The newborn baby of a Roman Catholic patient has died. The mother is concerned that since the baby died before being baptized, he is doomed to live in purgatory. Which of the following can the nurse do to support this patient?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Often death will be approaching before there is time for the clergy to arrive. Christian baptism may be performed by any Christian in this situation, and it is often the nurse who will be asked by the family to perform the baptism. It is recommended that an outline of a baptism ceremony, along with a baptismal bowl, be kept available in areas such as neonatal intensive care units. Since the patient is Roman Catholic, the nurse should find a healthcare provider of the same faith to conduct the baptism. She should not counsel the mother about purgatory being a myth or explain that all newborns that die go directly to heaven. Keeping the baby in the morgue until a priest arrives to conduct a formal baptism of the child may not fulfill the mother's spiritual needs for herself or her child.

The Newborn Baby of a Roman Catholic Patient Has Died