One can imagine that when most individuals think about the medical field what comes to mind is only doctors and nurses; however, the medical field is more complex. It consists of people caring for the patients physically day to day and the ones working behind the scenes. A particular medical profession that most may not be aware of is chaplaincy. This profession, like all in the medical field, requires much heart, passion and personal connection when serving and caring for the patient. At Boston Medical Center, located in Boston’s historic south end, excellent health care was provided to a patient diagnosed with Systemic Lupus. Systemic Lupus is an autoimmune disease that attacks the cells and tissues of the body. With the help of Reverend Le Sette Wright, a licensed chaplain and the patient’s health care team, the patient was able to feel comfortable throughout her visit at BMC.
The Oxford Dictionary defines a chaplain as “a member of the clergy attached to a private chapel, institution, ship, branch of the armed forces, etc...” More specific to this essay, a chaplain in a hospital would advocate for the patient’s needs and wants, provide any of the small needs for the patient and assist the nurse in small tasks. A chaplain can also, upon request of the patient, pray with them, talk to them about faith and provide any faith-related items, such as The Bible. Chaplains are very careful not to overstep any health professional because they are there for support, not as a burden. Although, the hospital is there for the care of patients, chaplains are there for everyone. Health professionals are taught to separate their emotions from their profession and one may ask how can nurses, doctors or anyone hide their emotions when they are ...
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...stitution. Chaplaincy taught one the importance of caring for the patient as a whole; mind, body, and soul. This can help improve the overall care that any health provider gives and can help prevent further admission to the hospital with the same condition. It is also important to promote good health to patients, and as well to ourselves. One can get caught up in giving quality healthy living tips to patients, but as care providers, using our knowledge on health can also improve our own health and living habits.
Works Cited
Daniel F., Bruno L., Santiago H., Ernesto R., & Veronica S., (2011, May 20), Reduction in hospital admissions for acute coronary syndrome after the successful implementation of 100% smoke-free legislation in Argentina: a comparison with partial smoking restrictions. Retrieved from http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/21/4/402.abstract#aff-1
Chaplain Assistants were not recognized for all they did until World War II. During that time an official report said, “Tribute should be paid to chaplain assistants without whose energy the Chaplains could not have carried on. In addition to their regular duties they were carpenters, common stone masons, landscape engineers, etc. The good humor and patience of a Chaplain's Assistant were often a boon to the Chaplain's morale” ("World War II and its Aftermath", 2016). As a result, Chaplain Assistants play a vital role in completing the mission of the Unit Missionary Team (UMT) in the Army. The Army accomplishes this by utilizing them in the following ways: to support the religious mission of the Commander, to assist and protect the Chaplain
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.
Jude 1:22 says, “And of some have compassion, making a difference.” The service of nursing is an outlet for nurses that enables them to demonstrate the same compassion that Jesus showed to others during his ministry on the earth. The act of nursing is much more than a profession, it is a daily opportunity to instill hope and share Christ’s love with those who are suffering. Sister Callista Roy theorizes that nursing is a service that aids patients in adapting to alterations in their self-concept, role function, psychological needs, and interdependent functions (McEwen and Wills 2011, 172). She believes that fostering positive responses to diverse stimuli helps improve a patient’s quality of life and health (Alligood and Tomey 2010, 338). A nurse’s positive, cheerful attitude and kind spirit can promote patient
Caring in the field of nursing is a very important aspect. The nurse should always care for their patient on a personal level. I have no nursing experience at all, so I can not say that I have actual experience caring for a person in a hospital. On the other hand, I have been involved in many instances where I had to stick out a helping hand.
I am grateful to be at an institution of higher learning that understands and respects faith. My philosophy of nursing cannot be explained without God and Jesus. They are a part of each one of us. The reason that someone goes into a healthcare professional is usually to favorably treat a patient’s health. Spirituality of mind and body cannot be separated completely in my nursing philosophy. In this vein, nursing cannot be wholly separated from faith.
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.
“A healing hospital is built on the ancient tradition that love is at the center of healing. Within that framework, the Golden Thread – a symbol of our faith in God – requires that we strike a balance between the latest scientific advancements and the demands of the human spirit. As healthcare providers, we are called upon to tend to our patient’s heart and head. For a hospital to truly be healing, the Golden Thread must be continuous. As both healers and patients, it is the Golden Thread that connects us all” (Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, n.d.).
This is important because it starts the chaplains loss of faith as people around him do not understand faith or religion and are using it for the wrong reasons
The definition of a Nurse according to Webster’s dictionary (2015) is, “a person trained to care for the sick or infirm, especially in the hospital”. Nurses come in different degrees and experience. The most common nurses seen in nursing homes, hospitals, and medical offices are Certified Nurse Assistants, Registered Nurses, and a Nurse Anesthesias. In this field, nurses deal with every type of patient that comes through the hospital or office doors. These are the people patients talk to and see the most considering the doctor is either careless, occupied, or sleeping. Nurses can have several to little responsibilities depending on their personality and where they work. Either way, nurses have a big job: taking care of people’s loved ones.
The results of this study are consistent with the overall literature’s findings (Gallet, 2004; Meirer & Licari, 1997) that states with smoking bans have a decrease in cigarette sales. However, caution is warranted in the true reliability of the data presented in this study, because of the nature of the data.
What is a chaplain? Traditionally a chaplain has been somebody religious who is given responsibility for a particular group, usually outside the church. Such groups could be: hospital chaplains, military chaplains, prison chaplains or school chaplains. How you define “chaplain” depends on where that chaplain is. Today, chaplaincy is a specialized ministry done by ordinary people, male or female. They are trained to offer care and support - personally, emotionally, physically, relationally and spiritually. They are there to listen and to provide a safe environment for people to share their feelings. They also help people work through life's issues and assist in times of crisis and difficulty. Put simply, wherever there is a need for care and support; there the chaplain needs to be. The purpose of this paper is to define what it means to be a chaplain and what is involved in being one.
Doctors, nurses and other providers are challenged on a daily basis in an attempt to consider and assimilate their patient’s different religious backgrounds and beliefs. The recent trends and strong indications of religious vitality and diversity present a pressing need to recognize various faith traditions in healthcare ethics (Reimer-Kirkham, Grypma, & Terblanche, 2013). Christianity and Buddhism, two of the most widely practiced religions today, bring their own viewpoints concerning healthcare. These religious beliefs may have similar ideas with regards to illness and healing. However, the differences in health practices and the approach to achieving optimal
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.
In today’s health care, the primary focus is not just helping the patient get better or curing diseases; many health care organizations are starting to recognize the benefits and importance of providing patients a healing type of environment. A healing physical environment is one that provides patients’ safety and comfort. It also reminds the health care staff why they chose health care as their career (Eberst, 2008). A healing hospital is a healing culture that respects people’s traditions and values. A healing environment is comprised of providing patients’ a loving, safe, comfortable and compassionate environment that promotes healing. As stated by Laura Eberst, “True healing environments are constructed in ways that help patients and their families cope of the stresses of illness.”
Cigarette smoking has been identified as the most important source of preventable morbidity and premature mortality worldwide. Smoking-related diseases claim an estimated 440,000 American lives each year, including those affected indirectly, such as babies born prematurely due to prenatal maternal smoking and victims of "secondhand" exposure to tobacco's carcinogens. Smoking costs the United States over $150 billion each year in health-care costs including $81.9 billion in mortality-related productivity loses and $75.5 billion in excess medical expenditures.