Religion Needed to be a Good Nurse?

Nurses Spirituality

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We just covered a spiritituality/religion lesson in our BSN course and the instructor (religious) came out and said good nurses had spirituality and would be there for whatever spiritual needs the PT had. I understand the benefits of PTs being able to express their own spiritituality, but not being spiritual myself, I always assumed this could happen without me losing my own identity/belief system by praying with the PT. There are professionals in this area afterall and it's not as if nursing doesn't have enough on its plate already.

So the question is, does the nursing career, with all it's specialized education and skills, also view good nurses to be spiritual/religious or is this instructor taking some liberties with the topic?

I'm an Atheist and I consider myself a good nurse, both in terms of medical knowledge and compassion for my patients. Your personal choices and beliefs have absolutely nothing to do with your abilities as a nurse. What does make you a good nurse is your heart. In addition to you medical skills, it's your ability to show compassion and be an advocate for your patient no matter what their race, religion, or choices are that makes you a good nurse.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, ER.

I'm an atheist RN in an ER at a Catholic hospital in a VERY Catholic city. I get letters all the time, with compliments, telling me I'm the best nurse ever (I'm not, but I think I'm above average) & they have NO clue that I don't believe. The key is being respectful & compassionate of all faiths, even if you don't share them. That can be difficult, but can be done.

We have a Jewish MD on staff...wears his yamaka every shift, & no one ever complains about his faith, to my knowledge. He's very good with respect toward other beliefs, too & a fine doctor in most regards. Not the best communicator with nurses, in my opinion (can come off as an ass to us) but I cannot complain about his care for patients. That's another thread, though. :)

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I think your instructor is taking liberties. One should be sensitive to the patient's views and needs --and accommodate them. If the patient is agnostic, atheist, Baptist, Buddhist, Catholic, Hindu, Jewish, Mormon, Muslim, Native American, or whatever, their religious/spiritual needs should be addressed or not per their wishes.

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I'm agnostic and have no problem telling patients that when asked. When I first began training, a resident ask me if I was a bible-boy, and I lied to him and told him that I was thinking that it would make my interaction with him easier, but it turned out he was an atheist, lol, so I will never do that again. Personally, I would pretend to pray with the patient if asked, but I would not say any words.

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Specializes in none.

No patient ever ask me my religion. What ever they were I was.

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Specializes in Oncology.

NO. Just no. Religion is not needed in any way to be a good nurse. Care and concern for others and mutual respect for all spiritual beliefs is. You can be athiest or agnostic and still empathize with a patient who is trying to get help from their God and prayer. Being a good, decent, and spiritual person has nothing to do with religion.

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teadcher definitly taking liberties on the topic. to be good nurse you need compassion, empathy, love, logic, organization, nurturing and understanding. you can have that with or wtithout "religion" or "spirituality.

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the way i see it, being 'religious' means you worship a supreme being according to prescribed rituals and rules.

not all religions worship a "supreme being". might i suggest the following rewrite for the purpose of being inclusive of all religions?

"being 'religious' means you worship according to prescribed rituals and rules'.

ahhh .. now i feel better.

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Specializes in Emergency.

I believe in reason...not imaginary people.

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Specializes in thoracic ICU, ortho/neuro, med/surg.

It is not necessary to be religious or spiritual to be a nurse, and neither makes anyone a better nurse, either. The teacher is taking liberties.

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Specializes in Emergency, Med-Surg, Progressive Care.

I'm probably the least religious person I know. As far as I'm concerned, all religions are delusions that have somehow managed to persevere to this age of scientific enlightenment.

No, religion is not needed to be a good nurse. A sound mind, excellent critical thinking skills, and a strong back are the most essential features of a good nurse. There are some stories on here where the poster has claimed that they desire to evangelize to their patients. This is a usurping of authority of the most disgusting sort, and there is no place in any health care environment for preaching one's own religion to a captive audience. We may encourage the patient to seek comfort in their own religious or spiritual beliefs, but ours are completely irrelevant as soon as we walk in the door.

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Are nonreligious nurses treated poorly?

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