Health Care Provider and Faith Diversity - Essay Example

Health Care Provider and Faith Diversity Nursing practice and healthcare service provision is an important profession thatcalls diverse culture and faith along different religious lines. Since there are several religions across the world, Baha’i, Buddhism and Sikhism were identified for this paper in comparison to Christianity. The paper addresses some of the basic spiritual aspects such as meditation, prayers, beliefs and rituals of religions. Besides, the paper addresses concern as to what a healthcare service provider should consider while taking care of a patient from a divergent religious belief. The most important element to point out is that every kind of faith is very critical in relations to spiritual perceptive and healing process especially when nursing caregiver is completely from a different faith. However, much has been linked to Christian philosophy and faith of healing. Introduction According to Kliewer & Saultz (2006), nursing and healthcare service is one of the most critical professions that call for a response of diversity from both cultural aspects and religious concepts of life. In the past, nursing care practices has made recommendable achievements in bridging the gap between religious practices and patients care in the healthcare industry. As such, there are concerns to carry out an evaluation on the importance of healthcare diversity because some religious faiths believe that healthcare practices interfere with their faith in God while others accept healthcare practices as an activity ordained by God to inspire positive health of the believers. As a healthcare provider, there is a need to assimilate healthcare diversity that embraces religious inclusion into the service centers because it would help to prevent the believers from feeling isolated. The above approach is quite important since it integrates well with faith and spiritual philosophy with long-term healthcare effects across denominations. A practical approach can best be illustrated through Baha’i, Buddhism and Sikhism amongst other religious denominations. The Baha’i religion The Baha’i religion forms the youngest faith of independent believers across the world. The above religion was founded by Prophet Baha’u’llah who has gained recognition by the believers as an anointed prophet of God. Baha’i religion respects humanity and a perception that all mankind is of one biological and spiritually unity. Baha’i teachings are streamlined towards morals and benevolent of the society. Besides, the religion denounces any act of slavery while encouraging equity of gender with only one wife in marriage. The most critical element with Bahia’s religion is the recognition that a true religion must embrace science and positive healthcare of both believers and non-believers (Kliewer & Saultz, 2006). Baha’i’s spiritual perspective of healing Kliewer & Saultz (2006) explains that the Baha’i believes in a dualistic approach of both health and healing in support of human life. In a supportive approach and doctrines of the church, Baha’i believers understand that healthcare practitioners are sent by God to offer healing services to patients. Due to the above reasons, the Baha’i religion embraces curative drugs and medicine as an integral element that relates both the spiritual condition and physical health of the believers. As such, believers are encouraged to adopt proper eating diet of good nutritional components. Perception of Healing, such as prayer, meditation, belief of Bahia’s religion According to Baha’i religion, God is the ultimate creator of everything and any object on the earth’s surface is as a result of his love and care to the earth. Moreover, the religion believes that nobody has ever seen God and that some of the prophets in the Christian prophesy such as Zipora did not resurrect. However, they uphold that only Jesus resurrected. Meanwhile, the religion believes that nobody should be convinced to join their religion and should only happen on an individual’s wilts. The religion believes that only God has got powers of healing. However, a sick person should check on a physician who would otherwise confer the healing process through Gods power. Baha’i believers’ carryout their prayers to God through their supreme mediation Beulah, but the religion is meant to transforms the souls of the believers (Kliewer & Saultz, 2006). Due to the utmost recognition of another religion by Baha’i believers, patients from such a religion does not have a problem while getting handled by medical practitioners from a different sect or religion. The Baha’i religion believes that only God has the ultimate powers to heal a patient, which also depends on an individual Saul and healthcare providers are only bestowed the authority to steer-head the activity. More similar to most of the global religions, Baha’i believes there is nothing wrong to when a patient is handled by healthcare personnel from other religions. Besides, a healthcare practitioner who accepts to let go off his beliefs at the interest of the patient shows a sign of concern to health and life of the patient. However, such kinds of beliefs are unique to some of the religions in the United States while Christians see it as a common practice because life is precious across different spiritual dynamics (Kliewer & Saultz, 2006). Buddhism religion Buddhism religion entails the spiritual recognition of Buddha as the holy God to be worshiped. Buddha in itself is recognized both as a divine spirit and a way of life for the believers. Buddhists believe in the resurrection of spiritual being after death where everybody takes on his responsibility throughout the course of judgment. Buddhism religion is characterized by the spirit of “Kama” that determines either a reward or a punishment should be awarded depending on the conduct of an individual back in his physical life (Craigie, 2010). Buddhism spiritual perspective of healing Despite the fact that the Buddhism was founded in India, the religion further spread into china and some of the areas such as Sri Lanka and Japan, but most of its healing logic was based on the Tibetans. Buddhism spiritual aspect is characterized by prescription of ethics and spiritual well being of the society towards wisdom and life compassion. It is associated by spirits that offer guidance against killing or careless engagement into sexual activity (Craigie, 2010). Through the great king of Buddha, the religion believes in a sentimental formula of healing that looks into the course of illness then treating chances of future occurrence. Conclusively, Buddha himself was a great physician who believed in the total well being of the society. Perception of Healing, such as prayer, meditation, belief of Buddhism’s religion Craigie (2010), explains that Buddhists believes in the existence of integrated factors with no individual self, but through five groups governed by interdependent casual relationships, the natural law and the doctrine of religion. Besides, the belief is governed by three distinct characteristics aimed at maintaining the conditions that may arise as a result of suffering based on negligence. The religion believes in the practice of prayers from the central part of the heart. Through eastern spiritual emphasis, Buddhism has got physical form of prayers for the believers who are meant to recite some form of creed to seek divine intervention. Ultimately, Buddhism for of mediation does not conform to a very strict practice. Just like Christians believes that they are spiritually covered by the blood of Jesus, Buddhists believe in Bhagavan Krishna. Religious believes determines the integration of diversity between healthcare providers and patients. Religious beliefs influence how a healthcare provider should administer services to a patient irrespective of their religious background. Patients view health care providers who can to put aside their religious interest and practices as non-religious aspects that are committed to at influencing anti-discriminatory and the total wellbeing of a patient. Moreover, such healthcare providers are perceived non-skeptical believers who respect the dignity of patients and life thus should consider a similar reward (Craigie, 2010). Sikhism religion The above type of religion was founded in India around in the late sixteenth century. Sikhism forms amongst the top ten religions globally. The above religion believes in the spiritual concept of a patient getting healed by having direct prayers to God. Faithful of the Sikhism religion believes in life as both spiritual and natural concepts recognized by God. However, they believe that a sick person should be taken for medication in hospitals where both the family members and relatives can join hands in prayers to facilitate the healing process. According to the doctrines of the above religion, prayer session is suppose to take place at least three times a day, but it can always be facilitated through singing and listening to spiritual songs that are aimed at encouraging the believers spiritually (Cobb, Puchalski & Rumbold, 2012). From the Sikh point of view, the main source of suffering for the believers is the trust on an individual ego that is believed to be the sole mediator between the person and the reality. The perception is completely distinct from the Christianity because according to Christians, all prayers are mediated through Jesus Christ, who is also spiritually believed to be the son of God. However, Sikh religious goal is the need for religious unity that endorses experience of unity across different religious believes (Cobb, Puchalski & Rumbold, 2012). Being traced to an Indian background the Sikh religion recognizes both western kinds of medication and alternative habitual therapies. However, the religion dismisses the incubation of grievances that exist when a patient is taken care of by a healthcare provider from an alternative religious background (Cobb, Puchalski & Rumbold, 2012). According to Sikhs religious belief, there is no wrong doing when a different believer takes care of a faithful patience because it simply shows concerns for life. Conclusion The paper has given clear illustrations how there are many differences between spiritual wellbeing and the health of an individual. It has been pointed out that most religious has got spiritual connection to modern healthcare givers who are believed to have the potential of treating patients under the influence of Gods power. Moreover, the paper has addressed concerns of individual faith in relation to a healthcare giver. Ultimately, it can be learnt that most religions have no problem when a faithful from a different religion steps in to take care of life of a patient as long as the engagement does not interfere with the religious belief of the sick. References: Cobb, M; Puchalski, M & Rumbold, D. (2012). Oxford textbook of spirituality in healthcare. Oxford : Oxford University Press. Craigie, J. (2010). Positive spirituality in healthcare: nine practical approaches to pursuing wholeness for clinicians, patients, and health care organizations. Minneapolis, MN: Mill City Press. Kliewer, S & Saultz, W. (2006). Healthcare and Spirituality. Oxford: Radcliffe. Read More