"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.

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

speaking of topics that should be off limits are politics, gay marriage, religion, Mexican immigration, your sex life and bodily functions.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care, ICU.
Oh, I do understand, and respect the kind of prayer that you talk about here. However, the feeling I got from that other post, the one that got me thinking about it, was clearly 'I'm going to pray for them whether they want it or not, if I feel they need divine help'. That kind of thing. And I'm quite sure I know people who DO view their prayers as that very thing: they are going to pray for someone to "find Jesus" because that person feels it's needed.

That's the kind of "creepy" I meant. I don't think anyone would mind the kind of prayers that ask that a nurse find her missing notes, or that a student do well on an exam! :) But I think, to a zealot, the difference between praying for a neighbor to do well on an exam and praying for that same neighbor to find her way to Jesus (or G-d) is nothing. That's where my thoughts on the subject come into play.

Offering to pray that they find their tax papers in time, I doubt anyone would think twice about. Telling someone "I'm going to pray for you" because the tone of the conversation was dismissive of Christianity.....that's disturbing. That's the difference I meant.

I agree. It is what I call being prayed "at" instead of prayed for and it is disrespectful (I'd say hurtful but I got blasted for that earlier:lol2:). To the best of my knowledge I have never done that out of respect for my non Christian friends.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care, ICU.
I do see what you're saying, I just don't think Christianity or even religion is exceptional that way. There are plenty of topics you don't discuss around people unless you know they are ok with it. We sure do have the racy conversations where I work too, but we know who NOT to discuss that in front of. It's no different for the Jesus talks. I've had religious conversations at work before that were fine, but again, I knew who I was talking with and that they wouldn't be offended. A day at the beach is considered polite conversation to pretty much everyone. Other topics might not be. That's just the way it is and there is no point in fighting that. My boyfriend and I going to San Diego offended a nurse I work with because she asked about our hotel room arrangements and dissaproved of the fact that I wasn't waiting for marriage. She's npt someone I would get into deep conversations about sex or religion with.[/

She ASKED and then got offended when you told her?? Hey average Christians should definitely not be judged by THAT exanple. not to be judgemental but how stupid is that?!

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Specializes in Cardiac Care, ICU.
speaking of topics that should be off limits are politics, gay marriage, religion, Mexican immigration, your sex life and bodily functions.

All of which we talk about on this site. Why is it so hard for people to hold civil conversations? We've proven here it is possible. This remark is not aimed AT anyone. It is just an obsevation to be filed under " things that make you go huhm".

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
All of which we talk about on this site. Why is it so hard for people to hold civil conversations? We've proven here it is possible. This remark is not aimed AT anyone. It is just an obsevation to be filed under " things that make you go huhm".

This site is different than at work. At work the focus should be on patients, not controversial subjects. For instance, on the subject of religion, when someone voices their belief that certain people are going to Hell, it upsets and offends them, so they can't concentrate on their work. A nurses station isn't the appropriate place to debate religion, immigration reform, gay marriage, foreign aid to the State of Israel, or anything else that might offend a whole group of people and/or their relatives. It doesn't create the proper atmosphere for patient care, nor does it foster teamwork.

Take the subject of immigration. Some people assume that anyone against it also dispises Mexicans. It emotionally riles them up to hear that anyone wants to close the borders. So, it's best to stay off that hot topic at work.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ER, L&D, ICU, OR, Educator.

Believing that Jesus is the way to heaven ("no man comes to the Father except by Him") does not put me in an "awful spot" I am obligated to tell anyone who will listen about Jesus but I am not obligated to make anyone listen.

Ummm...the meaning of the post was that it is the PATIENT who is in the awful spot.

And "throwing pearls to swine"? Diamonds are a girls best friend, although I am rather into some of the colored stones lately...pink ice is lovely.;)

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ER, L&D, ICU, OR, Educator.

On the other hand, as a Christian, I can pray for anyone, any time, any where, without their permission!!!

...with or without their knowledge.

"without their knowledge"...this is the unselfish christian attitude that I haven't heard yet, and can appreciate! Simple acts of kindness done without expectation of thanks or need for announcing what goodness is being done is what christianity is about...The Golden Rule. I don't think that it is about a prayer requirement.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
We need a salt shaker smiley.:lol2:

..................Thanks for your input.

Quote shortened for brevity. Points understood. That follows under non-Christians should give the Christians a break sometimes. While not persecuted, over even blatently discriminated against, people can indeed be rude. When I was a very devout Christian there were times when I kept my faith to myself to avoid "the look", which is not what the Bible commands us to do. So keep on keeping on. :)

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If I was her patient I would be extremly upset if she tried to convert me if I was dying or very ill. Patient have enough to worry about they should have to worry about fending off pushing jesus loving nurses. Sometimes people forget that not all americans are christians. There are us Atheist out there whether they want to believe it or not! Here we are! Its not a nurses job to ensure my after life, thats for the patient to decide to do or not to do.

:wink2: My papa (WWII vet) told me "there are no atheists in fox holes" so it stands to reason people receiving end of life care usually want to believe there is something else. But the conversation should still be patient initiated. It seems that it would come up with just about all Hospice patients at some point.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
It seems on nights the only topics are sex and bowels.:rotfl:

It's amazing to me how some people are comfortable with talking about their body, sex and bowels isn't it? They don't mind telling you the frequency and consistency of their bowel movements. Sometimes I want to scream TMI. :lol2::lol2:

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
It's amazing to me how some people are comfortable with talking about their body, sex and bowels isn't it? They don't mind telling you the frequency and consistency of their bowel movements. Sometimes I want to scream TMI. :lol2::lol2:

Yeah, you shoulda seen the 8-pounder a resident presented to me one night......oh, sorry, Tweets.;)

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
Yeah, you shoulda seen the 8-pounder a resident presented to me one night......oh, sorry, Tweets.;)

:nono::nono::nono:

;):lol2::trout:

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