I am a BSN student taking a nursing theory class at the moment. I was wondering what is everybody's opinion regarding expressing religious believes in nursing theories. Does it offend you to find the word "God" when reading about certain theories. Example : "Persons have mutual relationships with the world and God" (Quote from my theory book re works of Sister Callista Roy)
I am Catholic myself so I do not find such statements offensive...I am just wondering what others think on this topic
My tending to their spiritual needs even if they happened to perfectly align with my own, would be to refer them to the right person, just as I would refer them to a social worker to help address their social needs.[/quote']
Ah, the buff and turf. I guess if it works for medicine it works for nursing, too.
Meeting our patients' spiritual needs includes bringing in specialists like chaplains, rabbis, or whatever is appropriate, but it also means giving due respect for their beliefs and accommodating them appropriately. It could be as simple as facilitating a room change or the angle of their bed so it faces a certain direction, working with the MD and pharmacy to schedule meds in such a way to avoid interrupting their prayer time (ditto with communicating with the nurse aide regarding vitals collections), taking the time to alert nutrition to special meal requirements and then screening the trays prior to meals to ensure accuracy, and adhering to special customs regarding visitors, treatment of the sick, bathing, and so on.
Even, occasionally, silently but respectfully observing/participating in a ritual (including death rituals for the family's benefit-- they are your patient in such a situation).
None of this requires you to diminish your own faith and by doing so you're caring for your patients' spiritual needs.
Ah, the buff and turf. I guess if it works for medicine it works for nursing, too.
I don't understand the "buff and turf" reference; it seems to be negative, though. But yeah, if "it" works for medicine then I suppose "it" might work for nursing, too. Whatever "it" is.
Meeting our patients' spiritual needs includes bring in specialists like chaplains, rabbis, or whatever is appropriate, but it also means giving due respect for their beliefs and accommodating them appropriately. It could be as simple as facilitating a room change or the angle of their bed so it faces a certain direction, working with the MD and pharmacy to schedule meds in such a way to avoid interrupting their prayer time (ditto with communicating with the nurse aide regarding vitals collections), taking the time to alert nutrition to special meal requirements and then screening the trays prior to meals to ensure accuracy, and adhering to special customs regarding visitors, treatment of the sick, bathing, and so on.
Yep. I'm right there with you on all of the above.
Even, occasionally, silently but respectfully observing/participating in a ritual (including death rituals for the family's benefit-- they are your patient in such a situation).
Sure. I don't think I'd have a problem with silently and respectfully observing their ritual. Participating? Ummm, I don't know about that if such participation requires speaking, making (or denying) spiritual affirmations, reading, praying aloud, dancing, wailing, sacrificing animals, whatever. Silent respect I can do... the rest of it, probably not.
None of this requires you to diminish your own faith and by doing so you're caring for your patients' spiritual needs.
No, it's got very little to do with my own faith (though I guess there are things that could... animal sacrifices, for example). It's more a matter of philosophy, I guess, as well as lack of confidence in being able to sincerely and adequately play the role in which I might be being cast. The wisest action, in my opinion, is to refer those things to the people who understand how best to deal with them.
I don't think it's my responsibility, or even my place, as a nurse to PARTICIPATE in the religious or spiritual ceremonies or practices of my patients -- even if they happen to be the same as my own.
I don't think it's my responsibility or even my place, as a nurse to PARTICIPATE in the religious or spiritual ceremonies or practices of my patients -- even if they happen to be the same as my own.[/quote']
try not to read too much into it, song.
it will fall into place as ea pt situation plays out.
i've been asked to partake in ceremonial rituals, and i've politely declined,
stating that i would be be honored to watch.
but as for reading from the koran, torah, bible, that's perfectly ok w/me.
i'm very embracing (and fascinated) of others beliefs...
but, working w/the dying, spirituality is just a given.
it's as visceral as my pt's pain and any other type of suffering.
i am a roman catholic first, a husband and father second, and a registered nurse third. my faith is at the center of my life. i believe jesus christ is who he said he is. therefore i believe he is the one and only path to salvation. regardless of my patients belief, i am a roman catholic. i will pray over that patient or pray with that patient, but only in the name of jesus christ. if my patient has a problem with that they can find another nurse.
it deeply saddens me to discover nurses with such cold hearts, who are so far away from almighty god. in order to be a good nurse, one must acknowledge the first who healed and then attempt to follow in his foot steps.
1. the work of health care persons is a very valuable service to life. it expresses a profoundly human and christian commitment, undertaken and carried out not only as a technical activity but also as one of dedication to and love of neighbor. it is "a form of christian witness."[1] "their profession calls for them to be guardians and servants of human life" (evangelium vitae 89).
life is a primary and fundamental good of the human person. caring for life, then, expresses, first and foremost, a truly human activity in defense of physical life.
it is to this that professional or voluntary health care workers devote their activity. these are doctors, nurses, hospital chaplains, men and women religious, administrators, voluntary care givers for those who suffer, those involved in the diagnosis, treatment and recovery of human health. the principal and symbolic expression of "taking care" is their vigilant and caring presence at the sickbed. it is here that medical and nursing activity expresses its lofty human and christian value...
...
to speak of mission is to speak of vocation:[8] the response to a transcendent call which takes shape in the suffering and appealing countenance of the patient in his care. to care lovingly for a sick person is to fulfill a divine mission, which alone can motivate and sustain the most disinterested, available and faithful commitment, and gives it a priestly value."[9] "when he presents the heart of his redemptive mission, jesus says: 'i came that they may have life, and have it abundantly' (jn 10:10).... it is precisely in this 'life' that all the aspects and stages of human life achieve their full significance" (evangelium vitae 1)
.
the health care worker is the good samaritan of the parable, who stops beside the wounded person, becoming his "neighbor in charity (cf. lk 10:29-37).[10]
4. this means that health-care is a ministerial instrument of god's outpouring love for the suffering person; and, at the same time, it is an act of love of god, shown in the loving care for the person. for the christian, it is an actualized continuation of the healing love of christ, who "went about doing good and healing everyone" (acts 10:38).[11] and at the same time it is love for christ: he is the sick person—"i was sick"—who assumes the face of a suffering brother; since he considers as done to himself—"you did it to me"—the loving care of one's brother (cf. mt 25: 3140).[12]...
1. the work of health care persons is a very valuable service to life. it expresses a profoundly human and christian commitment, undertaken and carried out not only as a technical activity but also as one of dedication to and love of neighbor. it is "a form of christian witness."[1] "their profession calls for them to be guardians and servants of human life" (evangelium vitae 89).
life is a primary and fundamental good of the human person. caring for life, then, expresses, first and foremost, a truly human activity in defense of physical life.
it is to this that professional or voluntary health care workers devote their activity. these are doctors, nurses, hospital chaplains, men and women religious, administrators, voluntary care givers for those who suffer, those involved in the diagnosis, treatment and recovery of human health. the principal and symbolic expression of "taking care" is their vigilant and caring presence at the sickbed. it is here that medical and nursing activity expresses its lofty human and christian value...
...
to speak of mission is to speak of vocation:[8] the response to a transcendent call which takes shape in the suffering and appealing countenance of the patient in his care. to care lovingly for a sick person is to fulfill a divine mission, which alone can motivate and sustain the most disinterested, available and faithful commitment, and gives it a priestly value."[9] "when he presents the heart of his redemptive mission, jesus says: 'i came that they may have life, and have it abundantly' (jn 10:10).... it is precisely in this 'life' that all the aspects and stages of human life achieve their full significance" (evangelium vitae 1)
.
the health care worker is the good samaritan of the parable, who stops beside the wounded person, becoming his "neighbor in charity (cf. lk 10:29-37).[10]
4. this means that health-care is a ministerial instrument of god's outpouring love for the suffering person; and, at the same time, it is an act of love of god, shown in the loving care for the person. for the christian, it is an actualized continuation of the healing love of christ, who "went about doing good and healing everyone" (acts 10:38).[11] and at the same time it is love for christ: he is the sick person--"i was sick"--who assumes the face of a suffering brother; since he considers as done to himself--"you did it to me"--the loving care of one's brother (cf. mt 25: 3140).[12]...
great post, says exactly what i have been saying. if your trying to prove me wrong i believe your mistaken. i never said i would deny care to anyone. :)
Music in My Heart
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Alright. You keep me posted, buddy.
Let me start digging up the number for the Vatican.