Very religious floor

[Mrs_Ga_RN_2015]

I work in a non-religious hospital. However, I am on an Oncology floor and so prayer and faith are very present among our patient population. My manager is also cery religious. I'm an atheist. We have frosted glass surrounding the nurses station that is covered with scriptures in dry-erase marker. Our unit t-shirts (which we are not required to buy but are encouraged to purchase and wear) have a scripture on the back. My manager texts all of us with meeting times for a weekly bible study class. There is no repercussion for not wearing the shirt or attending prayer meetings. But after 6 months on this floor I'm starting to feel a bit like I need to hide my feelings, smile and play along. I don't feel comfortable. Having patients pray or thank God doesn't bother me at all. I just don't care to participate. I was raised Pentecostal but came to my current beliefs in high school which were further cemented with college science courses. This topic has never come up at work so no one knows my position on religion, but now I'm worried that my career advancement could suffer if they found out. I love Oncology and am working toward an educator position to work with patients navigating the system with a new diagnosis but if they find out about my lack of religious beliefs I'm afraid that I may be deemed "not ready" or some other vague excuse for being passed over.

[smartassmommy]

If asked just say you keep your beliefs private. If a pt asks you to pray with them, be respectfully silent and send good thoughts their way.

[Emergent, RN]

It sounds over the top. I get annoyed with pushy atheists, personally. But this sounds really inappropriate.

I have no advise, but your misgivings and discomfort are justified.

[caliotter3]

Concentrate on your goal. If you can't hang with the situation, then best to try to make your departure on your terms. It seems as if this will eventually not end well if you don't move on from this floor.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Keep your beliefs to yourself. Problem solved.

[acerbia]

Keep your beliefs to yourself. Problem solved.

Why can't they keep their beliefs to themselves?

[SmilingBluEyes]

I have worked in places where the majority were ultra-religious and trying to get me "Saved". I did not believe as they did, but thanked them for my concern and kept my initial desire to argue in check. I kept my feelings to myself and did just fine.