During the COVID-19 pandemic, should nurses offer to pray with patients?

ABSTRACT

Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are unable to visit with friends and family, and religious patients cannot see personal clergy or even hospital chaplains. These patients may be scared, possibly mechanically ventilated, and dying. In these situations, should their nurse ever initiate an offer of prayer? Weighing the pros and cons of this issue, this discussion will argue that when offered in an ethical, patient-centered manner, nurses offering prayer can be therapeutic for some patients.