Rachel: aka Vicar

Anybody else scared about the amount of "godly" power I will have?

This is an NCLEX (nursing board exam) review question I answered today:
A minister is scheduled to visit a patient who has requested Baptism because the patient is dying. At 10:00 am, the nurse, who is not Catholic, assesses that death is imminent for this client and the minister is not available at this time. The appropriate action for the nurse to take is to:

1. No action is necessary since the client's desire for Baptism is sufficient.

2. Perform the Baptism.

3. Obtain water so that the client may perform the Baptism.

4. Call for a Catholic nurse to baptize the client.

Any guesses to the answer??!

To my surprise, the answer was: #2-Perform the Baptism.

Here's the rationale given:
"The culturally sensitive nurse is familiar with the rite of Emergency Baptism". Oh well. I guess I'm not very culturally sensitive.

"If a client is in danger of death, any person, including the non-Catholic nurse, can perform an emergency Baptism". Really??!

"Emergency Baptism is performed by pouring a small amount of water on the client's head and reciting simultaneously, "I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.". ANY water? I always thought it had to be special water. Of course I'm Jewish, so what do I know...

"When done with the proper intent, the Catholic Church recognizes Baptism, by even an atheist or non-believer, as valid as Baptism given by a priest". Sweet.

They really don't teach you everything in nursing school. Although, if you heard anything about the "cultural diversity and competence" lecture I had this last semester in my Community Health Nursing course, you would understand completely.