A patient asks the nurse to pray with him. The nurse is an atheist and uncomfortable with this request. What action by the nurse is best?
a. Deny the request because of atheistic beliefs.
b. Offer to call the chaplain instead.
c. Agree to sit with the patient while he prays.
d. Ask the patient if he will meditate instead.
ANS: C
Although the nurse is uncomfortable with the request, the patient's needs (not the nurse's) come first. The nurse should attempt to honor the request while not imposing his/her ideas of religion and spirituality on the patient. The best option is to agree to sit with the patient while he prays himself. This is consistent with caring behaviors and fulfilling the patient's needs. Denying the request does nothing to address the patient's needs. The nurse can offer to call the chaplain in addition to sitting with the patient. Asking the patient to change his practices is unethical.
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