A new faith community nurse (FCN) met with a client who was dying. The

A new faith community nurse (FCN) met with a client who was dying. The client asked the FCN to pray for her out loud. The FCN had an active prayer life, but privately—not out loud relating to someone else.

A new faith community nurse (FCN) met with a client who was dying. The client asked the FCN to pray for her out loud. The FCN had an active prayer life, but privately—not out loud relating to someone else. Which of the following would be the best response by the nurse?
a.
Deliberately misunderstand the request and promise to pray for the client when you are at home each evening
b.
Look for a religious book nearby, open it, and hope there is something there the nurse can use
c.
Offer to share the client’s request with the faith community’s leader, as well as ask the faith community to pray for the client
d.
Share a traditional prayer that the nurse had previously memorized for personal use

ESSAYBID ANSWER

ANS: D
It is good to offer to pray for the client and to ask the faith community’s leader and the faith community to pray for the client. But the request was immediate, so the best response is to use the faith’s traditional prayers, which the parish nurse has memorized. If nothing comes to mind, the FCN can use a book of the faith to find a prayer that is suitable. A guideline to follow is to keep the prayer simple and offer the request to the client’s higher power.