Would You Pray if your Patient asked?

[LasVegasRN]

If a patient asked you to pray with or for them at the bedside, would you?

I had this discussion with some other nurses and the responses were interesting. Some said they would have no problem, others said it was too personal a request for a patient to ask, and others said they would call the chaplain as they felt it is a chaplain function only.

I witnessed one occurence where a patient asked his nurse to pray with him. Without hesistation, she took his hand and prayed a very nice non-denominational prayer. I realize not everyone can or might not want to do this, but it really brought solace to that patient.

Your thoughts?

[oneLoneNurse]

Probably not on my present unit ---> Acute Psychiatric.

BUT, on a med surg or any other type of unit probably in a New York minute. Not a practicing Christian, but would do it to help the patient. I believe that is part of my job description to help the patient spirtually if I can.

[MultipurposeRN]

Just curious, Lone..why not on your unit?

[Dewgrl]

I think Jesus let those atomic bombs detonate, killing hundreds of thousands of Asians, because they didn't believe in him.

:kiss

If that's a joke I don't get it.:angryfire

If it's not- that kind of attitude is exactly why I would NOT pray with a pt. I'd call the chaplin, provide the "referal of service" just like a ss consult.

[NaomieRN]

If a patient ask me to pray, I will not say no.

[KScott]

I pray every night for my patients -- sometimes individually -- more often I am so tired that I ask God to simply "bless all my patients."

Sue

This brings up a philosophical question I often ask myself. I'm an agnostic, but I do pray. When I pray, I have a tendency to start out with the hope all in my family will be kept safe, happy, healthy and whole. My mind then begins to wonder about my sister-in-law's mother, brother, father and their families and my cousins' families, the people I work with and go to school with, the guy I saw on the side of the road getting CPR after rolling his truck and his family, the lady at the grocery store, the abused child I heard about on the news and the victims of bombs - be they goverment sanctioned, or not - and all the people who have nothing to eat. I end up hoping everyone on the planet is safe, happy, healthy and whole! Then I wonder why someone like me, just a person - like everybody else - would have to ask for life to be nice and I decide the whole thing is fruitless, but I do it, anyway!

But, to answer the OP's question. I would be happy to hold hands and bow my head with anyone who asked me and let them, or someone else, talk to whoever they need to "up there - somewhere." I might even say a few words, if I thought it would make someone feel better. Mind power is a pretty amazing thing, whether there is a supernatural force connected to it, or not.

[leslie :-D]

Mind power is a pretty amazing thing, whether there is a supernatural force connected to it, or not.

so very, very true.

leslie

[happytobehere]

I would, but I only pray in english it is the only language I know

[royr]

I would be happy to for any one in need. Prayer is made to share.

[ZootRN]

Hmm. I guess I am the only atheist nurse here.

[Roy Fokker, BSN, RN]

Hmm. I guess I am the only atheist nurse here.

Not true - there's plenty of us here :)

But I think the issue is - "No matter what your beliefs - would you join your patients in prayer?"

cheers,

[Otessa, BSN, RN]

If they asked "yes"

[Melilem]

If that's a joke I don't get it.:angryfire

If it's not- that kind of attitude is exactly why I would NOT pray with a pt. I'd call the chaplin, provide the "referal of service" just like a ss consult.

Mario was NOT a christian. He was just being confrontational. He made it clear in several earlier posts that religion was the root of war and bullys. (I have way too much time, I read all the posts).

Anyway, that said, I would pray with a patient, regardless of their religion.