Spiritual Healing in a Diverse Health Care Setting - Essay Example

?Spiritual Healing in a Diverse Health Care Setting Introduction Spiritual healing may be seen as ive in a very diverse setting including the health care environment. The differences in beliefs and practices of many people thrown together in one area or location have produced various results including indifference, non-participatory attitude even where one is required, and other negative attitudes. This usually leads to a less friendly, pragmatic environment. However, health care providers are expected to care for their patients and be especially sensitive to their families within the setting. It is therefore expected of them to go beyond methodical provision of caring, including spiritual practices. This paper will try to explore through an interview of three nurses with different religious sects in order to understand differences and similarities in spiritual healing practices, as well as how to incorporate them despite the diversity of religious beliefs in the health care setting. (1) What is your spiritual perspective on healing? In an interview with a Sikh nurse, she shared that their soul unites with their god. They believe in reincarnation so that healing is not limited to the physical aspect, but more importantly, spiritual healing of which a dead body will reincarnate into a greater being once they have overcome the obstacles of lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego. They believe in meditating on the Waheguru or holy name, that they must be diligent and honest in their work, and share the fruit if their labor based on the principles of truth, equality, karma, freedom and justice. For the Buddhist nurse, spiritual healing meant a refuge in the triple gem of the Buddha or enlightened one, the teachings or Dharma, and the community or Sangha. They practice meditation and mindful of others and their environment through cultivation of higher wisdom and understanding. They also invoke their buddhas and bodhisatvas to achieve healing. The Shinto nurse I interviewed said they also believe in spirits they call as “kami” of which Shinto also is known as “kami-no-michi”. The spirit and the body are one although even inanimate objects are believed to be inhabited by kami. In achieving spiritual healing, the Shinto practice purification ceremonies called harae or harai, divination, shamanic or third-party healing, and the spirit possession. These are influenced by Buddhism and Taoism or Confucianism traditions. (2) What are the critical components of healing, such as prayer, meditation, belief, etc? For the Sikh and Buddhist, meditation is a vital part of their spiritualism, while the Shinto offer prayers, food, or others in their purification ceremonies. In addition, it is part of the Sikh and Buddhist’s spiritual life to maintain harmonious relationship with their fellow beings and their environs. The Shinto on the other hand use ema of which to write their wishes then left at shrine grounds, believe in talisman or ofuda, and the amulet omamori for better health. (3) What is important to people of a particular faith when cared for by health care providers whose spiritual beliefs differ from their own? The hospital and clinic settings have evolved as such that of cosmopolitan structures where various cultures merge. For patients and health care providers, diversity has been accepted if not continuously being promoted. Religious differences are respected but due to the high possibility of difference between the care provider and the patient, spiritual activity is hardly discussed or encouraged by care providers (McLaren, 2004). It is a given that majority of care providers may be Christians who believe in praying to their God for spiritual and physical healing. This may pose a difficulty for non-Christian believing patients, and therefore, a lack of spiritual assistance may occur. However, as mentioned earlier, diversity calls for respect and acceptance of other faiths, beliefs, culture and tradition of fellow humans in daily encounters such as in a hospital setting. This is most important for minority patients or believers, and they are empowered to complain when disrespect may be observed (Levin, 2002). As noted by (Readings: Spiritual Diversity), care providers have become reluctant to provide spiritual care fearing offence on the patient. This is a general observation that adhered to by many care providers due to the sensitivity of the issue. A good intention may not always be viewed as such especially where differences may be emphasized by the patient and their families within the health care setting. (4) How do patients view health care providers who are able to let go of their own beliefs in the interest of the beliefs and practices of the patient? Compare these beliefs to the Christian philosophy of faith and healing. Just like regular human beings, non-Christian patients may be offended and outraged for any breach or show of disrespect to their own practices, and they, too, esteem their health care providers who show respect for their practices. There are similar components of all religions and that is respect for life, the living, and even the dead. Deviation from these practices may also be common among various beliefs. As for healing, one prevalent difference may be noted not on religious beliefs but on Western and Eastern (Orientals) beliefs such that there is higher acceptance for spiritual healing and even death for Easterners or Orientals when compared to their Western counterparts. This may also be associated to their (Orientals) more submissive nature. In addition, pragmatism to some degree may also be noted so that near death or death experiences are seen by other care providers as normal due to the regular occurrence in their workplace. As Dossey (1993) suggested, medical professionals do not understand the relationship between prayer and healing. This, however, should not deter the health care provider to excluded spiritual healing in their practice as to do so was seen by Dossey as naive and reckless (p 200). For patients who may place high value of the spiritual life, attitudes of care providers may be offensive. It is therefore important to show sympathy or sensitivity on the part of care providers towards their patient and their family at these periods of time. v) In your conclusion, describe what you have learned from these interviews and how this learning can be applied to a health care provider practice. In the health care setting, every provider is required to adhere to a lot of ethical standards that may be of less importance in other work or business environments (Jackson, 2004). These include respect and at the same time sensitivity not only to the physical but also spiritual needs if not respect for patients and their families. Diversity is fast becoming a basic characteristic of many health care environments and it is highly probable that care providers and their patients will vary in beliefs and practices. This includes spiritual healing practices. While the health care setting has been closely associated with either western or Christian orientation, acceptance and respect of other beliefs and practices should be a necessity. In addition, general acceptable practices of non-sectarian forms of meditation or silence, prayer, and invocation of spiritual healing should be considered by health care providers when a need arises. As suggested (Spiritual Diversity), there are many opportunities in the health care setting that providers may provide spiritual healing support to their patients and it needs discernment and sensitivity as well as a high degree of non-sectarian attitude to employ it. Conclusion Health care provision should not be limited to the accomplishment of methodical procedures expected from the providers. In addition, care providers should exhibit a high degree of understanding, respect, and sensitivity to the spiritual needs of their patients especially where healing is concerned. While many health care environments already adhere to a pragmatic system of care and healing where spiritual concerns may have no place at all, the same cannot be required of care providers. Thus, they are expected a high degree of compassion and participation in the process of spiritual healing for their patients. This will dissipate the indifference and cold perception of hospitals or other care facilities where life and death are seen as hard facts when it is not for their patients who adhere in beliefs of afterlife and presence of spiritual self or beings. Reference: 1. (Spiritual Diversity) – source you provided Dossey, L. (1993). Healing words: The power of prayer and the practice of medicine. San Francisco: HarperCollins. Grant, D. (2004). Spiritual interventions: How, when, and why nurses use them. Holistic Nursing Practice, 18(1), January/February, 36-41. Jackson, C. (2004). Healing ourselves, healing others: First in a series. Holistic Nursing Practice, 18(2), March/April, 67-81. Levin, J.S. (2002). Religion and health: Is there an association, is it valid, and is it causal? Social Science & Medicine 38, Issue 11, June 1994, Pages 1475-1482 MacLaren, J. (2004). Issues and innovations in nursing practice: A kaleidoscope of understandings: Spiritual nursing in a multi-faith society. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 45(5), 457-462 Read More