"The Jesus Factor"

Updated:   Published

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'll give her one!

Amen!

this whole thread is so insane..its scary that some can't see how out of line they are.

Thank you! Someone who isn't humor impaired!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Nope. Tweety did not say any ultimate words of wisdom.

perhaps not to you.

but by the number of times he was thanked, there's evidentally a few who agree with him.

your defensiveness is getting in the way of seeing the big picture.

did you even read the entire thread?

if you did, you would know that our biggest concern is that the pt does not feel bullied.

please relax.

this thread has served many of us well.

enjoy it and your colleagues.

leslie

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Uhhh DUH! They'll tell me whether or not they want to hear it.

When I said "it's not a big deal", I'm talking about it's not a big deal to stop talking about the gospel when someone doesn't care to hear it.

What are you going to do, ask them if they'd like to hear about the Gospel of Jesus? I'm just trying to figure out how you're getting the conversation rolling. Do you mean you'll spread your word if the pt. intiates the conversation and directly asks you, or are you going to suss it out of the pt. somehow and then share?

It's just the way you're presenting yourself is very scary, and the anger with which you present what you say makes me wonder at the message you have. Why so much anger? There is a time and place for everything, is there not? Perhaps when people are ill and vulnerable is not the time...oh, never mind, we've already been down that road before. Be all sorts of things to all sorts of men...never mind, tried that one too.

I'm sure that you will do what you feel compelled to do. Just don't be surprised if one day you come up against someone who doesn't appreciate your presuming they'd want to hear what you have to say because you assumed so. And then it won't be any form of religious dscrimination if the pt. complains. It's the pt's choice, the pt's needs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, ER, L&D, ICU, OR, Educator.
They just think that doing Yoga opens a person up to Demonic forces quote]

What!? I've always found it very peaceful.

What an educational thread! Just proves how different we all are...nice, intellegent, nurturing people who are all nurses, but do not all think alike! It's like...different strokes for different folks rings true!;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg.
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.

Thanks for sharing.

The person I was addressing didn't say that she/he was apiring to be a Parish Nurse. Point humbly and well taken however. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Thanks for sharing.

The person I was addressing didn't say that she/he was apiring to be a Parish Nurse. Point humbly and well taken however. :)

There's a big difference between a parish nurse who has been specially trained and has been specifically requested by the pt. v. a nurse who goes about willy-nilly seeking to "spread the Word" to pts. she thinks needs it or "score another one for Jesus."

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg.
Is something wrong with you??? You don't tell me what to do. I will do my duties as a nurse AND my duties as a Christian. Plus, I said I would share the Gospel when there's an opportunity. Do you know what "opportunity" means? It doesn't mean "all the time". My main job as a nurse is to work as a nurse like you said. If there's ever downtime with me and the patient and they lead into a conversation regarding things of that nature, I would share the Gospel. It's not like I'm going to go up to every patient and talk about the word of God and Jesus Christ. There's a right time for everything. And who are you to tell me what people appreciate more? There's people that'll appreciate me sharing the Gospel AND there's people that will not appreciate it. That's life.

It doesn't sound like we're going to be able to discuss this any further without us getting self-righteous with our opinions. :)

There isn't anything wrong with me. I've just lived 48 years and have been in nursing 16 and am full of opinions. :lol2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in I have an interest in Travel and OB/L&D.
Ummm, I was sorta talking about you

ummmm, how was I being out of line? Just because I don't agree that it's disturbing to share the Gospel? Not everyone is going to agree with the OP.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in I have an interest in Travel and OB/L&D.
perhaps not to you.

but by the number of times he was thanked, there's evidentally a few who agree with him.

your defensiveness is getting in the way of seeing the big picture.

did you even read the entire thread?

if you did, you would know that our biggest concern is that the pt does not feel bullied.

please relax.

this thread has served many of us well.

enjoy it and your colleagues.

leslie

No, I haven't read the whole thread. I responded directly from the original post and then two people attacked me basically saying that I should just shut up and do my job as a nurse. It was like they didn't even read what I said. All I said was that I would be willing to share the Gospel given that I'm a Christian myself. I wouldn't go around forcing my beliefs on someone. What is wrong with that?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
ummmm, how was I being out of line? Just because I don't agree that it's disturbing to share the Gospel? Not everyone is going to agree with the OP.

edited

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg.
ummmm, how was I being out of line? Just because I don't agree that it's disturbing to share the Gospel? Not everyone is going to agree with the OP.

You were not being out of line by expressing your honest opinion. You are more than welcome to. You're probably only saying what 100 others reading are thinking anyway. :)

We have to respect all opinions here at Allnurses. We also have to be respectful with those who respond that don't they agree with us. (Such as not saying "is something wrong with you?)

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

This has been such an interesting thread with much intellegent conversation...but it's TURNING:Melody:.

(see on another thread)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion