"The Jesus Factor"

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A collegue of mine in the ICU is soon moving to Home Health for several reasons, both personal and otherwise. At the nurses station the other day, she and one of the doctors were talking, and she mentioned to him, regarding one of his patients, that "The Jesus factor was all squared away". This co-worker is a very active Christian and so is the MD in question. I asked her what that meant and she said that she liked to make sure where people were going when they die. She said that that was one reason why she wanted to do home health and hospice, was to help people find Jesus before they die.

She is an awesome, awesome nurse, but I was always thought that this is not ethical. I would never discuss religion with a patient unless they wanted to and I don't think it's correct to try to convert them. She's basically going to be evangelizing her Home Health patients. I find that disturbing.

A friend of mine used to work in home health/hospice, and she was a Christian who was proud to announce to all that she was. After all, the Bible says to "...go and make disciples of all nations..." Jesus commands Christians to go and tell others the Good News, according to Matthew 28:18. My friend would let others know that she was there to comfort and care for them in their last days, and that she would pray for them. She did not force herself on anybody, but she did let them know that IF they needed her, she was there. I personally think that the person the OP was talking about probably felt the same, and, as a Christian, if we can minister to just 1 person and bring them to God before they die, then it is all worth it.

While I don't think that it is ethical to "preach" to someone in the hospital per se, I do think that it takes someone really special and with a heart of God to work in hospice, having to deal with death and all. Most of the people there know that they are in hospice for 1 reason: to die. And hospice is where a lot of people end up becoming a Christian. If someone goes there to work, and ends up talking with people about God, what is the problem? I doubt that this person is trying to shove Him down anybody's throat. But with my friend, she had many, many families thanking her for her work, for praying with patient and for also leading patients to Christ.

I look forward to being the same way when I graduate. I by no means plan on preaching to my patients, BUT, I will let them know that I will pray for them and am there IF they need someone to talk to.

As we can all see from the number of postings on this thread, this is a very, very touchy subject. Always had been, always will. BUT, that does not mean that I will hold my opinions to myself. So many people say that it is wrong, that it is unethical to talk about Christianity in the workplace. But if a patient is needing that comfort and asks for it, I will forgo ethics EVERY TIME to talk to them about JESUS!

I guess I am thankful that the hospital I plan on working at is a Catholic based hospital. I don't see myself getting into too much trouble for being a Christian, if you happen to report me!

It is very presumptuous to say to a pt. "I will pray for you" if the pt did not ask you to do so. Don't be so sure you wouldn't get into trouble; people of many faith backgrounds go to Catholic hospitals, not just Catholics and other Christians.

Always ask yourself, "Whose needs am I meeting?" If a pt didn't ask you to pray for him and you say "I'll pray for you," odds are, you're thinking of yourself.

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They are a Christian College. This is understood hopefully when the students enroll. From my student handbook, which I presume is similar to the ADNs doing clinicals ".......the Dept. of Nursing provides educational experiences in a Christian environment to promote excellent in nursing........". Their philosphy is "through the profession of nursing we extend the healing ministry of Christ. The practice of nursing is a calling to exercise God's gift in a life of service to humanity. Faculty and students guided by Christian principals...................."

Surely someone who signs up to attend this school, having clinicals in a Christian hospital wouldn't have much grounds to object to the assignment in clinicals to offer to pray with their patients.

Classes sometimes begin with prayer, even our online live chats.

They are an NLN approved program BTW.

Good thing I chose another BSN completion program. Somehow I didn't notice that when I applied there. Even though I'm a Christian, I would have a HUGE problem with that. HUGE.

There was one occasion when I was working in hospice when I did pray and read scripture with a pt. He was in true spiritual crisis. It was totally lead by him, start to finish, and not once did I inject any of my beliefs. I tried as best I could to gauge my responses based on his belief system. Again, this was a real crisis and something of an unusual situation. Believe me, I was really, really careful not to do anything that would have remotely seemed like preaching.

It actually worked out quite well. He was very peaceful afterward, and the family was comforted. But it's not something I would have wanted to do on a routine basis.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
Ah.....I was just going to suggest that there are many hospitals where it is acceptable to for nursing staff to announce their faith and offer to pray with their patients. Florida Hospital where I'm getting my RN to BSN is a Christian operated hospital The nursing students there are required in their clinicals to offer to pray with patients.

They are 'required'? That seems odd to me. I can see if they were required inquire about spiritual needs, or ask if the patient wants someone to pray with them, but to require the nurse to personally pray with the patient themselves seems to be crossing some lines, in my opinion.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
They are a Christian College. This is understood hopefully when the students enroll. From my student handbook, which I presume is similar to the ADNs doing clinicals ".......the Dept. of Nursing provides educational experiences in a Christian environment to promote excellent in nursing........". Their philosphy is "through the profession of nursing we extend the healing ministry of Christ. The practice of nursing is a calling to exercise God's gift in a life of service to humanity. Faculty and students guided by Christian principals...................."

Surely someone who signs up to attend this school, having clinicals in a Christian hospital wouldn't have much grounds to object to the assignment in clinicals to offer to pray with their patients.

Classes sometimes begin with prayer, even our online live chats.

They are an NLN approved program BTW.

I guess you answered already.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care, ICU.
They are a Christian College. This is understood hopefully when the students enroll. From my student handbook, which I presume is similar to the ADNs doing clinicals ".......the Dept. of Nursing provides educational experiences in a Christian environment to promote excellent in nursing........". Their philosphy is "through the profession of nursing we extend the healing ministry of Christ. The practice of nursing is a calling to exercise God's gift in a life of service to humanity. Faculty and students guided by Christian principals...................."

Surely someone who signs up to attend this school, having clinicals in a Christian hospital wouldn't have much grounds to object to the assignment in clinicals to offer to pray with their patients.

Classes sometimes begin with prayer, even our online live chats.

They are an NLN approved program BTW.

Sorry, didn't realize the hosp. was affiliated w/ a Christian school. That makes sense and would be great IMO.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
It is very presumptuous to say to a pt. "I will pray for you" if the pt did not ask you to do so. Don't be so sure you wouldn't get into trouble; people of many faith backgrounds go to Catholic hospitals, not just Catholics and other Christians.

Always ask yourself, "Whose needs am I meeting?" If a pt didn't ask you to pray for him and you say "I'll pray for you," odds are, you're thinking of yourself.

Sometimes "I'll pray for you" is actually code words for "I think you are so pathetic in your opinions and lifestyle that you definately need prayers". I've had people say that with a look of pity and derision on their face, as if I were a lower lifeform. In other words, it can be a loaded statement or question, or can be interpreted that way by others.

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Specializes in Public Health, DEI.
Sometimes "I'll pray for you" is actually code words for "I think you are so pathetic in your opinions and lifestyle that you definately need prayers". I've had people say that with a look of pity and derision on their face, as if I were a lower lifeform. In other words, it can be a loaded statement or question, or can be interpreted that way by others.

In most cases, I agree. I think it is very presumptuous to tell someone you'll ask God to intervene on their behalf if you have no idea what their religious beliefs may be. I have also witnessed that experience being used to imply a feeling of superiority. OTOH, if I was in a Christian hospital, I don't think I'd take offense to the question ''would you like to pray?'', provided it was framed as a sincere question and no pressure was being brought to bear. I assume, or at least hope, that there are guidelines at the same facility that if a patient declines the offer, you move on.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care, ICU.
It is very presumptuous to say to a pt. "I will pray for you" if the pt did not ask you to do so. Don't be so sure you wouldn't get into trouble; people of many faith backgrounds go to Catholic hospitals, not just Catholics and other Christians.

Always ask yourself, "Whose needs am I meeting?" If a pt didn't ask you to pray for him and you say "I'll pray for you," odds are, you're thinking of yourself.

"I'll be praying for you" is the Christian equivalent of a non religious person saying "I'll be thinking of you". I may not have asked my non religious nurse/friend/whatever to think of me but it is nice to know someone is. I certainly wouldn't be offended by it. It is part of who they are. It is their nature to want to think something good will happen for me. If I find that offensive then I am just looking for offense. I Christian who offers to pray is just expressing part of their nature in the same way, it is who they are. Why would even an atheist find offense here. To his/her mind some nut job is talking to the air for them. What is offensive about that? People walk around looking for reasons to get offended at other people. I think we all (Christian and nonChristian)need to lighten up a little.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

That's true, some people will take offense very easily fronkey. You can't please all of the people all of the time. I personally always look for clues in the room, such as a Bible, Rosary, prayer book, religious jewelry, etc. You can learn a lot about the patient by what they have in their room. Also, the doctor's HP will often have social history, and the facesheet will have a declared religion, if any. Those are the tools I use to find out where the patient is coming from.

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When I was a patient in a religious affiliated hospital I was too sick to want anything to do with conversations about a lot of things, including religion. I would have been better served if someone from the staff who was being paid to take care of my physical needs had come into my room and offered some pain medication or something else to make me feel better. I posted before that someone came into my room to talk about my religious needs and I was too sick to deal with them. At that point I was close to unconsciousness and in physical pain. I spent my energy being polite to them. BTW, I had no choice in being a patient there. And I wouldn't go back, not because of the person who offered to talk about religion, but because of a lot of other things dealing with hospitalization.

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Specializes in Public Health, DEI.
"I'll be praying for you" is the Christian equivalent of a non religious person saying "I'll be thinking of you". I may not have asked my non religious nurse/friend/whatever to think of me but it is nice to know someone is. I certainly wouldn't be offended by it. It is part of who they are. It is their nature to want to think something good will happen for me. If I find that offensive then I am just looking for offense. I Christian who offers to pray is just expressing part of their nature in the same way, it is who they are. Why would even an atheist find offense here. To his/her mind some nut job is talking to the air for them. What is offensive about that? People walk around looking for reasons to get offended at other people. I think we all (Christian and nonChristian)need to lighten up a little.

It is all in the way it's said... If you're sharing your struggles with someone who is listening sincerely, then that statement holds no offense. If, on the other hand, you hurl it at someone in the course of a difference of opinion or other disagreement, it is more like saying ''you're a loser''.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care, ICU.
Good thing I chose another BSN completion program. Somehow I didn't notice that when I applied there. Even though I'm a Christian, I would have a HUGE problem with that. HUGE.

There was one occasion when I was working in hospice when I did pray and read scripture with a pt. He was in true spiritual crisis. It was totally lead by him, start to finish, and not once did I inject any of my beliefs. I tried as best I could to gauge my responses based on his belief system. Again, this was a real crisis and something of an unusual situation. Believe me, I was really, really careful not to do anything that would have remotely seemed like preaching.

It actually worked out quite well. He was very peaceful afterward, and the family was comforted. But it's not something I would have wanted to do on a routine basis.

Here's the thing- how come every time a Christian even mentions the name of Jesus some one accuses you of "preaching" at them? I love my husband and I talk about our relation ship, I'm not preaching about my husband. I love my kids and I like to talk about the things they do, I'm not preaching about them either. I love Jesus and at times I talk about Him and the things He is doing in my life, I'm not preaching about Him. I am talking about a part of my life that excites me. If you don't want to hear me talk about it, o.k., I can deal w/ that (I may not want to hear about your trip to Paris or whatever) but I shouldn't be banned from talking about it just b/c you don't like it.

Just so I'm clear I'm not talking about in a pts room w/ the above. I'm talking about everyday conversations.

But, in a pt.s room, if the subject of Jesus is brought up by the pt. and I talk about Him, it doesn't mean I'm preaching.

Sorry, that was a bit of a rant. I just get tired of being told I don't have the right to express my world view in public. No one tells an atheist to leave their non religious views at home. In fact, by denying people of faith the right to discuss this important part of their lives, we are defaulting to an atheistc world view and telling people of faith that their views have no validity and that they are wrong to express them outside a place of worship,

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