"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.

I dont think there are too many nurses that during the course of their care will "hurl a difference of opinion" on a sick/dieing patient. If so, maybe they should find a different profession.

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it concerns me that a nurse would so proudly forgo ethics to share the word with patients (though i wouldn't call it unethical if the patient asks for it)... i would caution you to be certain you know someone wants to hear your religious opinions before sharing them. offending patients by being pushy about your religious beliefs doesn't go over well anywhere, even in catholic hospitals. they are businesses too.

hmm, fergus, i think you need to reread my post. i did not say that i would "proudly forgo ethics to share the word...and be pushy with my religious beliefs..."

i said, and i

i was referring to the fact that my friend was an important part of her patients lives at the end and was thanked and appreciated for it. i have never "pushed" my religion on anyone, nor do i plan on doing it when i become a nurse. i respect the fact that not everyone feels the way thati do, and as i said above, if the patient asks, then, and only then, will i talk with them.

how is that? i reworded my previous post so maybe i would not be as misunderstood again.

btw, i am quite smart enough to know that you can't talk religion in most places, due to the fact that someone might get offended. but, if asked, i will talk about it in a heartbeat.

i read your original post. you said you would forgo ethics everytime to talk about jesus and i pointed out i didn't think it would be unethical if they asked, but would otherwise be inappropriate. pushy is maybe not the best word, but it's been my personal experience that people who are being pushy never think they are. it's all in the eye of the beholder. i'm agnostic and i wouldn't be offended if a christian nurse said they'd pray for me. i would find it a little awkward if they asked me to pray with them. that means i have to tell them i'm not christian and that admission has often provoked some strange reactions from christians before. i have had very well meaning christians try to lead me to jesus and i take a pretty relaxed view of it, but i know for a fact it would offend others deeply.

in almost every hospital i've worked, patients are asked about their religion when they are admitted. that is the best form of guidance if you ask me. if it says "none/athiest/agnostic/jewish/hindu/muslim", etc. then it might be better to not mention your faith at all. if it says "baptist/methodist/catholic, etc" then those conversations may be very welcome.

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

I think some groups of people have been hurt in the name of Christianity, therefore might have a kneejerk reaction to hearing the name of Jesus. I know my parents endured quite a bit of Anti-Semitism growing up which imbedded in them a cultural bias against Christianity. My mother had snowballs hurled at her when she was a little girl, and was called 'Jewgirl'. Wounds like that lead to this type of hypersensitivity.

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Specializes in Happily semi-retired; excited for the whole whammy.
I dont think there are too many nurses that during the course of their care will "hurl a difference of opinion" on a sick/dieing patient. If so, maybe they should find a different profession.

Right. That's what I said. Nurses go around hurling differences of opinion at sick or dying patients. I'm so glad I'm not being misquoted.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care, ICU.
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''.

I don't tell people I'll pray for them in those situations-- I just let them go to __. I'm kidding, really!!:chair:

What I actually do is go to prayer mtg and tell everyone in church to pray for that sorry,sinful heathen! Sorry, still kidding. :rotfl:

Please don't get mad at me for making light of such a serious subject. It just seems that everyone expects that I will act like a self righteous a$$ just because I believe in Jesus. Some of you are buying in to the TV stereotype of the pushy/crazy/hypOcritical Christian. Most of us are decent people who do not want to hurt or offend anyone. yet we keep getting slammed w/ this view that we will treat anyone who doesn't believe as we do like dirt. I don't think my unbelieving friends are worse people than me -"all [inc. me] have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God". I just believe that Jesus can forgive sins. If you don't believe you need forgiving I'm not going to 'Preach" at you, that is not my job as a Christian. My job as a Christian is to "be ready to give an answer to all who ASK". If I say I'll pray for you it means I care and I want to ask God to help you through whatever crisis you are facing.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care, ICU.
I think some groups of people have been hurt in the name of Christianity, therefore might have a kneejerk reaction to hearing the name of Jesus. I know my parents endured quite a bit of Anti-Semitism growing up which imbedded in them a cultural bias against Christianity. My mother had snowballs hurled at her when she was a little girl, and was called 'Jewgirl'. Wounds like that lead to this type of hypersensitivity.

Very true. And Chistians should speak out against this. I am sorry your mother was treated so shamefully.

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you know, there have been 172 responses to this thread so far.

i know a couple of posters have expressed concern re: the # of Christians who don't have any problem with promoting the Jesus Factor at eol.

i have to disagree.

this thread has been amazing.

and i am so pleased to read the majority of posters, vehemently believe in the pt leading us, and not vice-versa.

i am pleased to be a part of the incredulous indignance, that a nurse would think of promoting his/her own agenda for the sake of the Lord...

over the yrs, there have been sev'l religious threads, many equally impassioned.

this thread clearly tips towards the grace of nurses caring for pts with altruistic compassion and sensitivity.

i'm happy. :balloons:

leslie

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Specializes in Happily semi-retired; excited for the whole whammy.

Please don't get mad at me for making light of such a serious subject. It just seems that everyone expects that I will act like a self righteous a$$ just because I believe in Jesus. Some of you are buying in to the TV stereotype of the pushy/crazy/hypOcritical Christian.

It seems to you that everyone expects that? Is it at all possible that you're overstating the situation just a wee bit? I haven't seen anyone say that they expect anything of you. I can't speak for what other people are buying into (to be honest, either can you), but I also haven't seen anyone talk about crazy or hypocritical Christians (pushy ones, yes, but in my case, I'm speaking from personal experience, not from anything I've seen on the TV).

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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,

If an atheist, or any other 'ism', 'theist', etc. brings his/her views to the workplace and can't focus on the patient's needs, then I think he/she SHOULD be told to leave their 'views at home'.

I don't see it as 'defaulting to an atheistic world view' by telling people that there is a time and a place to express one's beliefs. What is most important in our profession is focusing on the patient's needs. If a patient requests that the nurse 'pray' with or for him/her, that's a direct request from the patient that we can accomodate by either granting the request ourselves, or finding a clergy member or church member of the pateint's faith to grant the request. It is possible (and I would argue in most cases the 'right' thing to do) to carry on one's work without expressing verbally our beliefs. It's not just the words that define the 'Christian' (or whatever religion you believe in) it's also the actions of his/her life.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
you know, there have been 172 responses to this thread so far.

i know a couple of posters have expressed concern re: the # of Christians who don't have any problem with promoting the Jesus Factor at eol.

i have to disagree.

this thread has been amazing.

and i am so pleased to read the majority of posters, vehemently believe in the pt leading us, and not vice-versa.

i am pleased to be a part of the incredulous indignance, that a nurse would think of promoting his/her own agenda for the sake of the Lord...

over the yrs, there have been sev'l religious threads, many equally impassioned.

this thread clearly tips towards the grace of nurses caring for pts with altruistic compassion and sensitivity.

i'm happy. :balloons:

leslie

I agree. Religion can be a very touchy subject that doesn't always bring out the best in people. This thread has been a good, respectful discussion.

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

I suppose if a patient asks an atheist what religion they are, they have a right to say that they don't believe in God. I doubt if Atheists would be as motivated to lure a patient away from religious faith as a Born Again Christian would be in helping a patient accept Jesus as Savior.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care, ICU.
you know, there have been 172 responses to this thread so far.

i know a couple of posters have expressed concern re: the # of Christians who don't have any problem with promoting the Jesus Factor at eol.

i have to disagree.

this thread has been amazing.

and i am so pleased to read the majority of posters, vehemently believe in the pt leading us, and not vice-versa.

i am pleased to be a part of the incredulous indignance, that a nurse would think of promoting his/her own agenda for the sake of the Lord...

over the yrs, there have been sev'l religious threads, many equally impassioned.

this thread clearly tips towards the grace of nurses caring for pts with altruistic compassion and sensitivity.

i'm happy. :balloons:

leslie

Leslie, I pretty much think that is everyones opinion. I think the only discussion has been whether it should be allowed even if pt.directed.

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