"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 Cardiac Care, ICU.
I would like to think that's her approach. That she's making herself available and helping her patients with their own spiritual agenda and not hers. That's definately what a good nurse, especially a hopsice nurse should do.

We're not flies ont he wall and don't really know and I appreciate that you're presuming and hoping for the best. But with a statement like "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." can you blame some of us for being a bit wary that she has an agenda as well? One that crosses a boundry that shouldn't be cross despite the Bible's mandate?

No I don't blame you at all. I am an eternal (no pun intended) optimist. I live in hope that Chistians will reflect Christ-like attitudes. Jesus never really sought people out, He called to a couple of His disciples but for the most part the people He reached out to sought Him out. I have known some really great Christians who witnessed often but never w/o an invitation by putting themselves in situations where it was likely that kind of conversation would come up. The person who first witnessed to me was like that and he was pretty excited when I accepted Christ and I'm sure he talked about it to friends. That's why I didn't automatically think that this woman was forcing her pts to listen. And I still don't know that she is but I concede y'all have cause to be concerned.

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Specializes in I have an interest in Travel and OB/L&D.
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 taught 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 see nothing wrong with evangelizing and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As long as she's not forcing or emposing her beliefs on anyone, I think it's perfectly fine. I am a Christian and I would most likely share the word of God to someone else once I become an RN. Keep in the mind that I'm like 100% introverted and not the type to start up conversations, but I will share at every opportunity and chance given.

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I see nothing wrong with evangelizing and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As long as she's not forcing or emposing her beliefs on anyone, I think it's perfectly fine. I am a Christian and I would most likely share the word of God to someone else once I become an RN. Keep in the mind that I'm like 100% introverted and not the type to start up conversations, but I will share at every opportunity and chance given.

What part of meeting the pts. needs, not yours is so dificult for people to understand? It is inappropriate to be prostelytizing to your pts., period. That goes for any faith, Christian, Wiccan, Gnostic, whatever.

Your pts are not all going to be Christian, and not all of them are going to want to hear the word of God according to you. Please, cultural competency includes being sensitive to people of different faiths, not just race.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
I see nothing wrong with evangelizing and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As long as she's not forcing or emposing her beliefs on anyone, I think it's perfectly fine. I am a Christian and I would most likely share the word of God to someone else once I become an RN. Keep in the mind that I'm like 100% introverted and not the type to start up conversations, but I will share at every opportunity and chance given.

How about just going to work to work and be a nurse doing what you are paid to do, rather than evangelizing and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ? People will appreciate that more. I know I would if I worked with you.

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Specializes in Happily semi-retired; excited for the whole whammy.
How about just going to work to work and be a nurse doing what you are paid to do, rather than evangelizing and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ? People will appreciate that more. I know I would if I worked with you.

To say nothing of your employers and colleagues...

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
How about just going to work to work and be a nurse doing what you are paid to do, rather than evangelizing and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ? People will appreciate that more. I know I would if I worked with you.

Here, Here!:balloons:

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Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.
How about just going to work to work and be a nurse doing what you are paid to do, rather than evangelizing and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ? People will appreciate that more. I know I would if I worked with you.

I am a nurse...a parish nurse.....and I do get paid by the hospital and my church congregation for doing my job which includes, but is certainly not limited to, assessing and meeting the spiritual needs of the patients. This includes prayer, sharing the promises of the Bible, offering encouragement to the patient and their family....being present in a time of crisis. Yes...I do this at the request and expectation of the patient and the staff. And yes...it may be easier because I am a parish nurse paid by the hospital to do just this. But our hospital and our community think the spiritual aspect of the patient is very important and are very glad that the parish nurses are there to do their job.

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I have never understood why it is such a federal case when a Christian ( or other religion) wants to talk about Jesus. He's obviously important to this woman. I mean no one would get bent out of shape if she believed yoga would make someone's life better and told all her patients how they could start a yoga regimine, or if she was an avid environmentalist and encouraged her pts to go to an Earth day rally. As long as she has her pts permission to talk to them about Jesus, what's the big deal?

What's the big deal? You've got to be kidding! It is one thing for a patient to permitt the nurse to talk about Jesus, but for the nurse to try to change what a person's beliefs are....that is a TOTALLY imposing and intrusive thing to do. Yoga is not a religion at all. It is an exercise and meditation form, not a religion. If a nurse came up to me and tried to talk "Jesus" to me, I would tell her to get out of my room and never come back. I mean who is she to try and change my view of the world, it's origins, religion, and what happens to us after we die. These are individual choices, are personal, and absolutely no one has the right to try and push their religious beliefs onto other people. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY WRONG :angryfire:angryfire:angryfire

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

Some Christians consider Yoga to be a part of what they consider to be the pagan religion of Hinduism, so I wouldn't make the assumption that everyone views Yoga as just benign exersises. Not everyone sees it that same. I've read online that some Christians view Yoga as spiritually dangerous.

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.
Some Christians consider Yoga to be a part of what they consider to be the pagan religion of Hinduism
While we are being technical - Hinduism is not a true pagan religion.

Hinduism is Henotheistic - Hindus believe in one god but worship god in multiple forms and recognise the presence of other deities. Thus, it is monotheistic in principle but polytheistic in fact.

Much of the Old Testament is Henotheistic.

cheers,

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
While we are being technical - Hinduism is not a true pagan religion.

Hinduism is Henotheistic - Hindus believe in one god but worship god in multiple forms and recognise the presence of other deities. Thus, it is monotheistic in principle but polytheistic in fact.

Much of the Old Testament is Henotheistic.

cheers,

I wasn't being technical, but just saying what some people think. They consider Yoga a part of the occult practises of a dangerous religion. I don't share that view, I'm just saying some people would consider mention of Yoga to be intrusive.

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.
I wasn't being technical, but just saying what some people think. They consider Yoga a part of the occult practises of a dangerous religion. I don't share that view, I'm just saying some people would consider mention of Yoga to be intrusive.
Oh, ok :)

Maybe I should have posted that post in the other thread LOL

cheers,

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