When is it ethical to talk about religion with a patient?

[GardenDove]

I was talking with a collegue the other day and she described a conversation with a pt where it sounds as if she were basically evangelizing. Now I had been told by my pastor (Catholic priest), who happens to be a medical ethics specialist and was at one time the chief ethicist for a large Catholic healthcare system. He told me that it's not ethical to try to convert pts and that you have to be very careful about this.

Religion is an awkward subject anyways, much like politics. I ususally follow the pts lead, or look for clues in the room as to their religious persuasion or belief system. But, then again, I don't personally believe people go to Hell just for their beliefs. I have one nurse friend who told me that she will whisper the name of Jesus in dying pt's ears.

Does anyone here pray with pts? I've done that a couple of times, but generally I treat religious beliefs as a private matter.

[ADVOCATE 4 PATIENTS]

I was talking with a collegue the other day and she described a conversation with a pt where it sounds as if she were basically evangelizing. Now I had been told by my pastor (Catholic priest), who happens to be a medical ethics specialist and was at one time the chief ethicist for a large Catholic healthcare system. He told me that it's not ethical to try to convert pts and that you have to be very careful about this.

Religion is an awkward subject anyways, much like politics. I ususally follow the pts lead, or look for clues in the room as to their religious persuasion or belief system. But, then again, I don't personally believe people go to Hell just for their beliefs. I have one nurse friend who told me that she will whisper the name of Jesus in dying pt's ears.

Does anyone here pray with pts? I've done that a couple of times, but generally I treat religious beliefs as a private matter.

One of my greatest rewards in patient care was speaking to a young man dying of dilated cardiomyopathy. I simply asked him if he was saved? He replied that he did not know for sure. I took the lead and suggested that I could have a pastor visit him. He greatfully thanked me. The next day my pastor saw him and they prayed the sinners prayer together. In a day or two this patient expired. I went to his visitation and was greeted and thanked by his family members for leading him to salvation. I do believe that heaven is reserved for believers and a great many of us have ignored the offer of salvation. If you believe in the word of God (the bible) then you know there is only one way to get to heaven. Nursing is a holistic profession and spirituality is part of human nature...so go for it.