen faith? If you are proud to have no faith, say so. If you are proud to be part of a certain faith, own it. What makes this topic get people all riled up?
I ask in honesty, and NOT putting anyone down or to offend anyone. I just never thought so much about this topic as most of you seem to have based on what is written in each post.
Thanks for sharing. And again......I'm curious.....not intended to offend anyone. :)
It's not that I'm offended by the question, but want to avoid a discussion about it at the workplace. It's like discussing politics, it always turns into a debate. I personally believe that there are no rights or wrongs. Each religion possesses a piece of the truth leading to the same place.
I find it rather fascinating to read the various post on this thread because I had no idea so many healthcare workers thought about or really had so much to say about religion. :uhoh21:
Why do some healthcare workers feel offended when a patient ask about your chosen faith? If you are proud to have no faith, say so. If you are proud to be part of a certain faith, own it. What makes this topic get people all riled up?
From the posts here, it seemed that one is just "tired" of being asked ALL the time. The troubleing ones are not the patient who has no ill intent (as it is just part of breaking the ice), it is more the patients who are judgemental as if you are not a Christian, then you are either inferior or/and you are open season. Also as mentioned before, some people treat one's religion as extremely private (as private as whether one had sex last night as some posters mentioned; If a person's face turn bright red out of embarassment, you know it is private). Pure guess on my part.
I think this is the most appropriate answer. As a nursing student I was under the impression that holistic nursing included spirituality. It may not be to discuss your own but I think it is definitely beneficial to explore their spirituality because in many cases it is a source of strength. I am speaking as a mother, widow, friend and nurse.
If I understand it correctly, nursing in general does take into the spiritual (not necessary religious) component of a person. Another thing that attracted me to nursing is that it involves the whole person - the biological, psychological, social, and the spiritual.
In practice however, how much training in the spiritual area does the current nursing student really get? I mean I can see there is at least a chapter on spirituality in basic nursing books but what is it in practice?
It's not that I'm offended by the question, but want to avoid a discussion about it at the workplace. It's like discussing politics, it always turns into a debate. I personally believe that there are no rights or wrongs. Each religion possesses a piece of the truth leading to the same place.
:) Thank you "callnurse45" for sharing and helping me to understand a little better.
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
It's not that I'm offended by the question, but want to avoid a discussion about it at the workplace. It's like discussing politics, it always turns into a debate. I personally believe that there are no rights or wrongs. Each religion possesses a piece of the truth leading to the same place.
It's not that I'm offended by the question, but want to avoid a discussion about it at the workplace. It's like discussing politics, it always turns into a debate. I personally believe that there are no rights or wrongs. Each religion possesses a piece of the truth leading to the same place.
Hmmmm... that is why hospital have chaplains to discuss spiritual matters without turning it into a debate. As for political discussion, maybe we should have a on-staff politician to call in just like a chaplain. :)
From the posts here, it seemed that one is just "tired" of being asked ALL the time. The troubleing ones are not the patient who has no ill intent (as it is just part of breaking the ice), it is more the patients who are judgemental as if you are not a Christian, then you are either inferior or/and you are open season. Also as mentioned before, some people treat one's religion as extremely private (as private as whether one had sex last night as some posters mentioned; If a person's face turn bright red out of embarassment, you know it is private). Pure guess on my part.
-Dan
Thanks Dan. :)
When I work in California, I am never asked about my faith or if I attend a church, or if I believe in God........ When I work in the southern states, this is when the questions tend to come up the most in the workplace from some patients, and mostly staff I've worked with there. It's a cultural experience for sure. :)
I'm not ashamed of my faith or beliefs, but ONLY when one of my patients ask what faith I am will I tell them. I tell them because they may be trying to find a way to connect to me as a person or as a nurse in some way. I don't know. I've never been offended by their questions, UNLESS they jump into a "brainwashing mode" on me. :rotfl:
I don't talk about much of anything at work. Staff usually have to ask me questions to learn something about me.
This question would rarely be asked here in Australia - just not culturally appropriate. You would get a better response asking someone what colour underwear they had on or whether they regularly washed thier underwear than asking if they "had been saved". Religion is considered to be an intensely personal thing. Oh! You can ask "What religion are you?" but you will be given a "look" before you are given an answer.
Preaching in the workplace would be considered harrassment.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
to the op, if you ever decided to move west where people in general do not ask these kind of questions, do not go to seattle (it rains every day). come to california instead, we need nurses here. :)
-dan
it really does not rain every day! that's just what we tell californians to keep them from moving up here and jacking up our real estate prices!
callnurse45
13 Posts
It's not that I'm offended by the question, but want to avoid a discussion about it at the workplace. It's like discussing politics, it always turns into a debate. I personally believe that there are no rights or wrongs. Each religion possesses a piece of the truth leading to the same place.