I'm a NS, and I've been wondering what role religion does or can play out in patient care.
Let me say first, that while I'm personally a big Jesus fan I DO NOT believe in pushing my beliefs on others. But my question is, if a patient were to ever ask their nurse to pray with them, for them, etc is this generally allowed?
Or is it mostly a frowned upon practice, or maybe more of a facility based decision?
I think it depends on you, your patients, the situation, and the facility. I work at a faith based hospital and praying with patients is encouraged. I am Agnostic, but I'll jump right in with a patient and pray with them if it makes them feel better.
I am an athiest. I avoid the subject like the plague. If it becomes unavoidable, I take eric's approach. I will not lie and pretend to believe if asked directly, but I will stand there and mentally compose my grocery list in silence while they pray.
It was only a problem on one occassion. Family asked too many questions, finally got the point I could not sidestep them anymore and just said "Im an athiest." They went ape****. Complained to administration, who couldn't do a thing about it and the guy died before my next shift anyway. I never saw any of them again. Very anticlimactic.
...I will stand there and mentally compose my grocery list in silence while they pray.
LOL
I am agnostic, but if questioned about my beliefs, I am purposely vague. If pressed, I will say, "I don't go to church enough." In actuality, I have no desire to go, but this usually ends the conversation. I am probably leaving them with the impression that I intend to go at some point. I would rather do that then have some type of confrontation.
I am agnostic, but if questioned about my beliefs, I am purposely vague. If pressed, I will say, "I don't go to church enough." In actuality, I have no desire to go, but this usually ends the conversation. I am probably leaving them with the impression that I intend to go at some point. I would rather do that they have some type of confrontation.
Once, a patient was watching a gospel station and said, you've heard of "the carters" haven't you? and when i said no, he said, well, you're a christian, aren't you? i said, "Ii've just never heard of the carters." which didn't say, "yes, i'm christian" or "no, i'm not." he kept pressing and for my entire shift tried to guess my religion. it was annoying. he guessed Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Jewish, Catholic, Mormon, Muslim, etc, etc, but he never did mention agnostic or atheist. i told him i'd tell him if he guessed, but i kept debating on whether i would or not. the fact that the lack of religion never crossed his mind speaks volumes. the nurse who worked the shift after me said he asked HIM about my religion! it's so funny how patients get so interested about our lives.
once, a patient was watching a gospel station and said, you've heard of "the carters" haven't you? and when i said no, he said, well, you're a christian, aren't you? i said, "I've just never heard of the carters." which didn't say, "yes, i'm christian" or "no, i'm not." he kept pressing and for my entire shift tried to guess my religion. it was annoying. he guessed Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Jewish, Catholic, Mormon, Muslim, etc, etc, but he never did mention agnostic or atheist. i told him i'd tell him if he guessed, but i kept debating on whether i would or not. the fact that the lack of religion never crossed his mind speaks volumes. the nurse who worked the shift after me said he asked HIM about my religion! it's so funny how patients get so interested about our lives.
Okay here I go. I am a highly religious born again Christian. Christianity is why I became a nurse. I felt that it was my "calling" I should add prior to nursing, I was actually up to taking my vows to become a nun, I had a heart to heart with an other nun who I had a great relationship with and she said if there are any doubts dont. so, I didn't.
I did go on to have this same nun in the delivery room when I had my oldest child and she told me "I'm glad you made the right choice"
I actually am waiting for my kids to be older so we can work on mission trips bringing health care and God to people in other countries.
Now that's out of the way, here is what I have to say. If I am your nurse I promise not to judge you. I treat you the way I want to be treated. My religious views don't enter the room. Unless the patient asks for it. If a patient asks me to pray with them, I gladly will. If people ask do I go to church I answer yes. We live in an area where I grew up. Many people here know me, know my church. I just don't think I need to bring it up at work. That's my "other life" I also don't discuss my husband, my children or my family with patients. I do get asked "your Pat's daughter, or your Patti's mom?" Absolutely I will answer. If you ask if I have children, I say yes. But I am here to help YOU and it is not pertinent to your care if my kids ate breakfast this morning.
If you ask me to pray for/with you I will but I NEVER introduce it into the room.
Okay here I go. I am a highly religious born again Christian. Christianity is why I became a nurse. I felt that it was my "calling" I should add prior to nursing, I was actually up to taking my vows to become a nun, I had a heart to heart with an other nun who I had a great relationship with and she said if there are any doubts dont. so, I didn't.
I did go on to have this same nun in the delivery room when I had my oldest child and she told me "I'm glad you made the right choice"
I actually am waiting for my kids to be older so we can work on mission trips bringing health care and God to people in other countries.
Now that's out of the way, here is what I have to say. If I am your nurse I promise not to judge you. I treat you the way I want to be treated. My religious views don't enter the room. Unless the patient asks for it. If a patient asks me to pray with them, I gladly will. If people ask do I go to church I answer yes. We live in an area where I grew up. Many people here know me, know my church. I just don't think I need to bring it up at work. That's my "other life" I also don't discuss my husband, my children or my family with patients. I do get asked "your Pat's daughter, or your Patti's mom?" Absolutely I will answer. If you ask if I have children, I say yes. But I am here to help YOU and it is not pertinent to your care if my kids ate breakfast this morning.
If you ask me to pray for/with you I will but I NEVER introduce it into the room.
Can I ask a serious question? Why do you feel like you need to bring health care and God to people in other countries? Why not bring it to people right here in America?
Can I ask a serious question? Why do you feel like you need to bring health care and God to people in other countries? Why not bring it to people right here in America?
That's a really GOOD question. I do, everyday I step through the door by serving the public I serve God. By helping those less fortunate in the community (which I do) I serve God and many times the both overlap. It can be something so simple as helping a neighbor with cancer sort out her meds, or explain to the elderly lady that really, we need to get her to her Doc. It could be the running out and helping the kid on the ball field who gets plunked in the head and is bleeding.
It is done daily, I think the under developed countries are in extreme needs of things such as Vaccinations, We have those and many are free. I do volunteer at a free clinic on my off days. I love it. It's a Christian based ministry which serves the uninsured. I work with eligibility and treatment, diabetic education. Immigrants with children who are not qualified for medicaid come in also. I tend to like to work the "acute" clinic days -translation, i'm sick and need a doctor days. I believe in this ministry but the world is a big place why be limited?
I think it's a little different in hospice nursing. People know they are getting near the end of life and most do tend to become more spiritual/religious. Religion affiliation is one of the questions asked upon admit. I've been asked many times by both pt and PCG to pray w/ them. I have also offered to contact the pastor/preist. In my area, most everyone is either Baptist or Catholic. I remind my Catholic families to have the priest come to administer the sacriment of the sick, as sometimes they forget. Of course, for those pts who claim "no religion" or "agnostic" I allow them to bring up the spiritual aspect of dying, if they chose to.
GiantJerk
71 Posts
I think it depends on you, your patients, the situation, and the facility. I work at a faith based hospital and praying with patients is encouraged. I am Agnostic, but I'll jump right in with a patient and pray with them if it makes them feel better.