There is a nursing assistant employed at our hospital who is a devout Muslim. I understand that she is very devoted to her faith and I can respect that. However, what most of the staff take issue with is that she feels she is entitled to leave the floor several times a shift to pray, regardless of whatever else may be going on. Last night, she took it upon herself to leave the floor at 4am "whether there is anyone on the floor to relieve me or not!" In the midst of this, the float aide was helping the other aide in the ICU and was unavailable. This person goes past the desk announcing she's leaving and stormed off to the breakroom WITH NO OTHER AIDE ON THE FLOOR! (I'm the unit clerk.) I reported her to the charge nurse. I'm not sure what all was said but at one point I heard her scream through the breakroom door about how she felt we were disrespectful and ganging up on her and we discriminate against her religion. I wouldn't have said anything, but I thought her going off the floor like that was totally unfair, especially to the patients.
I guess you guys would really understand because it seems to me that y'all have this understand that this girl can put off her prayer and it combine her prayer on her own time and she CANNOT NOT . To get a better understand ( just for your own knowledge ) because I try not to speak without knowledge , there is a book called a Muslim prayer ,this should come in handy . Goodnight ladies,
Ok so prayer cannot be delayed by even a minute? This is not in line with a lot of the things I have read about Islam, but each sect can practice differently. Every religion with time/work restrictions generally gives allowances for important/human interest activities. How is this handled in the military? I'm sure not EVERY soldier stops watch for prayer. Someone has to be aware and alert. I would think the same situation would apply to pilots, doctors, police, 911 operators, ect. You can't turn pts off. Someone needs to mind the shop, just as in other jobs. Christians cannot ask off every Sunday and religious holiday. Jewish persons cannot have off every sabbath. These folks must work around the confines of the job or find positions that suit their beliefs. I think that is what myself an other posters are expressing.
I use my phone, to type, I work at night, and I'm a bad speller. Pick any reason you want for my misspellings
I am doing something wrong if no one knows I am a Christian. Besides, I look very different from most nurses which is a give away.
I honestly don't understand this notion that we must hide our faith. I am not a part time Christian. It (He) infuses every aspect of who I am and what I do.
Well that is exceptionally rude and reflects very poor upbringing, IMO. It is never in good taste to discuss such things in public. Religion is not discussed in good company, period.
Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
I think if prayer has to be at a certain exact time then another job should be sought. Patients have needs at all times of the day and sometimes other team members cannot cover at exact times. We all have to wait for breaks until coverage is available. Sometimes you cannot take a break.
Maybe find an office setting or a clinic setting. Acute care isn't the type of setting.
I think it's pretty rude (and not according to US law anyway) to suggest someone find a different line of work because of their religion. Sounds like she's rude about it though and never tried to make accommodations with her employer to try and get coverage for her breaks.
Sounds like she's rude about it though and never tried to make accommodations with her employer to try and get coverage for her breaks.
bingo. i do respect other people's religions/spiritual beliefs and am willing to help them if they need it, i.e. i will switch shifts to let someone else have off on a religious day that is important to them as long as i don't already have plans, if a co-worker of any faith wants/needs to step away for 5 minutes to pray i'm okay with keeping watch on his/her pts, etc.
but it sounds like the OP's co-worker is taking advantage of people, taking it for granted that other people will pick up her slack without actually asking anyone to cover for her, and using her religion as an excuse to **** off multiple times a day for unnecessarily long breaks. that's a problem.
also if you're going to ask for certain accommodations from other people, you have to be willing to give in return. Does this girl jump to cover for other people so they can step away and get a few minutes away from the floor, and/or hustle to help if someone else is "in the weeds" when she returns from her breaks?
Specializes in long term care, alzheimer's, ltc rehab.
bingo. i do respect other people's religions/spiritual beliefs and am willing to help them if they need it, i.e. i will switch shifts to let someone else have off on a religious day that is important to them as long as i don't already have plans, if a co-worker of any faith wants/needs to step away for 5 minutes to pray i'm okay with keeping watch on his/her pts, etc.
but it sounds like the OP's co-worker is taking advantage of people, taking it for granted that other people will pick up her slack without actually asking anyone to cover for her, and using her religion as an excuse to **** off multiple times a day for unnecessarily long breaks. that's a problem.
also if you're going to ask for certain accommodations from other people, you have to be willing to give in return. Does this girl jump to cover for other people so they can step away and get a few minutes away from the floor, and/or hustle to help if someone else is "in the weeds" when she returns from her breaks?
Thanks for the responses, guys! I'm sorry I don't have time to respond to each one, but to answer the question asked in the above post: NO, she does NOT! If she's assigned to float, she does absolutely nothing, and if she has an actual patient assignment and someone needs help, she's either a.) off the floor, b.) hiding in a patient's room pretending to be busy, or c.) in the waiting room watching TV. It depends on who the charge nurse is that night. Some let her get away with it, some don't.
Btw, future_LPN, thanks for shedding some light on the prayer times. And, you don't sound like the type of the person this girl at my work does. I'm sure any one of us would cover for you in a second.
I was was meaning that the time that I post are the times but that's today, tomorrow the minutes will go up EX instead of 1:01pm it will be 1:02 pm you CANNOT PUT OFF YOUR PRAYER , ( making prayer is a really meaningful part of the religion ) and if she knows like a do she would ave got approval for her DON so things such as this would happen .
Actually, you can combine prayers. I say--do them when you're done with work for the day.
I guess you guys would really understand because it seems to me that y'all have this understand that this girl can put off her prayer and it combine her prayer on her own time and she CANNOT NOT . To get a better understand ( just for your own knowledge ) because I try not to speak without knowledge , there is a book called a Muslim prayer ,this should come in handy . Goodnight ladies,
Yes, you can combine prayers to accommodate the work schedule. If she personally can not, then she needs a different shift. If that won't help, then she should work outside of healthcare. I have worked with many Muslims, and none have made a hissy fit out of not praying at work. They upheld their own beliefs while ASSIMILATING into our culture. Simple as that.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
I don't know much about islam, but know they do pray at certain times of the day. I've had a muslim dr ask to use an empty room to pray, but he wasn't in their long so I don't think the prayers have to last a long time.
Based on my time in Istanbul, the call to prayer doesn't last longer than 5 minutes.
Prayers and scheduling of them as mandated by that faith do not trump everything in a secular workplace.
If the religious obligation is of that utmost importance than one needs to find a way to either negotiate a compromise or if that is not an option than another work environment should be sought.
It should be square across the board for all faiths and practices.
Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B
4 Articles; 857 Posts
Ok so prayer cannot be delayed by even a minute? This is not in line with a lot of the things I have read about Islam, but each sect can practice differently. Every religion with time/work restrictions generally gives allowances for important/human interest activities. How is this handled in the military? I'm sure not EVERY soldier stops watch for prayer. Someone has to be aware and alert. I would think the same situation would apply to pilots, doctors, police, 911 operators, ect. You can't turn pts off. Someone needs to mind the shop, just as in other jobs. Christians cannot ask off every Sunday and religious holiday. Jewish persons cannot have off every sabbath. These folks must work around the confines of the job or find positions that suit their beliefs. I think that is what myself an other posters are expressing.
I use my phone, to type, I work at night, and I'm a bad speller. Pick any reason you want for my misspellings