Prayers for Forgiveness

      Patients may request a prayer for forgiveness, or a prayer to forgive someone else. Both the “Our Father” and the Buddist prayers in the preceding paragraphs ask for forgiveness.  The following short prayer also may be effective in helping a patient forgive someone else. “Lord, __(insert name)__ treated me badly, they __(briefly state what they did)__, and I forgive them.”  Encourage patients and families to say this prayer every time the wrong doing comes into their head.  They may find they are no longer obsessed with negative thoughts.

Prayers for Sleep and Pain Relief

      The following prayer was written for patients who ask to pray to be released from pain: “Dear Lord, I am facing this pain situation and it makes it difficult to work towards recovery.  I don’t know what it takes to bear this pain.  Be near me in my time of weakness and pain. Give me the strength and courage to do what I need to do.  Help me believe I can find comfort and rest.  Thank you for your abundant grace.  Amen.”

      The following can be said with patients who ask for a prayer to help them sleep. “Heavenly Father, grant __(insert name)__ the gift of sleep for the refreshing of _(insert name)__ body and soul.”

Prayer Prompts

      Nurses can also personalize prayers for patients through the use of prayer prompts.  Joni Eareckson Tada (2008) offers prayer prompts, which we have modified for nurses to use with patients who are overwhelmed by their current situation.

      Lord, __(insert name)__ is facing __(describe the situation)___

Trying to handle this alone makes _(insert name)__ feel overwhelmed (express fears/weaknesses)

Give __(insert name)___ your strength, joy, patience, and wisdom to face __(the situation)__

      Thank you, God for the abundant grace You provide for __(insert name)__.  Amen

      Nurses may be asked by patients to pray with them or for them. Whether nurses should pray with patients has been a matter of longstanding controversy.  Yet decades of research show that many of our patients want nurses to pray with them (DiJoseph & Cavendish, 2005; Taylor, 2003). Prayer may benefit both the nurse and the patient; both may find comfort in prayer. Prayer may also help patients and their families adjust emotionally to their illness or life events and support the patients’ spiritual health.

      Unfortunately, nurses may not know prayers of different faiths.  In this article, we offer practical prayers from different faith traditions for patients and nurses wanting to pray.

      When a patient asks to pray, we recommend talking with patient’s to determine their prayer preference before starting to pray.  Some patients will want to pray silently.  Some patients will want the nurse to be present while they say a prayer out loud.  Others will want the nurse to lead them in prayer. Some will want to pray now, others may want the nurse to keep them in their prayers.

Conclusion

Regardless of the faith tradition or practices of the patient, family, or nurse; the moments taken to pray may provide comfort and renewal for all present.  We encourage you to adapt these prayers and take the time to pray today.

References

DiJoseph, J., Cavendish, R. (2005). Expanding the dialogue on prayer relevant to holistic care.

Holistic Nursing Practice, 19, 147-154.

Eareckson-Tada, J. (2008). Borrowing God’s smile. Discipleship Journal, 28 (5), 32-37.

Lamont, A. (2000). Traveling mercies: some thoughts on faith.  New York: Anchor.

Taylor, E.J. (2003). Prayer’s clinical issues and implications. Holistic Nursing Practice, 17, 179-188.

Regardless of the faith tradition or practices of the patient, family, or nurse; the moments taken to pray may provide comfort and renewal for all present.  We encourage you to adapt these prayers and take the time to pray today.

References

DiJoseph, J., Cavendish, R. (2005). Expanding the dialogue on prayer relevant to holistic care.

Holistic Nursing Practice, 19, 147-154.

Eareckson-Tada, J. (2008). Borrowing God’s smile. Discipleship Journal, 28 (5), 32-37.

Lamont, A. (2000). Traveling mercies: some thoughts on faith.  New York: Anchor.

Taylor, E.J. (2003). Prayer’s clinical issues and implications. Holistic Nursing Practice, 17, 179-188.

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