Wow, we get from the medieval bit about praying being compulsory all the way to hospitals being in a disgusting condition.

1) I am glad somebody has brought up the NMC code of conduct. It does show the sections of her professional obligations she is in breach of, and why it is a problem.

2) Hospitals are all in a disgusting condition? You see, this sweeping statement cannot be based on fact, (I am part of the government body that inspects them for hygiene) so I assume it is based on opinion. No problem with that. For years I thought all southern beer was flat and awful. Till I tried some, and then some more and eventually formed a more rounded opinion. (Not to mention the rounded belly...)

The lady who said throw away the rules then if she is in breach of them... Wow, didn't realise anarchists could write so eloquently. Codes of conduct are reviewed regularly anyway.

The fact remains that this nurse enters people's homes for professional reasons and is trusted to do so. Breaking that trust is very serious. Now... if a patient asked her to pray for her, that is another matter because if she agreed, it would be her call to make a judgement as to whether that was appropriate. But to offer is going beyond her brief and as religion is both addictive and powerful to the mind, then introducing it to a patient / clinician contact is reprehensible.

Like everybody else on this forum, I only know the media stories, but if what I have read was all fact, and the only facts presented, then if I were chairing an NMC hearing, I would have no hesitation in considering suspension of registration and a course of retraining. If I was still chairing an NHS trust, I would feel uncomfortable having this nurse visiting patients on her own.

Views on religion do not come in to it. If you are religious, then you are aware of the power of religion to the mind. If you are agnostic, you are also aware (and possibly find disturbing) the power of religion to the mind.

This is why nurses, who care for vulnerable people, are trained to be aware of the power they have over patients and not to abuse that power. Leaving prayer cards goes against her training and professional obligations.