I have a 5th grade student who came to me last week that I ended up making a child abuse report on. Today, she came to me and informed me that her "safe" caregiver has been removed from the house and is currently hospitalized (unrelated) and is possibly in a coma.
She has mentioned her faith a number of times to me and what a comfort it is. I am also a Christian. I have told her that I am praying for her and for her situation, but believe that encouraging her spiritually as well as taking some private time to pray with her at school would be of help to her physically, spiritually, and emotionally. She has been missing quite a bit of class time due to her emotional state.
I know that this is not legal. But for my Christian nurses: Where does our requirement to follow worldly laws end and our commitment to our patient and to God begin? Would you or do you pray with your students if requested or encourage them spiritually when necessary?
I always describe myself as "spiritual but not religious." I believe in the Christian faith, but as a lesbian nurse, I was rejected soundly by many church folk. I know the God I believe in still loves me and that's what matters, but I found my own path with my understanding.
I know your path will eventually lead you to fellowship with those who will love you for just being the B-COG you are, if fellowship is what you seek. B-COG - Beloved Child of God.
My sister-in-law is married to someone of the same sex. They have two children - ages 5 and 2. They attend a large, old, traditional denomination church where they are accepted with open arms; I have attended the baptism of both their children into the Christian faith at that church. The introduction of your post makes me hurt. The rest of your post makes me proud. Thank you for sharing.
I respect your opinion and I am not trying to influence you view, however, I am in 180 degree complete disagreement with your opinion.
No, thank you. I don't need you to respect my opinion or even respect me. If my ideas are BS, they are BS. If I follow those ideas, I am a terrible person, and I need to be challenged on them.
That is how I view Christianity and Christians. If you want to know the reason, read the Bible. Read every single line of that book. Then you will understand why I feel unease when I am around Christian nurses.
If I substitute a random name for the word God, Yahweh, the Lord in the Bible, you will see a tyrant, not a loving deity which Christians love to show off. Worship anyway you want. As soon as you "offer" your faith to me, you attempt to recruit me to your religion. At that time, you are fair game.
I have my reason not to worship OP's god. Pray for me if she wishes. As soon as she tells me she will pray for me, she informs me that she will invoke the power of a deity which I don't acknowledge to have an influence on my life. If she thinks this is respectful to my intellectual autonomy, I am entitled to ridicule her.
I wonder if OP would have the same concern if the 5th grade student was a Zoroastrian. Would OP pray to Ahura Mazda with her? Would she encourage her student to enrich her spiritual life in Zoroastrianism or would she tell her student to pick up the cross and follow Jesus? Where is respect in this scenario when OP as a nurse is the authority figure?
I will give you my answer if I was in this situation with a Christian student. I will tell the student that I don't believe in Jesus or the Bible. I will be honest with her that my prayer may not be sincere because I don't believe in the god of the Bible. If the student insists that she would feel more confident in herself when I stay with her while she is praying and read the Bible with her, you can bet that I will absolutely do so. Other than that, I will not initiate any conversation that makes her doubt her faith.
Do you think OP is willing to do that with a non Christian student? Or is her love for Jesus so great that compassion and empathy for people who don't follow Christianity become secondary?
Her question already shows her preferential bias. I seriously doubt that she would be excited to ask for advice if the student is a Wiccan.
No, thank you. I don't need you to respect my opinion or even respect me. If my ideas are BS, they are BS. If I follow those ideas, I am a terrible person, and I need to be challenged on them.
That is how I view Christianity and Christians. If you want to know the reason, read the Bible. Read every single line of that book. Then you will understand why I feel unease when I am around Christian nurses.
If I substitute a random name for the word God, Yahweh, the Lord in the Bible, you will see a tyrant, not a loving deity which Christians love to show off. Worship anyway you want. As soon as you "offer" your faith to me, you attempt to recruit me to your religion. At that time, you are fair game.
I have my reason not to worship OP's god. Pray for me if she wishes. As soon as she tells me she will pray for me, she informs me that she will invoke the power of a deity which I don't acknowledge to have an influence on my life. If she thinks this is respectful to my intellectual autonomy, I am entitled to ridicule her.
I wonder if OP would have the same concern if the 5th grade student was a Zoroastrian. Would OP pray to Ahura Mazda with her? Would she encourage her student to enrich her spiritual life in Zoroastrianism or would she tell her student to pick up the cross and follow Jesus? Where is respect in this scenario when OP as a nurse is the authority figure?
I will give you my answer if I was in this situation with a Christian student. I will tell the student that I don't believe in Jesus or the Bible. I will be honest with her that my prayer may not be sincere because I don't believe in the god of the Bible. If the student insists that she would feel more confident in herself when I stay with her while she is praying and read the Bible with her, you can bet that I will absolutely do so. Other than that, I will not initiate any conversation that makes her doubt her faith.
Do you think OP is willing to do that with a non Christian student? Or is her love for Jesus so great that compassion and empathy for people who don't follow Christianity become secondary?
Her question already shows her preferential bias. I seriously doubt that she would be excited to ask for advice if the student is a Wiccan.
I pray for God's grace and peace upon you as you deal with your dilemma of faith. I can see you are a "last word" kind of individual so I welcome your response and yield it to be the "last word" between us.
I pray for God's grace and peace upon you as you deal with your dilemma of faith. I can see you are a "last word" kind of individual so I welcome your response and yield it to be the "last word" between us.
I don't believe in your god. I am a Buddhist. I grew up in Vietnam, a culture where Christianity is not the dominant faith.
I lived in a Catholic neighborhood for 13 years before I immigrated to the States. I don't have a dilemma of faith. I know what Christian doctrine is. I know what I believe in and what I stand for. I read the Bible because people of your kind knocked on my door week after week. They didn't encourage me to read the Bible. I read it for myself on my own. My conclusion about Christians in general and Christian nurses in healthcare profession comes from my experience reading the Bible and dealing with Christians in real life. My issue with Christians' behavior is not the only reason for what I wrote in my posts.
Not only you don't get it, you also intend to do exactly what I despise Christians for. I could have retaliated with an equally insulting response, but I won't do it. I simply say that I don't need your god's grace. I have dharma. Thank you very much.
I don't understand your second statement. Next time, be straightforward about what you mean. I wasn't born in this country. I only understand grammatical English, not innuendos.
I cringed when I saw more than 20 responses, knew it would go out to the general boards and these "Holier than thou" Atheists would come in. Please, please, read beyond the headline and at least read the OP. This WAS consensual, please stop coming on and espousing your views of religion. It doesn't pertain here.
It is usually not a good idea to to discuss money, religion or politics...so...
Well, from my experience, it's the Christians who initiate conversations about religion. It's the tenet of their faith.
"Have you been saved?"
"Do you know where you are going when you die?"
"I will pray for your soul to be saved."
"I hope you change your mind before it's too late."
"Are you sure you follow the right god?"
What kind of nurse will ask patients such a question or statement?
I'm religious, and I keep what I believe to myself. My belief is a tool that makes me a better human. It's not something to be randomly called out for a challenge when I am not in a debate context. I don't appreciate being put on a spot with such questions.
I have yet met an atheist who tries to convince me that my belief in transcendence is wrong, but I have encountered Christians (including nurses) who want me to give up my faith to follow theirs.
"I hope you change your mind before it's too late."
"Are you sure you follow the right god?"
I have yet met an atheist who tries to convince me that my belief in transcendence is wrong, but I have encountered Christians (including nurses) who want me to give up my faith to follow theirs.
Christianity is the only faith that states one way or Hell and is based in love. These two things mean someone with a nurses' heart wants to cure the whole person. No other religion honestly cares about people in the same desperation. Sorry you may get offended, but just like you feel the need to educate your patient who does not vaccinate or continues to smoke with COPD, we feel the same desperation for their lives. I state this not to convert you, I state this so you may understand.
Well, from my experience, it's the Christians who initiate conversations about religion. It's the tenet of their faith.
"Have you been saved?"
"Do you know where you are going when you die?"
"I will pray for your soul to be saved."
"I hope you change your mind before it's too late."
"Are you sure you follow the right god?"
What kind of nurse will ask patients such a question or statement?
I'm religious, and I keep what I believe to myself. My belief is a tool that makes me a better human. It's not something to be randomly called out for a challenge when I am not in a debate context. I don't appreciate being put on a spot with such questions.
I have yet met an atheist who tries to convince me that my belief in transcendence is wrong, but I have encountered Christians (including nurses) who want me to give up my faith to follow theirs.
Your posts carry a bias against Christians. I hope that bias is not extended to your patients if they happen to reveal they are Christian. People can feel unease and disdain, even when you try to disguise it. Especially children. And this is a school nurses board, so all of our patients are children.
As I mentioned up thread - freedom of religion means I respect a child's need for a safe space to pray. I would not pray out loud with a student, but I would sit in silence with a student if they asked me to for support. I also like learning about religions and cultures, so if student shares their beliefs and how their religion works with me I would kindly listen.
Yes, I would pray with a student. I have prayed with students before. When I first started in the district I was very cautious about stating/sharing my faith or testimony. One day I spoke with another lady who is a fellow believer (not necessarily the denomination) about sharing her faith or scripture. Her response to my question was put something like this....If I feel like God wants me to share something and I get fired because it crosses man's line, God will provide another job for me.
So, with that, I share/pray when I need to. Most of the student I have prayed with have been students I know outside of school and go to church with them and their parents. On other occasions, the student has initiated a conversation about God/faith.
I have never "pushed" what I believe on others. I do not know what religion a student is when the come in the door of my office. I treat the student not their religious preference.
Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..
I cringed when I saw more than 20 responses, knew it would go out to the general boards and these "Holier than thou" Atheists would come in. Please, please, read beyond the headline and at least read the OP. This WAS consensual, please stop coming on and espousing your views of religion. It doesn't pertain here.
Thank you, MrNurse. I was just catching up on this thread too. Geee. Thanks OldDude to you too.
Christianity is the only faith that states one way or Hell and is based in love. These two things mean someone with a nurses' heart wants to cure the whole person. No other religion honestly cares about people in the same desperation. Sorry you may get offended, but just like you feel the need to educate your patient who does not vaccinate or continues to smoke with COPD, we feel the same desperation for their lives. I state this not to convert you, I state this so you may understand.
Nonsense.
Physical reality is what it is. I wasn't born in a Christian culture. I don't have emotional connection to Christianity. Until you can prove it to me your idea about Yahweh is true, I have no business to believe in that deity.
Same thing with Buddhism. What is going on in my head stays in my head. Personal experience is just that. It cannot be translated to someone else.
COPD is a real thing. It can be proved with evidence. Anybody can get it. It doesn't take faith to believe in it.
You ask me to believe in something that doesn't manifest in reality that convinces me. It's fine that you believe it. Why should I have to believe in your god?
I will not get into morality with you. The fact that you have audacity to tell me that you want to cure me and worship a god like Yahweh at the same time is enough to tell me what type of person you are.
You really have big nerves to ask me to bow down to a god who ordered his chosen people to stone someone working on the Sabbath, to eliminate a whole nation that didn't worship him, to order a raped victim to marry her rapist, to give instruction to slave masters how handle their slaves, to make a bet with Satan on Job's suffering, to condemn people based on their belief and not on their characters...
You don't have the right to lecture me about educating my soul when sacrifice your humanity to worship such a deity. Worship him out loud as you wish. As soon as you tell me you want to educate me about his so-called, prove to me that he is physically real first and foremost, prove to me he is just when he condemns non-Christians in a lake of burning fire regardless of their characters, prove to me that he has a reason to bless a football team to win a game and do nothing when thousands of people in the world are suffering from famine.
Until you can do those things, whatever you tell me is simply your faith speaking, not your proven knowledge in reality. Then you have no right to lecture me about a nurse's love. I have faith, too. I have no reason to abandon it to follow yours.
OldDude
1 Article; 4,787 Posts
I know your path will eventually lead you to fellowship with those who will love you for just being the B-COG you are, if fellowship is what you seek. B-COG - Beloved Child of God.
My sister-in-law is married to someone of the same sex. They have two children - ages 5 and 2. They attend a large, old, traditional denomination church where they are accepted with open arms; I have attended the baptism of both their children into the Christian faith at that church. The introduction of your post makes me hurt. The rest of your post makes me proud. Thank you for sharing.