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
In the southeast region of the United States (US), at a local church is the location to address the practice problem identified in this design-only DNP proposal development, because the church lacks a FCN, who can provide healthcare services to the church senior’s citizen center. Van Dover and Pfeiffer (2011) explains there is an urgent need for a FCN, who can play an integral role by linking faith and health. For example, the ANA and HMA (2012) acknowledged that FCNs promote, and optimize health and abilities, aid in the prevention of injury and illness, and help parishioners in suffering (American Nurses Association & Health Ministries Association, 2012). FCN in this context can enhance better health practices and values of a faith community
Weaver, Andrew J. and Kevin J. Flannelly. “The Role of Religion/Spirituality for Cancer Patients and Their Caregivers.” Southern Medical Journal 97 (December 2004): pp. 97-98. 1210-1214. Spiegel, David. The 'Standard'.
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,
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.
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
The sound of Sunday morning hymns faded into the background as I walked out of the doors of Saint Agatha-Saint James Church and headed toward the rectory. I found Father Jim McGuinn, the local priest and pastor of University City, waiting in his office, just as he promised he would be after mass. He greeted me with his usual warmth, and we sat down to begin the interview. I began with an open-ended question: “In what ways do you, as a priest, see yourself as a healer in our community?” I watched him process the question for a few moments, very carefully contriving his wording so as to not misrepresent the Catholic Church. Over the course of the next hour he would give me his answer. This answer would lead me to view the role of faith-based healing in a much larger context than I ever previously had.
Therefore, it is virtually impossible to deliver effective and comprehensive healthcare without clear communication between the patient and practitioners. It is a necessity to understand that there are countless cultures across the globe, and no matter how underrepresented, morally, all are entitled to the right to practice their own beliefs unimpeded as long as they do not threaten or inhibit other’s rights to practice.
Throughout history, it seems that medicine and spirituality have been linked in many circumstances. In a study looking at the use of complementary and alternative therapies in cardiac patients, spiritual healing was one of many practices patient sought to utilize. In another study, 29% of participants chose to use prayer or premeditation as a way to cope with their chronic illness. In both studies, prayer or meditation was more likely to be used by individuals who had a large social network, as well as support from another person in the same health situation. Based on these studies, it seems that many individuals (not just cardiovascular patients) turn to their spirituality in times of health distress.
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.
Are the bonds created through religion enough to help one overcome poor social health? All superficial controversy aside, it is very important for individuals to recognize the impact that the practice of religion has upon the majority of the human populous. It is clear that religion is a leading contributor towards to the social health of many people. Religion tackles many issues of poor social health by bringing people together and giving them a common mindset. Three major things that have a large impact on society are the ceremonies, purpose seeking, and comfort that is provided in communities throughout many different religious groups. There is much to learn from religion and why it still stands strong
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
These practices vary between the many branches: Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodox churches, the Anglican communion and the tens of thousands of Protestant faith groups. Thousands of groups of protestants are divided into Liberal and Conservative wings. Christianity is the religion of 33% of the population, making it the largest religion in the world. Christianity is growing at a rate of 2.3% increase each year. " (Consultants)
There is evidence suggesting that attention to one’s spirituality influences the ability to cope with illness, help in the prevention of illn...
Christianity is the world’s most prominent religion, with more than six billion people practicing worldwide. Although Christianity has come to dominate the world of religion, it began as a small and mysterious cult in Ancient Rome. Small, and poorly understood, Christianity soon became an enemy of Rome, marked with persecution, martyrdom, and murder. By the end of the third century CE, tens of thousands of Christians had been arrested and killed for their beliefs.
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).