"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 Happily semi-retired; excited for the whole whammy.
i feel after reading your post, that we are at square 1. leslie

I'm sorry to say so, but after reading the post in question, I feel more like we're well into the negative numbers.

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I thought about this topic for awhile before replying. I believe that how I read the original post is the the DR/nurse speaking with dieing patients about life after death? If this is correct

I challenge with

IF there is NO Jesus and NO life as the DR/Nurse speak of...what difference does it make if the dieing patient is comforted? WE as far as I know DO NOT KNOW what is coming as many have posted...but some have a faith that there is something else after death with Jesus. I woudl never want to offend a fellow nurse on this website and I would hope that NO nurse would FORCE medication, proceedure or religion on a patient AGAINST their will.

Last I will say if I see a patient wanted to speak of life after death I am happy to share MY view just as I would share my view on medication, proceedure, or care tactic.

Take Care~ NURES!

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After reading some of these posts, the next time I have to go to the hospital I am going to be sure to bring a baseball bat. Apparently some people just don't get the concept of boundaries.

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I don't think people people should impose their religion on others either, i.e. muslim extremists saying convert to Islam or die. Not a whole lot of Christians touting this line.

I am a Muslim and I could be wrong but I have never read where a Muslim extremist would order a person to 'convert or die'. Islaamic extremism is about politics not religion.

I quote the Qur`aan where it says, "To you be your way and to me be mine" and "There is no compulsion in Islaam". This is how I live my life. I do not push my beliefs on others and do not like to have others beliefs pushed on me. Just as I am content with my beliefs I assume others are content with their own. Yet I cannot count how many times Christians have actively tried to convert me even after I clearly (and politely ) let them know that I am not interested. And once they realize that I will not budge I am told that I am going to Hell.

I personally feel that there is a time and place for everything as well as the correct manner in which it should be done. As for the OP's friend, it is my opinion that none of this is being applied.

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I work in hospice and I would not talk "Jesus" to my patients. I might mention that God has his way, but thats it. We have professional chaplins working for us and this is their area. I dont quote scripture and they dont order meds. Unless shes going to work as a missionary, i think she has confused her pledge of saving lives, not souls.

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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 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.

To be honest first, I didn't read all the responses... there's 55 pages of them! But I do want to put my 2 cents in on this one.

First of all, you have no idea what went on in that patients room that day? She may not have forced any kind of evangelism on that patient at all. Maybe the patient was asking questions.

I myself am a strong Christian. The nursing field is a huge place to be able to share my faith, but I would never go force it upon anyone, co-worker or patient. Unless they were asking questions or seeking it out. You're gotta give this nurse the benefit of the doubt here. You cant assume she's going to be shoving religion down every patients throat. Asking a few questions about where a person thinks they'll end up when they die is not a crime.

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Specializes in OB.

I haven't read all of these posts, so maybe someone else has already said what I'm about to say, but...

If I tell a patient (or anyone, for that matter) that I find Chamomile tea to be very helpful for relaxation, or that a heating pad is really beneficial to me for a back ache, I don't think that means that I am "forcing" my views or opinions on them. I think it would simply mean that I was trying to share something that might be helpful or beneficial to the other person IF they decided to try it, too. Why is discussing Jesus Christ any different? If it so happens that having a relationship with Him has been a good thing for me and I believe could be a good thing for someone else, what is the harm in saying so? They can take it or leave it. I'm not going to force anyone to do anything!

The Bible says clearly that as Christians, we are to "become fishers of men". It's also known as the Great Commission.

I think any Christian that has the opportunity to tell a dying person about Jesus Christ (not force anything on them, just tell them), and doesn't do so would be sadly remiss.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
After reading some of these posts, the next time I have to go to the hospital I am going to be sure to bring a baseball bat. Apparently some people just don't get the concept of boundaries.

LOL. I tried not to laugh, but couldn't help it.

I'm sorry to say so, but after reading the post in question, I feel more like we're well into the negative numbers.

I agree, we've gone around and around.

Maybe some of us should sit on our hands and ignore this thread from now on. Myself included. :)

i don't think it's appropriate to ask your pt if they'd like to hear about their experience as a born again Christian.

at this point, all i can do is sigh.

sigh....

leslie

Big Heavy Sigh indeed. I've so enjoyed your input on this thread Leslie. I agree, it's rarely, if ever appropriate to talk about your personal religion. I won't repeat myself because my thoughts about reflecting to find the patients belief's and let them talk are up there somewhere.

As a mod, not to anyone in particular (mainly to myself), let me say Each of us needs to respect on another's opinion, no matter how offensive it is to us. So far 99.99% of us are doing that. We allow them their opinion and we don't cross talk about them. And we discuss this topic as it pertains to nursing, we don't talk about our own religion.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
The Bible says clearly that as Christians, we are to "become fishers of men". It's also known as the Great Commission.

I think any Christian that has the opportunity to tell a dying person about Jesus Christ (not force anything on them, just tell them), and doesn't do so would be sadly remiss.

I understand all of that. There are plenty of Christian based facilities for these people to work for. :)

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I haven't read all of these posts, so maybe someone else has already said what I'm about to say, but...

If I tell a patient (or anyone, for that matter) that I find Chamomile tea to be very helpful for relaxation, or that a heating pad is really beneficial to me for a back ache, I don't think that means that I am "forcing" my views or opinions on them. I think it would simply mean that I was trying to share something that might be helpful or beneficial to the other person IF they decided to try it, too. Why is discussing Jesus Christ any different? If it so happens that having a relationship with Him has been a good thing for me and I believe could be a good thing for someone else, what is the harm in saying so? They can take it or leave it. I'm not going to force anyone to do anything!

The Bible says clearly that as Christians, we are to "become fishers of men". It's also known as the Great Commission.

I think any Christian that has the opportunity to tell a dying person about Jesus Christ (not force anything on them, just tell them), and doesn't do so would be sadly remiss.

PLEASE go back and read the whole thread, and esp the links that lesle provided.....

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, MICU/SICU.
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?

I am a Christian also, but would never try to "convert" one of my patients. "The big deal" is the patient is a captive audience, can't walk away if this woman is bugging them. In addition, if the patient doesn't believe what you believe you are actually causing stress by trying to convert them. When we admit a patient we ask for religious practices that we need to know about (such as no blood transfusions) and if they would like a visit from the hospital chaplain. That's the extent of my involvment in a patient's beliefs. Now if they ask me questions I may converse with them, but I let them lead the way.

Why would a nurse encourage a patient to go to an Earth day rally? That makes no sense at all to me.

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hmmm I am a hospice nurse and I have a very deep faith, however...I only talk about the good Lord above IF a pt brings up the subject and I tread carefully. If I know they are Roman Catholic I would ask if they would like to have the annointing of the sick but our chaplain takes care of those issues...it sounded as if this nurse was seeking home care and hospice to "save" her pts...slippery slope

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