Expert: Mick Wenlock - 11/6/2009

Question
As a nurse, what should I expect to do for a patient who practices Scientology and how will it affect the nursing process

Answer
Wow, interesting question! Thank you.

A Scientologist views being ill or injured as being a failing on their part. They will search for the mental reasons that they have created this situation. I would suggest that as you talk to them you concentrate solely on positive things. Scientologists are very sensitive to having negative things said to them.

Scientologists tend to fall in the vitamin/organic food realm and you will probably be bombarded by a lot of advice about the various combinations of natural food and supplements that would "really do the trick".

The patient will not want to take any medications and will resist taking them but they will take them if you and the doctor explain why they are needed.

As they start to recover the patient will want to do more each day in the rehabilitation, they will wish to demonstrate that they are getting better all the time. Scientologists tend to view themselves very positively and will overestimate what they can do.

Good luck, I think you may find it interesting.