by Marilyn M.
Member since:
February 14, 2007

Nurse (in Britain) Suspended After Offering To Pray

February 03, 2009 03:33 PM UTC
views: 0 | comments: 38

The article I read quoted the nurse as sayingL

"It was around lunchtime and I had spent about 20 to 25 minutes with her," the nurse said. "I had applied dressings to her legs and shortly before I left I said to her: 'Would you like me to pray for you?'"

The patient said, "No, thank you."

Previously the nurse had given out prayer cards and was asked not to do that.  She thought that asking patients if they wanted her to pray would be okay. 

Here's the link to the story:  Nurse suspended for offering to pray

What do you think?  Should she have been suspended?  Do you think she would have been suspended in the US?  Is this coming to the US?

Comments: 38

Kimberly L. Feb 3, 2009, 3:36pm UTC
I don't think she should have been suspended and I would hope that she wouldn't be suspended in this country.
B.B. B. Feb 3, 2009, 3:38pm UTC
wow thats uncool
Rebecca P. Feb 3, 2009, 3:51pm UTC
She shouldn't have been suspended.
Teresa A. Feb 3, 2009, 4:03pm UTC
Oh boy...... what next
Sandi S. Feb 3, 2009, 4:13pm UTC
I agree with Steve the Legend above.
Janie E. Feb 3, 2009, 4:39pm UTC
She shouldn't have been suspended and sadly, I think she would've been suspended if it had occured here!! I agree, completely, with Steve!!!
tammie p. Feb 3, 2009, 4:58pm UTC
now that just isn't right. what is wrong with this world today?
Steph-in-NE ..... Feb 3, 2009, 7:21pm UTC
no yet should follow rules,....
Wil B. Feb 3, 2009, 9:23pm UTC
Yes, I think she should've been suspended.
Lori F. Feb 3, 2009, 9:28pm UTC
Comment stalked Wil here.

I would have fired her on the spot.
Sandy Knauer Feb 3, 2009, 9:44pm UTC
I would say it depends on what the patient listed as 'religious affiliation' on her record. The last time I was in the hospital, I listed 'none' as my religious affiliation and several people stopped by to ask if I wanted them to pray for me. I was not offended, but they were not my doctors or my nurses - they were church people who provide that service to the hospital. If my doctor or nurse had asked if I wanted them to pray for me, I would have asked for a different nurse or doctor. That is not their job.

If the patient listed a religion, it might be different.
According to the story her employer had already counseled her for giving prayer cards to patients. My guess is that she was probably a bit more assertive about religious activities to patients than the story lets on. I think she was suspended for a series of actions that annoyed patients.

BTW, the story says that the woman was suspended pending the outcome of in investigation, not fired.
Sandy Knauer Feb 3, 2009, 10:52pm UTC
I think you are probably right about there being more to the story, Nippy. Sounds like she is probably one of those people who doesn't take no for an answer, and believes it is her duty to pray for people even if they don't want her to. Without knowing that for sure, I assumed what I thought would be the best possible defenses for her.
She reminds me of the jesusfreaks that invaded our high school and would stuff religious tracts in our lockers between classes. The hallways were glutted with the damned things. Some days it was like walking through piles of dead leaves. The waste of paper, time, money, and janitorial services was huge. The students were told to stop. They didn't until they were forced to clean up the hallways after school. It was that or take an ass beating for Jesus.
Sandy Knauer Feb 4, 2009, 3:51am UTC
I've thought about calling a couple of churches and asking them to send someone to pick up the unsolicited crap they left at my house and recycle it, EM JAY. Think they would if I asked?
Ishbel R. Feb 4, 2009, 5:42am UTC
Religion is not something that we British feel comfortable discussing with other people - it is an intensely PRIVATE matter. I'm an agnostic and I would have politely asked her not to try to engage me in a religious debate - and if I had been feeling pretty poorly, then I'd probably have made it less than polite and reported her to the ward sister! It was against the rules for her Health Authority (according to the article I read) - and she had already been warned about prosletyising with prayer handouts. This was her second try - I think that was an automatic case for suspension by the Health Authority for whom she works.

I'd prefer to wait to hear the outcome of the investigation.
Cena W. Feb 4, 2009, 6:28am UTC
If I am in a hospital and I am forced to endure an offer to 'pray for me" I WILL make a lot of noise about it.
I guarantee it.
Marilyn M. Feb 4, 2009, 9:47am UTC
Cena? "Forced to endure an offer to pray for me"? It's an innocent question. You have the right to say, "No thanks."

I truly hope that this doesn't happen in the US, but I would not be surprised if it already has, and certainly will.

I'm sure that there are many nurses around the US praying for their patients without ever asking too. In fact, I know that medical professionals pray for their patients. I was in a Bible study with a doctor one time who regularly asked us to pray for patients. She never gave us their names, just the problems that they were experiencing.
Ishbel R. Feb 4, 2009, 9:58am UTC
Praying for someone without names in a church group is one thing. Directly approaching patients and asking to pray with or for them is quite another!
Marilyn M. Feb 4, 2009, 10:28am UTC
But I don't want to live in a country where a nurse cannot ASK if she might pray for or with a patient. Anyone can say no. But I don't want the nurse to be afraid to ask. That is not what our founding fathers intended when they wrote the first amendment. We are supposed to be free to practice our faith. Asking a patient whether or not he/she would mind if a nurse prays for/with a patient should not be a punishable offense.
Ishbel R. Feb 4, 2009, 10:48am UTC
But she works here in the UK. No-one is suggesting that what is good in our country should be good in yours, are they?
Ishbel R. Feb 4, 2009, 10:58am UTC
I meant to type 'what holds good in our country should hold good in yours'...
Sandy Knauer Feb 4, 2009, 12:15pm UTC
Isbel said: "Religion is not something that we British feel comfortable discussing with other people - it is an intensely PRIVATE matter." Yay for the British! This is as it should be but, unfortunately, many want to parade their religion (and their rituals) in public. They aren't content with their relationships with their gods unless they have the entire world as an audience and professing complete agreement. It's strange. Very strange.
Sandy Knauer Feb 4, 2009, 12:17pm UTC
Marilyn, how would you react if your nurse asked, "Do you want me to strip for you?" What if she loved to strip and to see others strip, and she thought you might enjoy that too? Would you be rude to not appreciate her offer? What if she doesn't want to live in a country where a nurse cannot ASK a patient if she can strip for her?
Marilyn M. Feb 4, 2009, 1:48pm UTC
Oh please, Sandy. Even you cannot possibly think that stripping and prayer are anywhere near a good comparison.
Amber C. Feb 4, 2009, 3:05pm UTC
That is pathetic. What harm did she do in asking? She shouldn't be suspended, and there should be an uprising of people taking up for her. I'm not talking about religious people, just people who believe in freedom of speech. You can curse people out and get less of a reaction than you do when you offer to pray for someone. She quit handing out the prayer cards...This is outrageous.
Amber C. Feb 4, 2009, 3:06pm UTC
Stripping...praying? That is absolutelty ridiculous. How far does one have to reach before admitting there is no basis to suspend that nurse.
Sandy Knauer Feb 4, 2009, 3:31pm UTC
Oh, please, Marilyn, even you cannot possibly think I will pretend to believe that you don't see that these are exactly the same. What's your logic:

Person A has found something that she believes is wonderful and, because she thinks it's wonderful she assumes that everyone else must certainly agree. On that assumption, she offers it to everyone she meets and can't believe anyone would dare not share her enthusiasm. She believes that so much that she ignores anyone (including her employer) who tells her to stop sharing what she found, because some people find it offensive.

Person B has found something that she believes is wonderful and, because she thinks it's wonderful she assumes that everyone else must certainly agree. On that assumption, she offers it to everyone she meets and can't believe anyone would dare not share her enthusiasm. She believes that so much that she ignores anyone (including her employer) who tells her to stop sharing what she found, because some people find it offensive.

You see a difference? That isn't logical, Marilyn. That isn't intelligent, Marilyn. That isn't reasonable to anyone who is honest.
Nellie (RIP: Give to Life) Feb 4, 2009, 6:27pm UTC
Yes, she should be suspended. She has been warned once before. She should have understood the first time around that it wasn't acceptable.
Any other job out there if you get a warning not to do something and if you repeat it, tht person is either fired or suspended, so should go for this person. It is her job to take care of someone, not preach or pray with them.
Sandy Knauer Feb 5, 2009, 12:38am UTC
Since you've moved on to post new articles without explaining the difference as you see it, I guess that means you see no differnce.
Marilyn M. Feb 5, 2009, 10:57am UTC
Of course I see a difference, Sandy. Gee whiz, I'm sorry that I was not at your beck and call last night. I spent time with my family, then I went to sleep. Silly me.

The first amendment doesn't say that strip tease dancers have the right to dance for you. But it does protect the nurse's right to practice her religion. She merely asked a question. The patient responded in the negative, and it that should have been the end ot if.
Larry M. Feb 5, 2009, 11:16am UTC
England has many religious faiths. Some might be offended by her offer. I suspect that the hospital over-reacted in this case but I can understand their concern. I hope the nurse takes solace in being able to pray for her patients without their even knowing about it. That's one of the best things about prayer. It's just between you and God.
Ishbel R. Feb 5, 2009, 2:27pm UTC
The nurse is BRITISH, Marilyn - the 'first amendment' does not apply in her case!
Sandy Knauer Feb 5, 2009, 2:57pm UTC
Honesty really isn't your 'best policy' is it, Marilyn. You didn't skirt this question because you were spending time with your family. You posted several others after walking away from this one. Silly you.

The first amendment does not give any nurse, British or American, the right to "practice" her religion on the job, after being told not to practice her religion on the job. Nor does it give her the right to offend others with her religion. She did not "merely ask a question" - she imposed her beliefs on others, after being told to stop.

I understand why you don't want to admit that the two situations are the same. You support the rights of others only when it suits you and your beliefs.
Ishbel R. Feb 5, 2009, 6:11pm UTC
I would also point out that patients are vulnerable and feeling ill.... they are not equipped to tell someone to clear off!
aniko    Feb 5, 2009, 9:29pm UTC
Would you like me to sacrifice a goat to Babalu Aye for you?
Ishbel R. Feb 6, 2009, 3:58am UTC
Anyway, drama over... the news today said that she had been allowed to return to work.

Join the Conversation
Chime in! Become a Gather member to comment.
Already a member? Sign in
top
 
Gather | Friends | Groups | Share
About Gather | Engagement Marketing | Gather Points | Advertise on Gather | Gather Press | Privacy | Terms of Service | Community Guidelines
Books | Business | Celebs | Entertainment | Family | Food | Giveaways | Health | Money | Moms | News | Politics | Sports | Style | Technology | Travel | Writing
Version 18247, "Zach"; Copyright © 2013 Gather Inc. All rights reserved.