Introduction
Religious preferences, beliefs, and practices are all things that will likely be encountered, regardless of one’s line of work. Religion affiliation for some is a passive association carrying less weight in their day-to-day living but for others it is a very real and integral part of their lives; shaping how they handle situations, personal preferences, and attitudes about health care. Educating healthcare providers about various religions not only allows them to be more culturally competent in their respective fields but also will help guide them in practical implications for health care about the needs of those they serve.1
As modern medicine continues to advance, health care no longer takes a dualistic approach and tends to focus more on the physical dysfunction. Some studies suggest that spirituality should be considered a vital sign that should be assessed during a patient's treatment. Previous research shows that patients who receive religious services during their medical stay have decreased perceptions of pain and a higher rating of their received clinical care.2 In today’s world of health care some basic knowledge about religions might be helpful in understanding and accommodating our patients’ needs.1
Below are main ideas of popular religious groups and their interaction with healthcare providers. These religions are identified as some of the top faith groups in the United States.3
Christianity
Christianity is the largest religious group in the world making up about 33% of the world’s population. In the United States, 88% of the population identifies themselves as Christians. This religious group is made up many subgroups that all widely vary in their beliefs, worship, religious rules and practices....
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...nt that can result in a better clinician-patient relationship and increased quality of life outcomes.2
Whether a person is religious, non-religious, or somewhere in the middle, many people do not fully understand the complexity of religion. Religion has various meanings depending on the individual. There is no clear-cut, commonly accepted definition of religion and spirituality which contributes to the complexity and lack of understanding. It is important to increase understanding but to remember that a religious affiliation does not stereotype the patient and their health care needs. It is not a one-way street in which health care institutions and workers need to dedicate learning about religions, spirituality, and religious communities. Religious communities also need to make an effort to bridge the gap in understanding formal health care and it’s policies.1
It is estimated that around a dozen U.S. children will die in faith-healing cases each year. Typically associated with Christianity, Faith healing is founded on the belief that certain people or places have the ability to cure and heal sickness, disease, or injuries. Typically this “healing” is associated by a close connection to a higher power through prayer, divine intervention, or the ministration of an individual who claims himself as a healer. Faith has been scientifically proven in the field psychology to yield benefits to health. Although faith has promised a greater wellbeing for many individual’s lives, it has yet to be a significant replacement for medication many people but relaying on faith as a means for medication.
... linked to Buddhism alone; any religion in which an empathetic bond is created between doctor and patient will work. I selected Buddhism its ambiguity in its concerns with a god, allowing the doctor to be more open towards any religion. Open-mindedness is need on the patient’s behalf as well. If a patient does not believe in the treatment provided it is doomed to fail. I recently spoke to a co-worker about the benefits of practicing meditation and a better diet, in addition to her medicine, her response was typical of the attitude of most people: “It seems too far ‘out-there’ to me.” A solution to this could be education via traditional and social media, as the average patient might not be willing to educate themselves in a classroom environment. In conclusion, education and open-mindedness for all parties involved will help create a new more cohesive patient care.
...cept and making provision for the process for these faith is significant to customer survives within the health care industry and for the healthcare system own spiritual growth. We are merging holistic treatment so it is only fair that we acknowledge and accommodate all religions. The health care provider can gently probe into our patient religions only to gather data for better provision of care and to document such responses for future use. Recently American has been pressured about not been the world favorite but yet people of diverse culture seek medical care from us. These opportunities give us a chance to show our true color. These patients always become overwhelmed by our caring culture and personalized it. This may be their own private and personal experiences but this a real picture of our healthcare system always striving to improve our customer services.
According to Stanhope (2012), Faith communities have one of the oldest and strongest partnerships between communities and religious or faith communities. This background makes the faith communities a strong force in upholding the well-aligned values between the Healthy People 2020 indicators and faith communities. Moreover, the current social and economic disparities make it extremely evident that working together with common objectives is necessary. Health ministries from faith based communities can incorporate a number of Healthy People 2020 goals in their framework.
Easton, John. “Survey on Physicians’ Religious Beliefs Shows Majority Faithful.” The University of Chronicle Chicago. UChicago.edu, 14 July 2005. Web. 22 March 2014.
This paper will discuss three different religions that a health care provider may care for in the nursing field. It will discuss the spiritual perspective, as well as the critical components of healing, such as through prayer and meditation. The writer will give a brief summary of each religions belief. The three religions that will be discussed in this paper are Native American, Hinduism, and Buddhism. This paper will discuss what is important to people who are cared for of a particular faith by the health care provider who may have an entirely different belief system. The writer will discuss how a patient may view a health care provider who puts aside his or her own beliefs in the interest of the beliefs and practices of the patient that is being cared for. The writer of this paper is of Christian belief and will compare her beliefs of faith and healing with the three previously mentioned religions.
Most of the people in all the countries of the world belong to a certain religion. For example, in Australia 77.7% of people follow a certain religious tradition ("Religion", 2017). Therefore, as a healthcare worker, I need not only to know the implication of my personal religious beliefs but also that of the patients. Since, I do not believe in a formal religion, most of the people I encounter have a system of beliefs that is contradictory for me. Even though I do not believe in God, I ascribe value to spirituality. Due to cultural awareness and competence, I have developed certain religious values. I acknowledge the importance of religion and religious education imparted to me and others as it teaches good moral values, including respect for others. Most of the religions also inculcate compassion for the fellow human beings. Therefore, I appreciate the role of religion and always try to respect the people belonging to any religion. I believe that everyone is free to choose any religion, and his or her choice should not be a basis of discrimination and disregard for others. These beliefs and values would help me understand the religious beliefs of others while offering healthcare to them. For example, I can take into consideration the values of the patients of other religious denominations, their gender sensitivity, modesty, and diets. If I were not culturally aware and competent, I would impose
Meeting the needs and what is best for the patient which is the outcome of the care, building
The career of nursing has countless aspects that are imperative for the effectiveness and overall satisfaction of care for the average person. These aspects include physical care, mental health care, and spiritual care. The aspect of spiritual care includes the nurse assessing her clients’ spiritual health and creating a plan for complete treatment. Spirituality may be a specific object or person the client connects with, so nurses must be aware of each client’s spiritual preference. The United States has a vast diversity of people where every client the nurse encounters will value something completely different. More religious people might value a cross or a bible in their room. Some might want their family to frequently visit. Others might prefer a certain type of music playing at a certain time of the day. With violent protests, mass shootings, and threat of war looming over the Unites States’ head every day, spiritual care is going to be on a major upsurge in the health career fields.
I find comfort and security in knowing that love and forgiveness, regardless of my mistakes, is never withheld. Not believing in something greater than myself soon leaves me in the darkness and despair of the unknown and I feel like the meaning and purpose of my life is robbed from me. My religion also impacts my nursing practice. I have faith that God hears our cries and prayers. I believe that he does answer them, although it may not always be in the way that we want, expect or understand. If a patient of mine is struggling I can turn to God for assistance in caring for one of his children. If they happen to disclose their beliefs and are open to talking about them, I can walk beside them on their journey with life and death. An individual’s beliefs, culture and diversity impact actions and behaviours in the workplace (Harris,
As a human services professional I might not be able to share my own religious beliefs directly with clients. However, this does not mean that my religious beliefs cannot be brought into the workplace. Truly, I will be using my religious beliefs on a daily basis when working with clients. I can do this because my beliefs are part of who I am and how I treat others. My beliefs allow me to have a greater understanding of the need for compassion for all
In healthcare organizations, medical staff must conform to their hospital and their country’s code of conduct. Not only do they have to meet set standards, they must also take their patient into consideration. When making a decision upon a patient, medical staff must recognize religious backgrounds and spiritual beliefs. By understanding a patients’ beliefs and their belief system, a medical worker can give the patient their deserved medical assistance without overstepping boundaries or coming off as offensive. The practices and beliefs of four religions will be articulated throughout this essay to fully understand how religion can either help or hinder the healing process.
An individual’s culture and belief may significantly impact the type of services they require. In addition, it may affect the time, place, and method in the delivery of health care
Religion is a significant aspect of culture that must be understood and respected. Through understanding the differences in peoples cultures, a nurse who is tending to a patient who’s beliefs differ from his or her own can appropriately adjust care to respect the patient’s beliefs and
Over the past few years there has been growing interest about the success and value of faith-based organizations (FBOs) in term of delivering healthcare services to the public. As with any healthcare system there are always pros and cons, however faith-based hospitals seem to offer more than that of secular organizations, especially in terms of providing individualized patient care to the underprivileged and giving back to the community. Before looking at their contributions to our American Healthcare System, it is imperative to first comprehend the differentiation between faith-based and secular organizations, specifically looking at organizations such as Hospital Corporation of America (secular), SCL Health (faith-based), and OhioHealth (faith-based).