Leadership

Running Head : HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND SPIRITUALITY Health Care Provider and Faith Diversity Animol Aphrem HLT310 V-Foundations of Spirituality in Health Care Grand Canyon University March 24, 2013 Patients are coming from different countries, religions and cultures. A professional nurse should know the spiritual and religious practices of each patient and family who come in the hospital. In the time of crisis situation regarding religious needs it is very important to know about the different practices of religions. It is very important to fulfill patient’s religious belief, it may positively affect the outcome of illness and patient can manage their hospital stay easier. As a health care provider we should keep in mind that not to impose our belief to patients mind as well as not to under estimate their beliefs. Nurses should respect the religion and belief of patient which can honor and promote the dignity of the patient. Nobody can say that belief should be considered right or wrong. Instead, the professional nurse can conduct a spiritual assessment to a sacred conversation which provide the patent with valuable information for good care. This paper examines difference in spirituality between Buddhist, Sikh and Shintoism in comparison with treatment, healing and illness in hospitalized patients. America itself is the only “westernized” country without any universal healthcare, along with Africa (exception of South Africa) India, the Philippians and others. While many argue that America is in need of a health care system, many of its recipients (not all) are unemployed and blew their chances at school. But also many are poor and can’t afford necessary health care especially in our current economy. It is essential for those who cannot take care of themselves to receive the proper care to maintain a healthy and happy life. Health care is a legitimate function of our government. It is very important do a comprehensive spiritual assessment of every patient which enhances the dignity and self-worth of each patient. Individual beliefs and views on spirituality and religion are born out of each human being’s unique life experience(Maurer & Smith, 2009) During the spiritual assessment, nurse might ask about to whom or what give the patient strength and hope. Also nurse might ask the religious belief supportive in manage their illness. I examined the religious practices of patient believing in Buddhism named Kaisan. According to Kaisan they have five rules to live that is do not kill human or animal, do not steal, no infidelity, no lying and do not drink alcohol. He believes that health is the most important wealth. Inner healing is necessary to overcome with any king illness. He told that he view his body as a temple and no impurities enter his temple (Kaisan, Personal Communication,2013). I asked about the critical components of healing, prayer and meditation. Kaisan replied tht he doesn’t believe in God. He States that inequality is not only to heredity, environment, "nature and nurture", but also to Karma. In other words, it is the result of our own past actions and our own present doings. We ourselves are responsible for our own happiness and misery. We create our own Heaven. We create our own Hell. We are the architects of our own fate. Meditation is very important for him and he learned from the experiences and teachings of Buddha. Kaisan said that Buddhist treat others with patience compassion and living kindness. Buddhist keep their mind clear, calm state of mind and avoid distractions from the world in order to attain fulfillment of spiritual needs. (Buddhism beliefs, 2008). Their voyage includes sequential rebirths in to a human life until they reach nirvana or enlightenment. Christians believe in one God who is the father son and spirit, that is trinity. Both these religions values prayer and respect the outcomes and treatment of modern medicine. Both religion teaches do good things to others and help each other. My second patient was Arjit Kaur, she is believing Sikh religion. According to Arjit their religion taught that meditation on god is the best medicine to cure many illnesses and God has to healing power to heal the diseases. Illnesses and pain will be dismissed by meditation. She states that serving and helping to others make physical and mental wellbeing of helpers. They are very compassionate to others even strangers. In order to maintain health they do exercises and help others which improve not only the health of the individual but also the health of the entire society. They practice altruism which is very healthy for body and soul those who practice it. Now a days it is proved that altruism is beneficial those who practice and those who being helped. Individuals those who start with altruism may feel pleasure in their mind and well- being. People believe that the inner pleasure help to cure diseases. ( Sikh beliefs 2008) Diseases like cancer heart diseases, degenerative diseases arthritis and diabetes depression and psychosis were healed with altruism. While comparing with Sikh religion and Christian religion both teaches prayer is helpful to cure illness. Shintoism is the world’s oldest religions seen in Japan. Shintoism is not popular in other countries and teaches that no other land better than Japan and they think that it is a divine land. Japanese love their land aggressively. Japanese believe that Japan is God’s country and the people of the country are God’s descendants. People in the Japan believe many gods and have altar in the home .Worship also happens in homes and at work through simple offerings of rice and tea and prayers. The rice and tea is placed on a special shelf called a "godshelf" . Prayers are often addressed to the family ancestors. Shinto religion is completely opposite to Christian religion. Because bible teaches only one god but shintoists have many gods and goddesses. Also scripture shows that Shinto religion fosters the kind of arrogance and superiority feeling in the Japanese people.( Shintoism,2012) Shintoist teaches that the kami might commune with those who have made themselves worthy through ritual purification. Kami (gods of Japan) bring happiness peace and fulfill spiritual needs of people in Japan. Shintoists believe that they can worship kami spiritually only in the nature so that shintoist build their temples in the rock forests mountains and streams. The Shinto shrines are temples surrounded by rocks or mountains, streams and forests growing wild, because the Shintoists believe that they can spiritually connect with kami only in the middle of nature. During the spiritual assessment nurse should identify if patient needs pastoral care. Pastoral care and other resources available in health care setting. Nurse should access these resources to help patient to promote their spiritual needs in the hospital setting. The author of this paper is the true believer of orthodox Christian faith. There are many Christian groups of believers like Catholics, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelists and all of these Christian groups using bible. They are giving different meanings to same bible words. This author got valuable knowledge about these three religions. All of these religion teaches pray to the god and receive healing of the physical and spiritual well-being. This author believes that God give her opportunity to take care for the sick and needy people and God provided her ability to love all her patients and pray for them and help them for their difficult situations Reference Buddhism Beliefs (2008). Retrieved on March 22, 2013 from http://buddhismbelief.org Kaisan, A ( March 2013) Personal communication Kaur, Arjit (March 22, 2013) Personal communication Sikhism origin Sikhism history Sikhism belief(2008), Religion Library : Sikhism http://www.patheos.com/Library/Sikhism. Smith, Maurer and. Community/Public Health Nursing Practice: Health for Families and Populations, 4th Edition. W.B. Saunders Company. . What is Shintoism(2012) retrieved on March 22, 2013 from http://www.gotquestions.org/Shintoism.html