When I graduated from nursing school, my mother (who is now a retired nurse) said to me, "Never forget a patient's religious/spiritual needs when death is near." I have kept this with me throughout my thirty one years as a nurse. As the decades have past, I have noticed that many nurses I have worked with, as well as those I currently work with, view religious/spiritual needs as an "afterthought."
I currently work in LTC; many of the residents I care for attend weekly Mass, pray the Rosary every Friday, and attend the non-denominational service every Thursday evening WITHOUT fail. (The facility where I work is not affiliated with any specific religion; it has tremendous recreation/social services depts. that seek to fulfill every aspect of a resident's needs). When any of these services is canceled for some reason or other, the residents are disappointed.
That being said, when a resident is actively dying, I will ask the nurse caring for the resident if the resident has practiced any specific religion. Sometimes the nurse looks at me as if I have two heads; other times the nurse will be honest and say "I really hadn't considered it." Without stepping on toes, I talk to the family and ask if they think their loved one would like a blessing or receive the sacrament of the sick. The MAJORITY of the time, the family and/or resident (if they are able to express their desires) is so grateful to have this need met. I will hunt down a priest, minister, or chaplain until I find one.
One nurse I work with used to laugh at me, but she has since become more conscious of this need. I am not forcing religion down anyone's throat; I am thinking about a need that often falls by the wayside.
