Religion in Nursing

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2012

No, it's not wrong. If you don't pray, saying "you are in my prayers" may feel disingenuous to you, as it does to me. I don't pray and I always told my patients "I'll be thinking of you" if I was off for several days and knew they were in difficult situations.

I don't think you need to pray with your patients, it's enough to be there and to be respectful of their beliefs. I usually just tried to listen when patients started telling me stories from the Bible that they felt related to their situation. If someone asked for a chaplain or anything, I would call them. If they asked me to stay in the room while the chaplain led a prayer, I would but I wouldn't do something like bless myself or pray out loud.

NICU:) · Oct 31, 2012

Thank you so much, this was very helpful. I felt as though I would be letting my patients down if I did not pray. I have never EVER criticized anyone for their beliefs, as I grew up in a Christian household. I was just getting the impression that I should have some sort of beliefs to be in nursing. This lecture really just freaked me out.

missk88 · Oct 31, 2012

No, not wrong at all! In fact, that was very thoughtful of you. I think you handled the situation well and gave a very appropriate response.

zoe92 · Oct 31, 2012

I'm Catholic (12 years of Catholic school) and only tell people they are in my thoughts. I don't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable, but rather let them feel my empathy.

jaycee15 · Oct 31, 2012

In my nursing school they told us to only do what we are comfortable with. And support your patients and if you absolutely do not feel comfortable tell them you'll call their pastor or whomever to do the ritual or prayer with them.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2012

Just about every hospital has a chaplaincy service. You can always ask the patient if you could call anyone, like a pastor/rabbi/priest/imam/whatever from the home faith community to come in, or if someone from the hospital could help. Be aware that sometimes people have doubts about their "home" religious communities and may be afraid to express them to their own communities' leaders. Spiritual distress is ... distressing. If a patient or family wants you to join in prayer, you can assume a respectful position and remain silent, if that's comfortable for you. Nobody need know you're formulating your shopping list ... and you might learn something about the family dynamics along the way.

I remember someone asking about an NCLEX question related to this-- the patient tells you that some of the ladies from the church have been in to visit and told her that she was in danger of her soul if she had such-and-such a treatment or surgery or something like that, and she was very upset. The correct answer was to let her express herself, and then ask her if she would like you to call the pastor and ask him to come in, the rationale being that the church ladies might not be exactly correct on this point. :)

malamud69, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2012

Personally, I doubt I would have even sat through a lecture like that. It seems so far outside the realm of what a school should be teaching. Granted in a private religious school it would probably be the norm, but...public...separation of church and state must prevail! I agree with much that has been posted..."you are in my thoughts" sounds "right." I try to keep an open mind but as a true anti-theist it is oftentimes tough.

NICU:) · Oct 31, 2012

I sat through the lecture and twiddled my thumbs. I agree, it should not have been taught, but I sit in the front row. No matter how much I did not agree with what she was saying, I couldn't find it in myself to be rude and get up in middle of the presentation. As I said earlier, I grew up in a Christian household; praying does not bother me-- it's just not my thing. Thanks so much for the comments guys! I really thought I was going crazy with thinking this was a little over-the-top! Exactly why I love this website! :)

Columnist · Oct 31, 2012

Meeting the spiritual needs of every patient should be addressed. In fact, in the United States, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHP) requires that a spiritual assessment be completed on every patient. Because nurses work closely with the sick and dying, they often find themselves called upon to address a patient’s spiritual needs. At the same time, they may be concerned about the appropriateness of such activities, as well as have questions on how to proceed. Although not all nurses feel comfortable providing spiritual care in all situations, they should be sensitive to the spiritual needs of their patients.

This is why schools include in their curriculum how to address spiritual needs of patients.

If you want to read more about meeting the patient's spiritual needs including prayer, you can read The Nurse's Role in Providing Spiritual Care - Is It OK to Pray? , or other threads in the Nursing and Spirituality forum.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Nov 1, 2012

I work for a faith-based hospital system. But there is a huge difference between 'religion' and 'spirituality'. We actively support each patient's spiritual needs. Some want the trappings of their chosen religion, including a credentialed officiate (pastor, priest, shaman, guru, etc). Others just need someone to care and listen. As long as their needs/wishes do not interfere with the delivery of care, we're good with it.

Prayer is just a form of meditation - externally rather than internally focused. Same physiological results - calming effect. PPs are right, leading a 'prayer' is best left up to someone who shares the same religious beliefs as the patient, but that does not mean we cannot support and be there in the moment to support our patients.

NightBloomCereus · Nov 1, 2012

Several posters mentioned the separation of church and state. First, let me clarify what this means. Separation of church and state is means that we don't make laws based on religion, but also means that we have FREEDOM OF religion. Taken right from the Bill of Rights, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF". So many people misinterpret what it means to have a separation of church and state, thinking it means to keep religion quiet, when in fact it means the opposite. The religious representative had every right to speak on the topic because patients have every right to practice their religions. Also, it is such an important aspect of coping for many people. Nursing is holistic and we treat the whole person: mind, body and spirit.

That being said, a nurse should never have to pray with a patient, especially when the nurse is not comfortable. A nurse who does not pray can sit with the patient, hold his or her hand, but religious needs are what the chaplaincy is there for. What you said was very appropriate.

Some religious representatives are used to being around others of the same faith all the time, and I guess you just have to take it with a grain of salt. I can see how it would be frustrating to some, but always remember that spirituality is going to be extremely important for a lot of patients so therefore we can't ignore it.