Praying With Patients

Research Paper # 60421

Ethics
Medical and Health > Nursing
Religion and Theology

This paper looks at the ethical dilemma of praying with patients from a nursing perspective.

4,859 words () | 10 sources | APA | 2005 United States

Paper Summary:

The current controversy regarding the ethical considerations of nurses praying with patients has not always been an issue. In the past, prayer was an acceptable treatment method for the sick. This paper shows that while nurses do pray with patients, it is still controversial for some professionals. Supporters of Holistic nursing practices believe that nurses should not only pray with patients but also receive training on the subject, while many people believe that prayer is an aspect of religion and to pray with a patient would be to impose religious values on the patient. This paper examines the many aspects of this controversy.

Table of Contents:
Abstract
History of Praying with Patients
The Current Practice of Prayer with Patients
Ethical Values Affecting Prayer with Patients
Ethical Theory of Divine Command
Ethical Principles
Nursing Perspective of Praying with Patients
Conclusion
Bibliography

From the Paper:

"If a nurse was a divine-theory believer, she could be inclined to pray for a patient due to Biblical knowledge or a personal request from God. The problem with only using divine-theory to justify praying with patients is that, "Divine-command theory rightly indicates that our sense of obligation ultimately flows from our relationship with God" (Vacek 1996 633). At this point the nurse would not be using personal motivation and a nurse must be motivated internally to become as independent as possible. Nurses are obligated to solve this dilemma of whether or not to pray with patients by using Divine Theory because it is part of the training they receive while being educated to nurse. The field of nursing lays part of it's foundation on Divine Theory so it should therefore be utilized by nurses in all situations possible."