What Would You Do?
WWYD. OUR DIGNITY DILEMMA IS BACK. ✨
A resident asks a staff member to help them access a religious text and sit with them while they pray. The staff member feels uncomfortable because they do not share the same beliefs.
They quietly swap the task with a colleague, but no one discusses it.
Is it acceptable to step away due to personal beliefs, or does professional care require us to support spiritual needs regardless?
Where do boundaries sit between personal values and professional responsibility?
I would say that professional responsibility means we do this whether we believe or not, however, I don't actually see anything wrong in swapping the task if this doesn't inconvenience anyone else and the resident is happy about it. I have in my time had many conflicts between my own values and those whom I am supporting, but at the end of the day I chose to do a job that involves supporting people, I may not always have the same views or beliefs but I do have a professional responsibility to provide support, if there was a real conflict I would negotiate and find a way of supporting that might not involve me directly, but would give the individual the support they need
Personal belief should not interfere with professional responsibility. Also knowing where to draw the line in carrying out one's professional responsibility is also key.As far as the resident in this case has not asked me to get involved in his/her personal belief, just to sit and ensure they are safe while indulging in their religion belief is as good as it gets for me.