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."
In my work it is considered bad technique to give personal information, the the point of it being a violation of facility policy. That is pretty much how I answer questions about my faith from patients or their families.
In a non work setting I answer, "Yes I am saved, I'm Catholic."
Since most of the Bible thumpers view Catholics as one step worse than Moslems, this confuses them. :)
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
In my work it is considered bad technique to give personal information, the the point of it being a violation of facility policy. That is pretty much how I answer questions about my faith from patients or their families.
In a non work setting I answer, "Yes I am saved, I'm Catholic."
Since most of the Bible thumpers view Catholics as one step worse than Moslems, this confuses them. :)
You know, that attitude has always confused ME.........after all, the Catholic Church was the original Christian church, and if people really want to get technical, Christianity came directly from Judaism! And Islam is at least as old as, if not older than, Jewish tradition. So where some folks come off claiming their religion is better than someone else's, is beyond my understanding........it just doesn't make sense, when ALL paths lead to something greater and more powerful than ourselves.
I'm no historian, but I think Islam came after Jesus. Mohamed said Jesus was a prophet. And I still don't understand why Christians throughout the last 1000 or so years had the nerve to persecute the Jews. What did they think Jesus was? He was a good, observant Jew!!!
There are so many things I don't "get". If only the world would just ask me, I could straighten them all out!
Looks as though I am in the minority....but YES I am saved.
I am a Christian and very proud of it. Yes I will pray with a patient if they ask for it. I do not initiate the conversation, but I will answer their question honestly. I find no discomfort in it. Never will.
Kudos to you , I am also a Christian and have been for many years and when asked to do so I will pray with anyone because ,I know what a comfort a simple prayer can mean to someone who the doctors and medicine have given no hope. I have had people to stop me in the hallway and to thank me for praying for them or simply taking the time to care. I guess all of this to say you keep on doing what you're doing LPN90.
In my work it is considered bad technique to give personal information, the the point of it being a violation of facility policy. That is pretty much how I answer questions about my faith from patients or their families.
In a non work setting I answer, "Yes I am saved, I'm Catholic."
Since most of the Bible thumpers view Catholics as one step worse than Moslems, this confuses them. :)
I have never got that either. And while I like my Protestant neighbors and like my kid's playing with theirs, as they have all been taught Christian morals -- I am tired of Protestants trying to convert me. I am Catholic and proud of it. I have no desire to hear my faith put down. I have no desire to be told the Catholic Church does not follow the Bible. And the last time I looked the Catholic Church still follows Christ which means we are also Christians. Sorry off on a tangent here. I wouldn't want to get into an argument with a patient so I would probably just tell them yes I was a Christian and leave it at 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. :)
I don't get offended when people, including patients, ask me if I'm saved because as Christians I understand that is their command to bring all they can into the Kingdom.
Renee, there's a difference between someone asking about your spirituality and "are you saved?". Are you saved means you'll get a sermon if you aren't. Asking about my spirituality invites an open discussion.
I am there to take care of my patients spiritual needs, not mine, so I don't feel the need to discuss it with them. The same way I don't talk to them about any personal medical problems, unless it relates to them and I can share how I dealt.
To those of us who aren't saved in the eyes of the Christian, we need a tactful way to not discuss it so we don't ruin any rapport we've built up with our patients. So no, I'm not going to proclaim any spritiuality to the one who asks "are you saved".
I'll ask you. You seem kinda like you get it. You must have the secret decoder ring.
I'm no historian, but I think Islam came after Jesus. Mohamed said Jesus was a prophet. And I still don't understand why Christians throughout the last 1000 or so years had the nerve to persecute the Jews. What did they think Jesus was? He was a good, observant Jew!!!
There are so many things I don't "get". If only the world would just ask me, I could straighten them all out!
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
I'm no historian, but I think Islam came after Jesus. Mohamed said Jesus was a prophet.
Oops........my bad. :chuckle Obviously I'm not much of a historian either, or I wouldn't have goofed this up. Thanks for the correction, premnrs!
Like you, I too have wondered many times throughout the course of my life why the Jews have been persecuted for so many centuries.......I grew up in a very conservative home where some of my older relatives called them "Christ-killers", but I never figured out why, since He Himself was a Jew, and it was the Romans who actually crucified Him. Granted, the Jews of that time were no help whatsoever, but as I understand it, all of this was part of God's plan for our salvation......the Jews and the Romans were merely the instruments He used to carry it out. That doesn't justify what's been done to the Jewish people in the millenia since then.......but that's a subject for another thread, which I'M not going to start. :)
islam came from the two sons of abraham...the slave girl was the mother of the islam and the wife the mother of the jew
not a politically correct thing now to cast out a child and his mother into the desert w/o food or water because of a jealous wife
may it be Gods will that we can learn to live and love each other
old irish saying when the catholic and the protestants were at each other throats. IF ONLY WE WERE ALL HEATHEN THEN WE COULD GET ALONG LIKE GOOD CHRISTIANS
refer back to my post. people who ask "are you saved?" or "are you a christian?" usually don't really want to know about your religion. they want to talk about theirs. it's really none of their business whether i'm a catholic, agnostic, buddhist or jew. and since i don't usually have the time (or interest) to debate religion or endure an attempt to convert me, i'm not usually inclined to answer them. if they want to discuss relgion, i'm happy to call the chaplain for them.
[color=#4b0082]ruby (who wonders if you were trying to be insulting.)
hi ruby, no, i am not trying to be insulting. i think you can search on my posts and you will see i never try to insult anyone. which part of my comment seemed to be insulting to you?
there are protestant christians who do not think catholics are christians and there are certain subtradition within the catholic faith also do not think protestant are christians. for instant, lots of people from asia (e.g. china, hong kong...), in their language, do not have the word "chrisitian". they have words for protestant, catholic, and orthodox, but not such thing as "christian". when they come over here, they will translate "christian" to either protestant christian (this is the default usually), or to catholic christian (if they are catholic). when you explain to them that christians include orthodox, catholic, and protestant, they are usually surprised.
i asked you because i have no idea what nc is like which i am learning now (i am assuming you are talking about nc or surrounding area given the context of this thread) and your post mentioned you are catholic.
islam came from the two sons of abraham...the slave girl was the mother of the islam and the wife the mother of the jew
not a politically correct thing now to cast out a child and his mother into the desert w/o food or water because of a jealous wife
Actually there are some inaccuracy here, at least according to the Hebrew Bible. Gen 21:14 "...Early next morning Abraham took some bread and a skin of water, and gave them to Hagar..."
or a few verses before in verse after Sarah got jealous and ask Abraham to send Hagar away "...The matter distressed Abraham greatly, for it concerned a son of his. But God said to Abraham, "Do not be distressed over the boy or your slave; whatever Sarah tells you, do as she says, for it is through Isaac that offspring shall be continued for you. As for the son of the slave-woman, I will make a natiion of him, too, for he is your seed,..."
Gen 21:11-13. This is not as heartless as you made it sound.
Later, when Ishmael mother did run out of water and she gave up all hope. God appear to her and said "What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heeded the cry of the boy where he is. Come, life up the boy and hold him by the hand, for I will make a great nation of him... God was with the boy and he grew up..." Gen 21: 17-20. I quoted this to show the God of the Jews also blesses and care for nonJews.
Later when Abraham died "...His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah..." Gen 25:9 At least in the Hebrew Bible, there is reconsiliation between Isaac and Ishmael.
As for Isam came from Ishmael, that depends on what kind of history you are refering to. If you refer to religious history from a Muslim point of view, that is possible (I don't know if there are different opinions on this within the Muslim faith community). If we refer to actual history, Isalm is from the prophet Muhaddmad around the 7th CE/AD (this you can look up any decent encyclopedia).
I don't mind discussing religion with others. I really don't care what denomination it is, but I prefer they had God somehow in their lives. it's when they start trying to TELL ME what I need to do and how I NEED TO CHANGE that I get upset.
Kudos to you , I am also a Christian and have been for many years and when asked to do so I will pray with anyone because ,I know what a comfort a simple prayer can mean to someone who the doctors and medicine have given no hope. I have had people to stop me in the hallway and to thank me for praying for them or simply taking the time to care. I guess all of this to say you keep on doing what you're doing LPN90.
CharlieRN
374 Posts
In my work it is considered bad technique to give personal information, the the point of it being a violation of facility policy. That is pretty much how I answer questions about my faith from patients or their families.
In a non work setting I answer, "Yes I am saved, I'm Catholic."
Since most of the Bible thumpers view Catholics as one step worse than Moslems, this confuses them. :)