Am I sinning or being scrupulous?

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Gabrielle

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Hello guys, as some of you already know, I have OCD. I have been having a particular bad resurfacing of my symptoms lately. Anyway, I am asking this, not because I want to be reassured, but because I am honestly confused and won’t be able to meet with the priest I have been going to confession with for a while because he is off visiting his family in Argentina. Anyway, I am studying to be a nurse and am currently working as a nursing assistant at a local hospital. The other day I was having a really bad time mentally ( I’m not trying to excuse myself, just giving all the particulars). It had been a really heavy day at work, I was tired, on the brink of tears, dealing with all sorts of fears and intrusive thoughts. I kept trying to chart before leaving, but each time someone kept asking me for help with a patient. I obviously helped each time, but by the time I finished helping the last person, it was past my shift end. I had to chart the amount of urine I emptied out of the urinal for one patient one time, and a few times that I had either repositioned and not repositioned my patients for the last three hours of the shift. Either way, I saw a nurse sitting with one of the charts and I decided to go home. Each step I felt horrible because I thought about how irresponsible I was being. Ever since that day I’ve been trying to do all my charting throughout the day so that it doesn’t all pile up like it did on that day. Was this a mortal sin?
 
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No! And I must add that only God really knows what you did and how He perceived it. So, take it with a grain of salt.
However mortal sin requires a fully cognizant understanding of grave matter, which I don’t think existed from what you describe. Secondly it takes a willful and deliberate intention to commit that sin, (which I don’t think was evident), and third, it requires a full understanding of the nature of your action, which, from what you describe, was not evident at all.
Talk to a good priest about your questions., Asking questions of this nature of a bunch on anonymous posters on an internet forum really is not the best place to find your answers.
And try to get some help for your scrupulosity from a priest or other competent counselor.
Peace
 
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Remember the priestly maxim: If you have to ask if something is a mortal sin, it isn’t.

Your issue isn’t sinning but learning how to set some healthy workplace boundaries when people are trying to walk over you. Where you’re studying to be a nurse, consult with your advisor or supervisor to come up with a solution.
Gabrielle said:
I obviously helped each time, but by the time I finished helping the last person, it was past my shift end.
Click to expand...
Is your pay hourly or by salary? If they’re trying to force you to work after you clock out, it’s wage theft and illegal in many, if not all, states.
 
Am I sinning or being scrupulous?

Neither. You are having OCD. Get medical help.
 
I am getting it FiveLinden, but thank you
 
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I get payed hourly, and I do know I let people take advantage of me sometimes. It’s just, Inknow how important it is to chart, especially output. The repositioning, I am not supper worried about, it is mainly the output that was bothering me. Although, this patient was a younger person who as far as I know it was gong to the bathroom fine. Still, it botheres me. I will ask my instructor.
 
Gabrielle, from what you described in your OP and what you have added, I think you are conscientious, dedicated, and striving to do the best job you can. Your studies and your success at them is important to you. That is more than commendable.

As to your original question about mortal sin, that requires something that is grave matter. If you deliberately failed to do what is necessary so as to cause harm, then that could be considered grave matter. That doesn’t seem to be operative here. I think your feeling that what you did is a result of your self described OCD; something that as someone else said, is something that you need to get some help with.

And on the other hand, all of us have a bit of OCD in our daily lives. I’ve locked myself out of my apartment a couple of times, and now before I lock the door I will check several time to make sure I have my keys. Or I will be going somewhere and a couple miles down the road, I will wonder if I shut off the oven. So I will turn around, drive home, and check. I consider that OCD, but very mild. Again, ask someone about it, and if you feel it more severe, get a little help. And treat yourself a little more gently.
 
You are being scrupulous to a great degree. Go back to your confessor; or find another one who can deal with scrupulosity.

Unless overtime is permitted without specific authorization, you have a moral duty to your employer to stop working at the end of your shift, and there is no moral duty to assist others in the ordinary activities of their shift, even if they are behind when it involves extension of your shift without permission. And as to working beyond and not “charging” your employer, you may be disobeying employment laws by doing so.

If your manager requires you to work overtime (as opposed to requesting it) then you need to work the overtime - not as a moral issue, but as keeping your job. If they request but do not require you to do so, then you may refuse the overtime.
 
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We are not allowed overtime. They want us to be out the door by 7 if at all possible ( I work 12 hour shifts 7-7). And thank you! I kept beating up my mind thinking I could have gone back after I clocked out to finish my charting.
 
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This is not a sin, my sister. Your vocation is to serve your brothers and sisters through nursing. Their service comes first, then the administration which complements your work. If you must put off that administration for your own health (physical, emotional, and psychological) and go home at the end of your shift, then do so.

As a nurse, you know the toll overwork can take on the body. Take care of yourself so you can take care of others.

I you weren’t tired at the end of your shift and could have easily finished the charts, then maybe it would have been a venial sin at most, but you had been working hard all day and needed a break.

God Bless, Br. Ben, CRM
 
I have a different view and I don’t want to trigger OCD but if failure to chart could lead to misdiagnosis or delayed treatment I think it would be sinful. Not being a medical professional and not familiar with the case even if I was I can’t say if that was the case.

You definitely should chart as you go.
 
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