The world is full of diversity. You can find this diversity in nature, along with people their cultures and belief systems. The following paper will describe three of these belief systems in order to familiarize the reader with a small example of how a belief system shapes their response to healthcare. The three religions that will be covered will be Baha'i Faith, Islam, and Buddhism.
In the Bahá'í faith they believe in an universal consciousness, teaching that there is only one God, that there is only one human race, and that all the world’s religions represent stages in the revelation of God’s will and purpose for humanity. Their religious leader has said “the time has arrived for the uniting of all peoples into a peaceful and integrated global society. “The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens” (The Bahá’í Faith: The International Website of the Bahá’ís of the World, n.d.). To this end they believe in healing thru the power of spiritual healing along with the process of physical healing. This system is usually comprised of a mixture of exercise, meditation, proper nutrition, prayer and visualization. Along with this is the use of physical medicine such as medications, diagnostic imagining, and acupuncture. They believe that there are “Three Tools of Healing – Medical Intervention, Prayer, and Joy and Laughter.” Because these three tools are also in the tool box of most care providers there is a symbiotic relationship between those that follow the Bahá'í faith and those that are in the medical field. So the question of what is important to people of a particular faith when cared for by health care providers whose spiritual beliefs differ from their own? Is best answered with they also believe that anyone that is...
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...of who we are. It is very important to clarify practices with our patients in order to increase the comfort and peace of minds of our patients and their families so they may have an easier time with the process of healing.
Works Cited
Islam USA (n.d.). Information for Health Care Providers when dealing with a Muslim Patient. Retrieved May 2, 2011, from http://www.islam-usa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=115:information-for-health-care-providers-when-dealing-with-a-muslim-patient&catid=60:articles&Itemid=145
The Bahá’í Faith: The International Website of the Bahá’ís of the World (n.d.). Let your vision be world embracing. Retrieved May 1, 2011, from http://www.bahai.org/
UrbanDharma.org (2004). Buddhist Beliefs and Practices Affecting Health Care - Chaplaincy Services. Retrieved May 2, 2011, from ttp://www.urbandharma.org/udharma8/health.html
The understanding of health and the process of healing in regard to the religious belief of individuals goes beyond the realm of spirituality (Suzanne, 2008). Health is believed by every religion as the most important value at which insights can be created, and as well a practical means at which the health of individuals can be promoted. The secular perspective of religion is considered a contributing factor which broadens the unique religious contribution and individual’s concern to spiritual dimensions. However, the essay to be discussed is on the issue of the spiritual perspective of individuals from different religious faith, and our main religious focus will be on the Buddhist religion, Sikh religion and the Baha’i religious faith. Elaborations will also be made on the practices that hasten healing practice on each of these faiths and the role of healthcare providers in the provision of care to these patients.
...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.
A hospital needs to first care for their patients as well as their employees (Eberst, 2008). If employees are mistreated this will not promote quality of care for patients. They need to promote a trustworthy environment where patients can be comfortable and trust their physicians and doctors. It also is essential to allow patients to sleep (Eberst, 2008). This environment also promotes and encourages the patients to regain their health which includes spiritual and religious beliefs. This component of the healing hospital aligns well with spirituality because a healing hospital considers the spirit or soul as part of the healing environment. Every person has a spiritual part of them because they are made in the image of God (Shelley, 2006). A healing hospital takes this into
Cultural competence as a concept is broad and inclusive of areas that go beyond race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and belief system. An approach to the care of patients should also take into account the values that the patient wishes to adhere to when receiving care. Being culturally competent extends to respecting religious traditions, family hierarchy, personal space, and end-of-life matters. Attempts at cultural brokerage can be made to educate patients while being cognizant that our model of care and interventions do not supersede the patient’s cultural values. (Dreachslin, Gilbert, & Malone,
J., Puchalski, C. M., & Peteet, J. R. (2014). The relationship between medicine, spirituality, and religion: three models for integration. Journal of Religion and Health, 53(5), 1586-1598. doi:10.1007/s10943-014-9901-8
Developing a sense of wholeness and having an established relationship with their creator, can assist the individual with maintaining stability during times of illness, stress, or when a cure is not possible. This can facilitate a source of healing within, which will promote the health of members in the faith based community. “To promote healing, the nurse builds on strengths to encourage the connecting and integrating of the inner spiritual” (Stanhope, Marcia, & Lancaster, 2012, p. 972). Connecting with the inner spiritual is an important aspect because it can assist the individual with making healthier lifestyle choices. By making healthier lifestyle choices, the individual will achieve their optimal health or wellness and this will be beneficial for the individual and faith based
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
Treating all patients with dignity, respect, and understanding to their cultural values and autonomy. Each patient comes with their own religious belief. With patient-centered care as health care providers, we have to have ways to work around a patient with different beliefs. Catering to their culture differences and needs is a must in order to fulfill their needs.
This book addresses one of the common characteristics, and challenges, of health care today: the need to achieve a working knowledge of as many cultures as possible in health care. The Hmong population of Merced, California addresses the collision between Western medicine and holistic healing traditions of the Hmong immigrants, which plays out a common dilemma in western medical centers: the need to integrate modern western medicinal remedies with aspects of cultural that are good for the well-being of the patient, and the belief of the patient’s ability to recuperate. What we see is a clash, or lack of integration in the example of the story thereof. Lia, a Hmong child with a rare form of epilepsy, must enter the western hospital instead of the Laotian forest. In the forest she would seek out herbs to remedy the problems that beset her, but in the west she is forced to enter the western medical hospital without access to those remedies, which provided not only physical but spiritual comfort to those members of the Hmong culture. The herbs that are supposed to fix her spirit in the forest are not available in the western hospital. The Merced County hospital system clashes with Hmong animist traditions.
Culturally congruent care has several components. The components of culturally congruent care include being caring, competent and culturally sensitive (Andrews & Boyle, 2012). Positive outcomes have been associated with competent and culturally sensitive care (Long, 2012). In this ethical dilemma, I could have been better prepared to advocate for alternative treatments had I been educated on Jehovah’s Witness. This would have let me be more caring to this patient, competent, and culturally sensitive.
...healing process of the patient. Healthcare professionals should frequently ask questions in order to fully understand if certain needs are to be met because of religious practices or beliefs. For example, a fresh bed sheet can be offered to a Muslim in order for a clean space for their daily prayers (pg. 21, Singh, 2009). Certain medical decisions can be difficult to finalize since religion must be taken into consideration. Healthcare providers will come into contact with people of different faiths, nationalities and cultures. All patients should be treated with the same amount of respect and acceptance in order for their medical needs to be fairly met.
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
Greenstreet W, 2006. Integrating Spirituality in Health And Social Care: Perspectives And Practical Approaches. 1 Edition. Radcliffe Publishing.
Testerman, J. K. (1997, June). Spirituality vs religion: Implications for healthcare. Retrieved May 22, 2011, from http://www.aiias.edu/ict/vol_19.19cc_283-297.pdf