"The Jesus Factor"

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

A collegue of mine in the ICU is soon moving to Home Health for several reasons, both personal and otherwise. At the nurses station the other day, she and one of the doctors were talking, and she mentioned to him, regarding one of his patients, that "The Jesus factor was all squared away". This co-worker is a very active Christian and so is the MD in question. I asked her what that meant and she said that she liked to make sure where people were going when they die. She said that that was one reason why she wanted to do home health and hospice, was to help people find Jesus before they die.

She is an awesome, awesome nurse, but I was always taught that this is not ethical. I would never discuss religion with a patient unless they wanted to and I don't think it's correct to try to convert them. She's basically going to be evangelizing her Home Health patients. I find that disturbing.

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Specializes in Public Health, DEI.
A collegue of mine in the ICU is soon moving to Home Health for several reasons, both personal and otherwise. At the nurses station the other day, she and one of the doctors were talking, and she mentioned to him, regarding one of his patients, that "The Jesus factor was all squared away". This co-worker is a very active Christian and so is the MD in question. I asked her what that meant and she said that she liked to make sure where people were going when they die. She said that that was one reason why she wanted to do home health and hospice, was to help people find Jesus before they die.

She is an awesome, awesome nurse, but I was always taught that this is not ethical. I would never discuss religion with a patient unless they wanted to and I don't think it's correct to try to convert them. She's basically going to be evangelizing her Home Health patients. I find that disturbing.

If that's true, she's bound to get in trouble with patients and/or her employer. I'm surprised she hasn't been in trouble at your hospital. I sure don't want to listen to my healthcare provider proseltyizing when I'm sick or on my deathbed.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care, ICU.

I have never understood why it is such a federal case when a Christian ( or other religion) wants to talk about Jesus. He's obviously important to this woman. I mean no one would get bent out of shape if she believed yoga would make someone's life better and told all her patients how they could start a yoga regimine, or if she was an avid environmentalist and encouraged her pts to go to an Earth day rally. As long as she has her pts permission to talk to them about Jesus, what's the big deal?

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

I sympathise with my collegue, she just can't stand the thought of someone going to hell and she believes a simple profession of faith with alleviate that situation. She's such an above average nurse. But I'm pretty sure that violates an ethical principle of nursing. This is really bugging me. I fell asleep and woke up thinking about this, and all the other problems where I work.

I don't think people should impose their beliefs on others, I would find it highly offensive if someone did this with me.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
I have never understood why it is such a federal case when a Christian ( or other religion) wants to talk about Jesus. He's obviously important to this woman. I mean no one would get bent out of shape if she believed yoga would make someone's life better and told all her patients how they could start a yoga regimine, or if she was an avid environmentalist and encouraged her pts to go to an Earth day rally. As long as she has her pts permission to talk to them about Jesus, what's the big deal?

Because there's an inbalance of power between a nurse and patient. The patient is relatively helpless. I also think she should stay off the subject of politics and other opinionated subjects. The nurse is there to support the patient in his or her beliefs and personal spiritual needs, not to convert them. It's unethical as far as I know.

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Specializes in Public Health, DEI.
I have never understood why it is such a federal case when a Christian ( or other religion) wants to talk about Jesus. He's obviously important to this woman. I mean no one would get bent out of shape if she believed yoga would make someone's life better and told all her patients how they could start a yoga regimine, or if she was an avid environmentalist and encouraged her pts to go to an Earth day rally. As long as she has her pts permission to talk to them about Jesus, what's the big deal?

Her patients are in a vulnerable position and she is taking advantage of the situation to proselytize. Patients are sometimes too uncomfortable or in some way limited to protest. Their significant others may make decisions based on their own beliefs, not the patients. It just isn't right.

This nurse's intentions may be good, but it is still unethical. The yoga and Earth Day comparisons make no sense; she's going to hospice to work with terminally ill patients. It is very clearly not their lives here on earth that she believes conversion to Jesus will impact.

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Specializes in SRNA.

Remember that our relationship with patients ought to be of a therapeutic nature. Whose needs are being met when a nurse is actively trying to convert someone? Unless patients are requesting spiritual or religious guidance, certainly not theirs.

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I think it is a real boundary violation.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care, ICU.
Because there's an inbalance of power between a nurse and patient. The patient is relatively helpless. I also think she should stay off the subject of politics and other opinionated subjects. The nurse is there to support the patient in his or her beliefs and personal spiritual needs, not to convert them. It's unethical as far as I know.

As far as I know it is not unethical to talk about religion w/ a pt. any more than it is unethical for a teacher to talk to students about their religious views ( as long as it is a student initiated discussion). Pt.s are often comforted knowing someone is praying for them and, as long as she is letting them direct the conversation there is nothing wrong w/ talking about Jesus.

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Specializes in Public Health, DEI.
As far as I know it is not unethical to talk about religion w/ a pt. any more than it is unethical for a teacher to talk to students about their religious views ( as long as it is a student initiated discussion). Pt.s are often comforted knowing someone is praying for them and, as long as she is letting them direct the conversation there is nothing wrong w/ talking about Jesus.

The way I read the OP, this isn't a nurse who just happened to have a patient initiated conversation about Jesus or religion in general. It is a nurse who "wants to make sure where people are going when they die." The nurse believes that patients won't get to heaven if they don't accept Jesus as their savior. It is her right to believe that. It is not her right to impose that belief on patients who are at their most vulnerable. It's an abuse of her position.

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Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.
As far as I know it is not unethical to talk about religion w/ a pt. any more than it is unethical for a teacher to talk to students about their religious views ( as long as it is a student initiated discussion). Pt.s are often comforted knowing someone is praying for them and, as long as she is letting them direct the conversation there is nothing wrong w/ talking about Jesus.

I have been on the other side of the bed as a patient many times before I became an RN. Let me tell you, it is mighty uncomfortable to be a captive audience when the priest or chaplain come around to visit and you can not leave your bed. I would be very upset if my nurse would do this also.

The patient has no escape if they are not comfortable with the topic. There is no polite way to say "I am not interested, please go away."

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Specializes in Cardiac Care, ICU.
The way I read the OP, this isn't a nurse who just happened to have a patient initiated conversation about Jesus or religion in general. It is a nurse who "wants to make sure where people are going when they die." The nurse believes that patients won't get to heaven if they don't accept Jesus as their savior. It is her right to believe that. It is not her right to impose that belief on patients who are at their most vulnerable. It's an abuse of her position.

I agree a nurse should not impose his/her beliefs on someone else. If this nurse is as "awesome" as OP thinks she is, she wants to be where she can provide comfort to people who are suffering. Helping them find peace while facing sickness and death is a noble thing. Just because she wants to share w/ them how she found peace does not mean she is trying to force them to convert.

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