"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 ICU;CCU;Telemetry;L&D;Hospice;ER/Trauma;.

What a goldmine!!

Today when I arrived home, and opened my mailbox, voila!! An ADVANCED NURSES magazine ....and the best article!

It's all about boundary setting for the sake of the nurse as well as the patient, PARTICULARLY THE PATIENT.

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing issued a guideline titled "Boundary Crossings and Violations".

Here is the website address to read the whole article...

go to: www.advanceweb.com/nurses

Then under the "search tool bar" type "Within Boundaries"

click on the first one....then it takes you to the whole article....which by the way offers a CEU!!! wooohoo!

Here's a good paragraph that summarizes what many have expressed here regarding how BON's see boundary crossing:

Fig. 1: Boundary Crossings & Violations

Professional boundaries are the spaces between the nurse's power and the client's vulnerability. The power of the nurse comes from the professional position and the access to private knowledge about the client. Establishing boundaries allows the nurse to control this power differential and allows a safe connection to meet the client's needs.

Boundary crossings are brief excursions across boundaries that may be inadvertent, thoughtless or even purposeful if done to meet a special therapeutic need. Boundary crossings result in a return to established boundaries but should be evaluated by the nurse for potential client consequences and implications. Repeated boundary crossings should be avoided.

Boundary violations can result when there is confusion between the needs of the nurse and those of the client. Such violations are characterized by excessive personal disclosure by the nurse, secrecy or even a reversal of roles. Boundary violations can cause delayed distress for the client, which may not be recognized or felt by the client until harmful consequences occur. Professional sexual misconduct is an extreme form of boundary violation and includes any behavior that is seductive, sexually demeaning, harassing or reasonably interpreted as sexual by the client. Professional sexual misconduct is an extremely serious violation of the nurse's professional responsibility to the client. It is a breach of trust.

Source: National Council of State Boards of Nursing (1996)

In my opinion, this isn't a Christian issue...this is a clearcut boundary issue...just like any profession, there are certain real and innate guidelines that govern our behaviour around our patients....THIS IS FOR THEIR SAKE, and sometimes ours....

what we believe is inconsequential and irrelevant. Our patient's belief, feelings, etc. is what matters. Too many people cross this boundary because they have misguided beliefs planted in their little heads about their "mission" in life.....if they are at the bedside of a suffering, dying patient THAT IS THEIR MISSION.

I hope you take the time to read the whole article, I found it to be very appropriate and timely to this thread.

blessings to you all, crni

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

RNsRWe; you made a great observation. All of this only means that people will be who they are and will make excuses why they do what they do, no matter what happens. One of the things I observed in my path to nursing is that while we are in school and taking NCLEX, we will regurgitate whatever they want to hear in order to pass, but these processes do NOT insure that qualified, skilled and culturally compassionate nurses will enter into the arena. After all of the formality is over; anything goes, including our own agendas. And, where a nurse excells in one area, she may be make errors in another where not everyone sees. And to deal with these infractions would even further decrease an already dangerous shortage of nurses. What administration would usually do in cases such as overzealous nurses in my hospital is say to themselves that this is okay because they did not physically harm another person...there were no medication errors, no bodily harm and just ignore it because it may be the 'least of their troubles'.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
What a goldmine!!

Today when I arrived home, and opened my mailbox, voila!! An ADVANCED NURSES magazine ....and the best article!

It's all about boundary setting for the sake of the nurse as well as the patient, PARTICULARLY THE PATIENT.

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing issued a guideline titled "Boundary Crossings and Violations".

Here is the website address to read the whole article...

go to: www.advanceweb.com/nurses

Then under the "search tool bar" type "Within Boundaries"

click on the first one....then it takes you to the whole article....which by the way offers a CEU!!! wooohoo!

Here's a good paragraph that summarizes what many have expressed here regarding how BON's see boundary crossing:

Fig. 1: Boundary Crossings & Violations

Professional boundaries are the spaces between the nurse's power and the client's vulnerability. The power of the nurse comes from the professional position and the access to private knowledge about the client. Establishing boundaries allows the nurse to control this power differential and allows a safe connection to meet the client's needs.

Boundary crossings are brief excursions across boundaries that may be inadvertent, thoughtless or even purposeful if done to meet a special therapeutic need. Boundary crossings result in a return to established boundaries but should be evaluated by the nurse for potential client consequences and implications. Repeated boundary crossings should be avoided.

Boundary violations can result when there is confusion between the needs of the nurse and those of the client. Such violations are characterized by excessive personal disclosure by the nurse, secrecy or even a reversal of roles. Boundary violations can cause delayed distress for the client, which may not be recognized or felt by the client until harmful consequences occur. Professional sexual misconduct is an extreme form of boundary violation and includes any behavior that is seductive, sexually demeaning, harassing or reasonably interpreted as sexual by the client. Professional sexual misconduct is an extremely serious violation of the nurse's professional responsibility to the client. It is a breach of trust.

Source: National Council of State Boards of Nursing (1996)

In my opinion, this isn't a Christian issue...this is a clearcut boundary issue...just like any profession, there are certain real and innate guidelines that govern our behaviour around our patients....THIS IS FOR THEIR SAKE, and sometimes ours....

what we believe is inconsequential and irrelevant. Our patient's belief, feelings, etc. is what matters. Too many people cross this boundary because they have misguided beliefs planted in their little heads about their "mission" in life.....if they are at the bedside of a suffering, dying patient THAT IS THEIR MISSION.

I hope you take the time to read the whole article, I found it to be very appropriate and timely to this thread.

blessings to you all, crni

I just want to say that I have been enjoying your input on this thread, and this is yet, another wonderful contribution to this controversial subject. Thanks.

And, I want to say thanks to all of you; whether we agree or disagree, this has been a learning experience to me reading these posts.

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CRNI: I look forward to reading this! I, too, get ADVANCE magazine but since it's made in regional issues rather than national ones, I might not have the same content in mine as you do in yours. If I don't have it in print, I'll go online :)

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What a goldmine!!

Today when I arrived home, and opened my mailbox, voila!! An ADVANCED NURSES magazine ....and the best article!

It's all about boundary setting for the sake of the nurse as well as the patient, PARTICULARLY THE PATIENT.

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing issued a guideline titled "Boundary Crossings and Violations".

Here is the website address to read the whole article...

go to: www.advanceweb.com/nurses

Then under the "search tool bar" type "Within Boundaries"

click on the first one....then it takes you to the whole article....which by the way offers a CEU!!! wooohoo!

Here's a good paragraph that summarizes what many have expressed here regarding how BON's see boundary crossing:

Fig. 1: Boundary Crossings & Violations

Professional boundaries are the spaces between the nurse's power and the client's vulnerability. The power of the nurse comes from the professional position and the access to private knowledge about the client. Establishing boundaries allows the nurse to control this power differential and allows a safe connection to meet the client's needs.

Boundary crossings are brief excursions across boundaries that may be inadvertent, thoughtless or even purposeful if done to meet a special therapeutic need. Boundary crossings result in a return to established boundaries but should be evaluated by the nurse for potential client consequences and implications. Repeated boundary crossings should be avoided.

Boundary violations can result when there is confusion between the needs of the nurse and those of the client. Such violations are characterized by excessive personal disclosure by the nurse, secrecy or even a reversal of roles. Boundary violations can cause delayed distress for the client, which may not be recognized or felt by the client until harmful consequences occur. Professional sexual misconduct is an extreme form of boundary violation and includes any behavior that is seductive, sexually demeaning, harassing or reasonably interpreted as sexual by the client. Professional sexual misconduct is an extremely serious violation of the nurse's professional responsibility to the client. It is a breach of trust.

Source: National Council of State Boards of Nursing (1996)

In my opinion, this isn't a Christian issue...this is a clearcut boundary issue...just like any profession, there are certain real and innate guidelines that govern our behaviour around our patients....THIS IS FOR THEIR SAKE, and sometimes ours....

what we believe is inconsequential and irrelevant. Our patient's belief, feelings, etc. is what matters. Too many people cross this boundary because they have misguided beliefs planted in their little heads about their "mission" in life.....if they are at the bedside of a suffering, dying patient THAT IS THEIR MISSION.

I hope you take the time to read the whole article, I found it to be very appropriate and timely to this thread.

blessings to you all, crni

I know I said I wasn't going to comment further, but I wanted to thank you for posting this. It's too bad that the people who most need this information will not think it applies to them. You know, "They have eyes but do not see, they have ears but do not hear..."

Very timely information, though.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
I It's too bad that the people who most need this information will not think it applies to them.

Sad but true, that some people think the Word means that professional boundaries don't apply to them. However, I do think those types are very few and far between, that most professionals do stick to professional boundaries.

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Specializes in ICU;CCU;Telemetry;L&D;Hospice;ER/Trauma;.

Thanks you guys....I feel so thankful and humbled to work with such amazing nurses, and you all are among them....some of you should be cloned!!! for all the good reasons, of course!!:lol2:

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
I know I said I wasn't going to comment further, but I wanted to thank you for posting this. It's too bad that the people who most need this information will not think it applies to them. You know, "They have eyes but do not see, they have ears but do not hear..."

Very timely information, though.

I certainl dont hear as well as I used to, raising 7 kids, rock and roll etc.

My vision isnt what it used to be. But I can certainly see the fairways.

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I certainl dont hear as well as I used to, raising 7 kids, rock and roll etc.

My vision isnt what it used to be. But I can certainly see the fairways.

That's what happens when you listen to the Devil's music! ;)

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
That's what happens when you listen to the Devil's music! ;)

Give me some of that Rock and Roll music

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

;) just for you, tom:

copied from another website. don't know where they got it...

"the pope met with the college of cardinals to discuss a proposal from shimon peres, the former leader of israel. "your holiness," said one of the cardinals, "mr. peres wants to determine whether jews or catholics are superior, by challenging you to a golf match." the pope was greatly disturbed, as he had never held a golf club in his life.

"not to worry," said the cardinal, "we'll call america and talk to jack nicklaus. we'll make him a cardinal, he can play shimon peres... we can't lose!" everyone agreed it was a good idea. the call was made and, of course, jack was honored and agreed to play.

the day after the match, nicklaus reported to the vatican to inform the pope of his success in the match. "i came in second, your holiness," said nicklaus.

"second?!!" exclaimed the surprised pope. "you came in second to shimon peres?!!"

"no," said nicklaus, "second to rabbi woods." :lol2:

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
What a goldmine!!

Today when I arrived home, and opened my mailbox, voila!! An ADVANCED NURSES magazine ....and the best article!

It's all about boundary setting for the sake of the nurse as well as the patient, PARTICULARLY THE PATIENT.

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing issued a guideline titled "Boundary Crossings and Violations".

Here is the website address to read the whole article...

go to: www.advanceweb.com/nurses

Then under the "search tool bar" type "Within Boundaries"

click on the first one....then it takes you to the whole article....which by the way offers a CEU!!! wooohoo!

Here's a good paragraph that summarizes what many have expressed here regarding how BON's see boundary crossing:

Fig. 1: Boundary Crossings & Violations

Professional boundaries are the spaces between the nurse's power and the client's vulnerability. The power of the nurse comes from the professional position and the access to private knowledge about the client. Establishing boundaries allows the nurse to control this power differential and allows a safe connection to meet the client's needs.

Boundary crossings are brief excursions across boundaries that may be inadvertent, thoughtless or even purposeful if done to meet a special therapeutic need. Boundary crossings result in a return to established boundaries but should be evaluated by the nurse for potential client consequences and implications. Repeated boundary crossings should be avoided.

Boundary violations can result when there is confusion between the needs of the nurse and those of the client. Such violations are characterized by excessive personal disclosure by the nurse, secrecy or even a reversal of roles. Boundary violations can cause delayed distress for the client, which may not be recognized or felt by the client until harmful consequences occur. Professional sexual misconduct is an extreme form of boundary violation and includes any behavior that is seductive, sexually demeaning, harassing or reasonably interpreted as sexual by the client. Professional sexual misconduct is an extremely serious violation of the nurse's professional responsibility to the client. It is a breach of trust.

Source: National Council of State Boards of Nursing (1996)

In my opinion, this isn't a Christian issue...this is a clearcut boundary issue...just like any profession, there are certain real and innate guidelines that govern our behaviour around our patients....THIS IS FOR THEIR SAKE, and sometimes ours....

what we believe is inconsequential and irrelevant. Our patient's belief, feelings, etc. is what matters. Too many people cross this boundary because they have misguided beliefs planted in their little heads about their "mission" in life.....if they are at the bedside of a suffering, dying patient THAT IS THEIR MISSION.

I hope you take the time to read the whole article, I found it to be very appropriate and timely to this thread.

blessings to you all, crni

This information encapsulates the problem, it is so well written and pertinant, thanks!!!!!

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