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
Stanley-RN2B: I find I respond better to positive people, which is probably why some of your posts rub me the wrong way.
The patient I had was not annoyed, but thankful that I took the time at their request to pray with them. I don't need a certification in prayer to fulfill a patient request.
I'll thank you in advance for keeping your posting and insults to a minimum.
We all have to play nice - and realize that we all come to these forums with different upbringings, social and cultural beliefs as well as religious beliefs. All are welcome to express their opinions without putting others down.
I was playing nice. I was laughing at the fact that while you are a Christian (I think that is right) that you totally got the religious text for the basis of your religion (Judaism) which is the Torah confused with the Quran.
This is not a dig at you. You making a mistake like that just highlights the need for professional training in dealing with religious affairs of patients. If a patient just wants you to pray for them, sure that's easy.
If they want religious advice, my point was that it is best left up to those specifically trained. It's to easy for untrained lay people with no religious education (especially their own) to offend people in a religious manner. As I pointed out before and you just proved, being a religious person does not make one qualified to give any religious advice or deal with problems of a religious nature when it comes to patients. 'Praying' for them is not really doing anything and anyone can do that.
That was the point.
I basically said the same thing as the post above me, with an added ROFL (because I was laughing). You didn't point them out. Please don't 'single' me out because I rub you the wrong way. I rub lots of people the wrong way because I tell it like it is. Not like you wish it to be.
Whether I have the proper name for the book is really irrelevant. I can read, and it was in English, so the patient had a book mark in it and asked me to read starting at the top of the page. Again, don't need to have a degree in Biblical Studies to do that.
I would never presume to give religious "advice", but simply reading to a patient because family wasn't there and he was nearly blind, was the right thing to do. If he had asked me to read his menu or help him to the toilet, I would have done that as well.
So, make "sport" of me because I don't know the correct name for the Jewish "bible" - I clearly stated I wasn't Jewish - whether I know the name or not, is irrelevant to the point I was making. I read prayers with a patient because I was asked. I would do it again in a instant.
I never said not to read from a book or offer prayers... My point was that nurses/aides aren't qualified to hand out religious advice and shouldn't be unilaterally including them in nursing theories. They should outsource that to qualified personnel. Unless the nurse is trained of course. :)
Typing ROFL isn't making sport. Making sport would be teasing you relentlessly. You are responding in anger due to a lack of understanding of what I have posted. I understand that what you perceive me to be doing would make one angry, however, I am not making sport of you or teasing you.
The statement 'Perception is 99% of Reality' is inaccurate. It should state 'Your Perception is 99% of Your Reality.' Just because it is perceived doesn't make it real...
So, make "sport" of me because I don't know the correct name for the Jewish "bible" - I clearly stated I wasn't Jewish - whether I know the name or not, is irrelevant to the point I was making. I
babs, i agree that the slip of koran/torah, was completely innocent and irrelevant.
but, from another reader's perspective, i didn't think stanley was laughing at you.
i too laughed at stanley's remark, about Jewish pt being annoyed re reading from koran.
it really had nothing to do w/what you said, rather the visuals of Jewish pt's reaction when reading from koran. (i'm laughing again just thinking about it)
anyways, there is absolutely no need to feel chastised or embarrassed.
stanley's comment really was about the pt, and not your innocent mistake.:icon_hug:
Earl, I see both your and Stanley's points - however, I do not believe one needs to be a theologian in order to pray with a patient. I would never consider giving religious advice, but to read from a patients prayer book at the patients request, is a perfectly reasonable and kind thing to do.
As I stated before, I would do it again in an instant if it comforted one of my patients.
Earl, I see both your and Stanley's points - however, I do not believe one needs to be a theologian in order to pray with a patient. I would never consider giving religious advice, but to read from a patients prayer book at the patients request, is a perfectly reasonable and kind thing to do.
As I stated before, I would do it again in an instant if it comforted one of my patients.
I never said not to read from a book or offer prayers... My point was that nurses/aides aren't qualified to hand out religious advice and shouldn't be unilaterally including them in nursing theories. They should outsource that to qualified personnel. Unless the nurse is trained of course. :)
I don't think that any of the nursing theories do include giving religious advice, but rather that the spiritual needs of the patient are being met, including religious needs. We always ask patients if they would like us to contact a spiritual or religious leader for them. I have had patients who were facing their mortality ask me if I believed in life after death and I would tell them yes. I've had some patients ask me what my religion was and I would tell them. A couple of times, the patient has also been a member of that religion and it was a comfort to them. I have never brought up religion, only asked to make sure that any needs they had were met. I always follow the patient's lead in this and only participate in a way that would benefit the patient. I never give advice, but am always willing to listen to what they have to say about God and beliefs. A lot of people who are scared need a listening ear. You don't have to be professionally trained to do that. I love our chaplains, but they are the busiest people in the hospital and if I have time to meet spiritual needs, I'm going to do it. If they ask for advice, I do my best to contact their spiritual leaders. This is a major part of many people's lives and absolutely should be addressed by nurses in total respect.
When I was a patient, I had a doctor who would always ask if he could leave with a prayer. I thought it showed compassion that he would not only care for me physically, but want to ask whatever god he believed in to bless me as well. Not that I would do that, but I'm just saying, it isn't wrong.
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.
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.
The highlighted sentence shows incredible disregard for your patients. It isn't about you or your religion, it's about them. Hell, I'm an atheist and even I find disregarding my patients' spiritual needs by placing my personal beliefs ahead of them to be tacky.
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.
I sat here for 10 minutes thinking of a reply. I can't seem to think of anything nice to say to this so I I'll just second what Methelene said.
Wow... Thanks for reaffirming one of the reasons I am an atheist.
I must have missed the class listing in my catalog where I was required to become catholic so that I could be a good nurse... Apparently a lot of us are 'lacking.'
Atheos
2,098 Posts
ROFL, that patient was probably really annoyed. :rotfl: