Nurse won't go back to work if she has to hide her Christianity
The West nurse suspended for offering to pray for a patient will refuse to return to work if she is forced to hide her Christianity.
Caroline Petrie's comments come as the NHS releases new guidelines for health workers on discussing religion.
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Mrs Petrie, from Weston-super-Mare, was suspended without pay on December 17 after an elderly home visit patient complained to the NHS.
North Somerset Primary Care Trust threatened disciplinary action and said she breached a "personal and professional commitment to equality and diversity".
On Thursday the authority backtracked by issuing a statement saying it would welcome her back to work after her case provoked a national outcry.
But the 45-year-old mother-of-two said she would only go back if she was still allowed to offer prayers to her patients – and her lawyers said she may seek compensation for loss of earnings.
Yesterday, Mrs Petrie, a bank nurse, said her employer had still not contacted her directly and she only learned of her fate through media reports.
"At the minute I'm really happy to go back to work but it all depends on what conditions they set," she said.
"If they put conditions on me going back to work and said that I wasn't allowed to offer prayers to patients, well, I just wouldn't accept that. I wouldn't go back. I just can't separate the two things."
Mrs Petrie has been a Christian from the age of ten when her mother died of breast cancer. She switched from Church of England to the Baptist faith nine years ago.
"I simply cannot divorce my faith from my nursing. That's who I am and a part of why I went into it – I wanted to be a nurse from the age of seven," she said.
But the guidelines, set out in a document called Religion or Belief: A Practical Guide for the NHS, state that staff should be wary of expressing their religion in such a way that may be viewed as 'preaching'.
It reads: "Members of some religions ... are expected to preach and to try to convert other people. In a workplace environment this can cause many problems, as non-religious people and those from other religions or beliefs could feel harassed and intimidated by this behaviour.
"To avoid misunderstandings and complaints on this issue, it should be made clear to everyone from the first day of training and/or employment and regularly restated that such behaviour, notwithstanding religious beliefs, could be construed as harassment under the disciplinary and grievance procedures."
The Department of Health said the document was a guide to encourage awareness for staff and patients.
"The guide recognises that for some groups evangelising is part of their religious practice, which for some staff or patients can cause offence or discomfort. The guide suggests, to avoid misunderstanding or complaints, that as part of staff induction staff are made aware that this practice could be construed by some patients or staff as harassment.
"Feedback from trusts that were part of the consultation exercise for the guide indicated that this was a real issue, and something on which they were seeking guidance."
12 Comments
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by Charles Henry, Somerset
Tuesday, February 10 2009, 11:05AM
“You can't even read the story Jerry. . The lady simply asked if she would like her to say a prayer for her after she finished changing her bandages. . She didn't 'force' anything on anyone. . I think a prayer would be wasted on you anyway Jerry. . People would recognise that immediately, so I shouldn't worry about it.”
by jerry Jones, Dorset
Monday, February 09 2009, 9:33AM
“If i had a nurse come to see me i would expect her to do what she came for and not try and preach to me. I am a christian as much as you Charles but i don't like to force it down people's throarts. Do the job she's trained for and nothing else. Sorry to say if she can't do that then leave.”
by Justin, Cornwall
Sunday, February 08 2009, 8:19PM
“I must partly agree with Charles on this issue. The lady in question should be allowed to give comfort to people who wish it. We are being dictated to by people who want to destroy freedom of choice. If people feel more comforted by Christian thoughts..then so be it.”
by Charles Henry, Somerset
Sunday, February 08 2009, 7:51PM
“Get a life Negative Croydon!! . .
I think you are a disgrace to mankind.”
by negative, croydon
Sunday, February 08 2009, 6:20PM
“I am sure too, that if it is a choice of dying or having a religious nurse caring then it is obvious what the choice would be. My GP is an active member of the church, and I have always thought nothing of it. But now, it will always be in the back of my mind will my GP be having my concerns and wishes at heart, or the dictates of the GP's religion when I'm consulting with him/her. All this nurse has done for me is to bring religion into further disrepute, and create for me distrust of medical professionals that are (or may be) religious.”
by Charles Henry, Somerset
Sunday, February 08 2009, 1:04PM
“I can assure both Vox of Gloucester and Negative of Croyden that MS sufferer Neville Badger who suffered 45% burns that killed him whilst unattended, would have been delighted to have ANY nurse of ANY creed, colour, OR RELIGION to care for him and to prevent him suffering such an end. . I am sure he wouldn't have cared if she'd wanted to anoint him with toilet water. . And nor would the majority.”
by Stephen, Bristol
Sunday, February 08 2009, 12:14PM
“In answer to Margaret's comment - which represents what so many Brits say these days - this nurse probably does not want (and I for one don't want it either) the ideologies of secularisers and diversifiers imposed on her when she has already chosen a far far better teacher. Sorry but Secular Society is not the only god, albeit the only god many embrace in this godless age. If anyone asked me - I'd far rather Jesus Christ's teachings imposed on me than this society's substitute. I don't get to choose what I get 'rammed down my throat' by the public and private sectors every day though and with the cruel, unjust threats that constantly go with it.”
by vox, Gloucestershire
Sunday, February 08 2009, 10:37AM
“I agree with the above comment.
Personally I felt really annoyed by this woman when I read the original article. In her own defense she claimed that she was not "forcing" her religion on anyone, but "offering" them a choice [of having a prayer said ]...pure tripe! If she feels so strongly that these people need her prayers, then she is completely at liberty to say a prayer for them in private - her blatant disregard for her professional capacity just proves her to be some kind of attention seeker (having previously been warned).
If she is so adamant that her faith and her working life go hand in hand, I suggest she apply to a religious institution for work.”
by negative, croydon
Saturday, February 07 2009, 11:12PM
“Well, I would be really worried if I had a medical 'professional' treating me who could not separate her faith from her work. If she refused to return to work, then that is better for everyone. I would not expect someone to hide their faith from me, but the moment they start forcing it upon me, even with good intentions, would be the point at which I lose faith in their professionalism.”
by Phil, Wales
Saturday, February 07 2009, 10:28PM
“What a brave, kind woman! Her loving commitment to her patients is something that her employers should be extremely proud of. Nurse Petrie did not try to force her beleifs upon anyone but simply offered a prayer.
North Somerset Primary Care Trust - shame upon you ¿ just who are you trying to please? You put a silly non-sense PC policy before the sick & needy people you should be serving and before a nurse who is doing such a valid job. Grow-up and take your responsibilities in a manor that is expected of you!”