Health Care Provider and Faith Diversity: First Draft

Health Care Provider and Faith Diversity Student Name: Michael Carey Professor Name: Marie Ambruster Grand Canyon University: Spirituality in Healthcare (July 31, 2012) .  Spirituality in Healthcare Abstract Nursing is a medical field identifying with taking care of the sick, injured and people infirm in the society. Nurses particularly in the practices of healthcare encounter patients from diverse faiths requiring prior knowledge on ways of handling them (Barker, 2004). It has been noted that the providers of the health care must be knowledgeable on the patient’s behaviors patterns, particularly reflecting on the faith of the patient concerned. Research indicates that religion influences the behavioral patterns of the patients, family members of the patients and the care officials involved in the processes (McFarlane, 1996). The concerns basing on religious aspects are innate and complex. The character patterns of the family members and the patients are subject to changes depending on the prevailing situations presenting a challenge to the health care providers. Conflicts in the recent times have been observed basing on misunderstandings. The conflicts were noted to originate from the patients religious concerns and the family members religious concerns. Instances where the patient is incapable of making own decisions are represented by a trusted family member (Shore, 2006). Health care providers have the responsibilities of seeking patient’s religious concerns before any form of the treatments to conserve the religious integrity and respect. Religious and cultural values must be considered in the health care processes. The main areas of concerns as per the faith diversity concern the staff interactions, treatment decisions and meeting personal needs (Barker, 2004). This paper sheds light on patient’s faith diversity on the healthcare facilities in Buddhist, Christianity, Hindu and the Native Americans. Health Care Provider and Faith Diversity Research indicates that diverse groups of religious people vary in the behavioral patterns. This has been noted in the health care facilities calling for a system where the health care providers must engage the patients according to their religious specifications. Doctors and nurses among other health care providers are expected to take note on the religious and cultural influences in the multicultural society seeking for health care facilities. It has been noted to be a challenge mastering the particular needs of the specific patients. The challenges are in predicting and standardizing the religious expectations of the patients. Provision of holistic patient care by the health care providers has taken shape in the decades. It has been observed that religious faiths and beliefs shape the patterns of patients seeking medical care. Science has been developing models of incorporating faith diversity in the existing health care provision systems (Ehman, 2012). Cultural and religious inclinations of the patients must be incorporated in the medical care facilities to enhance flexibility. The researcher of this paper contrasts and compares the belief and cultural systems among the Hindus, Buddhists and the Native Americans against the faith diversity of the Christians in the health care facilities. Belief systems among the religious lines are cross checked for differences and similarities relating to the Christian faith. Treatment models are influenced by the religious inclinations. Research has indicated that patients heal fast with genuine connection of the emotions, mind, physical attributes and faith. Shedding light to the fact that religious issues and cultural issues influence the healing processes within the patients in the healthcare facilities. Hindus are the inhabitants originating from Hindustan or India (Burke, 2004). It has been noted that Indians inhibit deep rooted cultural concerns particularly in the Hinduism modesty (Info.kyha.com, 2012). The modesty has special attributes on getting treatments from healthcare providers of the opposite sex. This aspect lacks in the Christian faith. Christians are not gender biased and can be attended by persons of the opposite sex. Hindus believes that issues identifying with genitals and urinary are exempted from spousal discussions, a number of Hindus take vegetables, a term referred to as the vegetarians. Vegetarians have challenges taking medicines originating from animal products (Burke, 2004). A group of Hindus are against onions and garlic scientifically in the vegetables classifications. This is in contrast with the Christian faith that allows the followers to eat all types of food stuffs. It has been noted that Hindus fast often as compared to other religious groups. This can be tricky, in that they are not required to disclose to the members of the society. This in some aspects can present conflicting opinions in the healthcare in medical cases calling for proper dietary and monitored medical plan. Research indicates that the practice is also found in the Christian faith prompting nurses to have a firsthand understanding of faith diversity in encouraging two way communications (Barker, 2004). Running water is highly valued by the Hi...