Prayer and The Atheist Nurse

[Maxie]

Hi,

I have become engaged in a major discussion of the role of 'prayer' in nursing.
I have tried to argue from a humanist perspective, to show the limitedness and inadeqyacy of a theistic view, and to discuss some of the ethical dilemmas facing an atheist nurse when asked to pray with a religious patient.

Here is a link to the discussion: icn.ch/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=6&t=000320

I would welcome any comments on this discussion, or ideas to take the debate forward.

[AuntieSocial]

Wow, Maxie, that's quite the discussion you have going over there. I just read a bit of the discussion (so far) and I agree that prayer is a sensitive topic.

I also feel that a nurse who is not religious should not feel the obligation to pray with a patient who is. I do feel that if a patient is religious and wants to have someone pray with them, that is their right, but that doesn't mean that an atheist nurse must oblige them. That is the role of a chaplan. If a nurse went around praying with patients who requested prayer, they are, in my opinion, neglecting their duties to other patients.

Nurses are there to supply medical attention and help with the general morale and comfort of a patient. They are not trained to be 'spiritual guides.'

I will have to take some more time and read the rest of the discussion you are engaged in.

[Superhappyjen]

If I were a patient and a nurst prayed for me I'd be kind of freaked out. To me it would mean that medicine isn't working and that I might die. It's that old movie / comic book cliché when you run out of options: "What do we do now Random Super Hero?" "Just pray, Side Kick. Just pray."

[Filter]

Guest-Maxie said:

...to discuss some of the ethical dilemmas facing an atheist nurse when asked to pray with a religious patient.

Wouldn't it be fun to say just once... "Sorry, your health plan doesn't cover prayers, holy-water, or localized miracles..."