Religion in Nursing

[NICU:)]

Hey guys! I was just wanting opinions/stories from other schools, mostly so I know what to do in the clinical setting.

So I am a third semester student (graduating in May, whoop!!) and we had a lecture last week over religion. We had a chaplin from one of our local Catholic hospitals come and talk to us about praying with our patients and supporting them through their healthcare stay. I am from a very Republican and Christian state, but I am far from what my community would consider religious. This lecture made me very uncomfortable when they got to the topic about saying prayers with our patients. I have only been in one situation where I was confronted with a patient asking me to pray for them; I replied with "you are in my thoughts," which is not a total lie. I have my beliefs, but they are not as strong as most people I am surrounded with. Is this wrong for me to say "thoughts" instead of "prayer?"

Thanks for your replies in advance! NICU:)

[JBudd, MSN]

As nurses we treat the whole pt, including their spiritual, emotional and physical aspects. The offering of such a class is entirely appropriate, your particular lecturer seems to have failed in offering how to cope with people of differing beliefs. What you should take away from the class, is that people are spiritual, have spiritual needs, and may ask you to pray. What she did was give you "permission" to pray with them, that it is acceptable. What she failed to give you, was how to respond if you have different beliefs.

Your response was just fine. I am deeply religious, but would not ask a stranger to pray with me in my room. Frankly, if you aren't a believer, I would just as soon you were honest with me, not offering meaningless prayers any more than you would offer meaningless reassurances (which we are taught not to do, lol). No, you don't have to pray with people (there, I gave you permission!). Offering your good wishes, your compassion, your listening ear, a comforting touch or hug, all of these are acceptable and encouraged.

[SuzieF]

Hey NICU,

While there is nothing wrong with saying "Your in my thoughts" to a patient. I want to encourage you to be prepared to help patients explore and verbalize their spiritual needs. It is indeed a good idea to plan in advance as to how you will approach a patient’s spiritual care. As nurses, we are very often present with patients and families when they are in the midst of crisis. This is when spiritual support is most needed and appreciated. It is indeed the expectation for us assist in this area as well. You can find information regarding this on the Joint Commission and the World Health Organization’s websites.

The best practice would be to connect the patient/family with someone of the same faith background. If you are not comfortable with this, it may even be another staff member if pastoral care is not available. I encourage you to plan for the event that no one is available to fill this role.

I am sure that your hospital’s pastoral care department or clergy will gladly give you resources to use should you need them. The 23 Psalm of the Bible is familiar and comforting for many Christians. This could be read as a prayer.

The topic also reminds me of the time when I was working a night shift in a Progressive Care Unit. It was the wee hours of the morning, and I was preparing a patient to be the first case for open heart that morning. As I was assisting him with his Hibiclens bath, I could tell that he had a heavy heart and a troubled mind. His prognosis was not favorable. I sensed that he needed spiritual support.

He did not have any family coming in to be with him. There were no clergy around that early in the morning, and there was no time to call anyone in. The OR tech would be there to pick him up for surgery any minute. I knew that if I were in his position, I would desire to have a time of prayer before going to surgery. Although it was not something that I felt comfortable doing or had much experience with at that time in my life, I took his hand and said a simple prayer for him. Afterwards, he smiled and seemed relieved. The OR tech arrived a very short time after.

I helped get my patient settled onto the stretcher, and gave him one last pat on the hand as he was rolling down the hall. I even told him, “Don’t worry, everything will be all right.”

Later, when I returned to work that evening, one of the day shift nurses told me that my patient had died during surgery.

I could not believe it! I felt so terrible because I had done something that I remember one of my nursing instructors telling us to not ever do. We were never to tell a patient that everything will be all right! My heart felt sick for my patient. But, I was so glad that I stepped out of my comfort zone and prayed with him before he left. It may have been the last opportunity he had to do so.

We should be prepared to address the patient’s spiritual care needs. Many times, this may be all they need.

Congratulations on your new journey into nursing! Best wishes to you!

[metal_m0nk, BSN, RN]

If I were charged with providing nursing care to a deeply religious person who was offended by any gesture of good will that didn't come directly from their chosen religious affiliation, I would first listen to their request for support and then promptly refer them to someone else to meet their spiritual needs.

[JBudd, MSN]

As the deeply religious person two posts up, I didn't say I would be offended, I said I wouldn't put someone into the position of either having to pretend to something they didn't believe in, or lie to me and have to fake it.

If someone offered to pray with me, I would accept it in the spirit offered, with gratitude. Chosen affiliation is not the point. Not asking someone to be a hypocrite is.

[NICU:)]

Thanks so much for all of the replies. I find them all helpful. As soon as I find time (knock on wood)... I will try to memorize some Bible quotes. Any other recommendations of simple quotes would be greatly appreciated too. I know that spirituality is important for the patient, and I do talk about/assess it with them all. I just don't want to offend anyone that is super religious with messing up a Bible verse! My family prays at every meal, so I have a good idea of how to just go with what you are feeling. I just really don't want to make my patient feel uncomfortable with asking me. You make a good point about how you never know when a prayer may be needed, and I never did take this into account. So thank you all for being so open to my topic!

[JBudd, MSN]

As soon as I find time (knock on wood)... I will try to memorize some Bible quotes. Any other recommendations of simple quotes would be greatly appreciated too.

One of my favorites:

Jeremiah 29:11New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

[elkpark]

Thanks so much for all of the replies. I find them all helpful. As soon as I find time (knock on wood)... I will try to memorize some Bible quotes. Any other recommendations of simple quotes would be greatly appreciated too.

And are you also going to memorize verses from the Quo'ran and Torah? And verses or sayings that might be a comfort to members of all the other organized religions in the world? You're not going to only encounter Christians in your practice ...

[NICU:)]

I am not saying that I will not run into other religions. I live in a very conservative midwestern state. We are mostly Christian and we do clinical at a Catholic-based hospital. That's why I was asking about Bible verses. I will learn as I go, I just want to be prepared for now. I do realize that spirituality needs to be assessed for every patient, too. Thanks for the reminder though.

[dlrooky]

Malamud69, Why would you even think that? It isn't about you or what you believe. You are supposed to be helping the patient. Patients do not always believe the way you do. Maybe you should also read the Constitution. It says, basically, that the government cannot promote any religion not can it proscribe the free exercise thereof. As nurses, it is up to us to help the WHOLE patient - not just the parts we want. This includes the physical, mental, AND spiritual portions.

[dlrooky]

Malamud69, Why would you even think that? It isn't about you or what you believe. You are supposed to be helping the patient. Patients do not always believe the way you do. Maybe you should also read the Constitution. It says, basically, that the government cannot promote any religion not can it proscribe the free exercise thereof. As nurses, it is up to us to help the WHOLE patient - not just the parts we want. This includes the physical, mental, AND spiritual portions.

[OUSoonerRN]

Meeting the spiritual needs of our patients is essential - empathy is key.

[kpossible]

I think it would be right to say "you are in my thoughts" to be neutral to the patient and show that you care, no matter what they believe in. If the patient asks you to pray with them, I think that's okay because it will provide comfort, companionship, and address the spiritual needs of the patient.