I believe that one's individual beliefs are so vital to life, however in this age of diversity, it is challenging to teach students to support some beliefs they don't agree with. We have a discussion on how one must support but that does not mean one agrees with the client's viewpoint. How do you approach diversity and differing spiritual views in your practice?

Good call christianwoman, I agree with you. I would like to add one thing, for you that is. When a pt. is on life support, and Dr. and Nurse are all doing what they can to prolong life, concider this. Their talents and skills and even their intuition are God given. No matter what we do as mortals will not stop God from claiming one of His own in His own good time. I hope this helps you to understand that when your pt. no longer has hope of recovering and that death is iminent, the holistic path of nursing should lead you to minister to the family. Be well and know that only a good nurse is concerned with such thoughtful questions.

At that point all you can do is smile, and pray for them. What does bother me are those people that adamantly denie the existance of God. Boy are they going to be surprised.

Be at peace.......
Remember you cannot make peace happen, you have to get out of Peace's way and let it happen.

So if it your opinion that something is against God's will then you won't support it? Even if it is against your hospital's policy or against the wishes of the family? What would be an example christianwoman or lgr3418?

Thanks Jendorphins, a very good question. Gotta think on that some more. I have started to answer 3 times and each time I do I come off sounding pious and sanctimonious. I may not support them, but I do NOT challange them. I am a pluralist of sorts. I think we all have a piece of the puzzle, The Catholics, Baptists, Jews, Muslims, Buddists. And God will one day say, just like your Dad did when you were a kid. "Say let's put this puzzle together" That is Omnicients.
I still come off pious don't I. Sorry.

I know our job is to support the patient but I have to say that our beliefs do matter. That is what should govern our morals, values, and attitudes in life and nursing. That is where you can make those hard ethical dilemma decisions; from your beliefs. Nurses only have to show nonjudgemental behaviors towards our patients to care for and suport them. Just my thought.

Okay, but then my concern would be if your ethical dillema (based on your beliefs) intersects poorly with something about your patient (not necessarily religious) like they have a same-sex partner--do you treat them as family? Your patient views him/her as family, but that conflicts with your beliefs. What to do?

Diversity to me means; freedom of speech, and in the right for a person to worship as he or she chooses. To have the liberty to celebrate the differences in cultures, differing political viewpoints, and differing tastes in food, art, music. This all plays an impotant role in the patient's homeostasis, that is one of the reasons patient's heal faster at home than in the hospital.

If i were to care for a homosexual patient, that wouldn't make it harder to care for that person or his/her family. Just like if someone was of another religion. They are not asking me to go against my beliefs, they are asking for my help. And that is what i would give them..help and healing. We are not to have judgement as nurses and for me as a Catholic. I wouldn't try to change what they believe or their lifestlye because it does not go with mine, I would educate them on their particular needs and so forth so they get better. Like ljr3418 said, it's all about the patient.

dealing with different beliefs, culture on the other hand, helped me also to explore my own self. i have to remind myself not to judge somebody but to learn to respect them, without giving up the belief and values that i have. i am being reminded that even in our own family there are a lot of differences. If i don't feel comfortable working with somebody, i inform the boss. if i can't handle one resident and about to explode, i call somebody. i keep on reminding myself that being different is the reason we are so unique. If i have to give a certain medication, and i think it is not appropriate, i call the doctor's attention most of the time they will listen to suggestions anyway.

gailp said:

I believe that one's individual beliefs are so vital to life, however in this age of diversity, it is challenging to teach students to support some beliefs they don't agree with. We have a discussion on how one must support but that does not mean one agrees with the client's viewpoint. How do you approach diversity and differing spiritual views in your practice?