Spirituality in Health Care, Research Paper Example

This paper discusses how faith and spirituality help patients heal by presenting a comparison between Christians and Sikhs. Since individuals who follow these faiths have unique needs that pertain to both healing and their hospital stay, it is the responsibility of the health care professional to ensure that these needs are met. To ensure that this is possible, the health care professional must be aware of diverse religious practices and ensure that the hospital is supporting these needs for their patients. It is important to avoid making assumptions in this process and to conduct thorough research in order to ensure that mistakes are not made. Both of these religions are examples of diverse religions that focus on meditation and prayer, yet consist of many differences that need to be understood and will be discussed.

Faith is an essential component of the healing process because it provides patients with the strength necessary to achieve recovery in many situations (Cobb et al., 2012). However, it is important to consider that individuals of different faiths approach the spiritual component of the healing process differently. Regardless of the difference between religions, faith helps patients generate an understanding of their medical situation through developing an understanding of the work of their God or gods. As a consequence, faith gives these individuals hope and belief that their situation is the will of heavenly powers and that these powers are doing what is necessary in order to achieve balance in the universe.

My spiritual perspective on healing is that believing in a higher power helps the sick gain a greater acceptance of their health situation and provides them with the mental ability to fight disease or to accept disease status. For many individuals with chronic disorders, it is important for them to look toward faith in their illness because they are often in situations that seem completely hopeless. This ultimately promotes a development of depression, which counters the ability of the remainder of the body to regain proper health. Studies have shown that the mental state of a sick individual contributes to a higher rate of recovery for chronic disease, such as cancer (Kliewer, 2004). Therefore, it is essential for health care professionals to bolster the understanding of faith that their patients have so that it could help them achieve recovery.

There are several stages of faith development as it pertains to healing and Christianity. Ultimately, it is expected that this stage begin with the birth of a Christian child and it is facilitated throughout the remainder of their lives. As a consequence, these individuals are more adequately able to call upon their faith during their times of need. Thus, the stage that precedes spiritual development begins when a child is younger than 2 years old, and states that the child is able to trust God despite the confusion that exists in the world. It is therefore helpful for individuals of the Christian faith to pray and meditate when they become ill, as it will help them become more accepting of God’s will for them. Furthermore, acceptance will be facilitated by knowing that if they do die, they will enter God’s kingdom as a reward for living a wholesome life. There are many verses in the Bible that verify this. Most pertinently, the Bible states “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him” (James 5:15).

In the Sikh religion, prayer and meditation are equally important and it is therefore necessary for health care providers to consider this as they are ensuring that these patients are provided means to achieve a recovery (Queensland Health, 2011). However, it is also necessary to consider the cultural and religious aspect of Sikh as it relates to their stay at the hospital. While most Christians regularly pray on Sundays, prior to meals, and at other times in the day as deemed necessary, Sikh’s pray at specific hours and are required to follow a certain diet and maintain their hair in a certain manner. To ensure that the health care facility is able to promote the spiritual needs of the Sikh patients they serve, it is therefore necessary to ensure that their hospital accommodations and daily schedule allows for them to be available for prayer and related rituals (Cobb et al., 2012).

While prayer and meditation is important for both Christians and Sikhs, it is important to consider that a majority of health care professionals need to thoroughly research the Sikh religion, as less are familiar with these religious practices. Even individuals that do not consider themselves Christian are typically more aware of how to fulfill the spiritual needs of these patients, so it is important to ensure that the same can be done for the Sikh patients and patients of other faiths as well.

When health care providers work with patients whose spiritual beliefs differ from their own, it is important to learn as much information about the faith that is plausible to determine how accommodations should be made for these individuals. Of utmost importance is the consideration of surgeries and other procedures that may violate religious beliefs. When in doubt, it is important to interview the patient thoroughly to ensure that all plausible actions are being taken in order to ensure their comfort during treatment. It is also important for health care providers to understand that they should not attempt to understand the patient in the context of their own spiritual beliefs, as this practice may lead to mistakes in care.

In conclusion, while religions have many similarities, it is essential to gain an understanding of differences in a manner that helps promote the health of all individuals. It is essential to not make any assumptions regarding these practices and to conduct research or ask questions as needed. Since faith plays a major role in allowing patients to recover, it is the responsibility of the health care professional to ensure that actions are being taken in a manner that is conducive to recovery.

References

Cobb M, Puchalski CM, Rumbold B. (2012). Spirituality in Health Care. Oxford University Press.

Kliewer S. (2004). Allowing spirituality into the healing process. Retrieved from http://www.jfponline.com/index.php?id=22143&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=167414

Queensland Health. (2011). Sikh Patients. Retrieved from  http://www.health.qld.gov.au/multicultural/support_tools/hbook-sikh.pdf

The Official King James Bible Online. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/bible-verses-about-healing/