Faith expressions and spiritual care in diverse health care settings

Faith Diversity

Diversity Faith Expressions

Health Care Provider and Faith Diversity

Health care professionals working at different levels meet several patients that belong to different regions of the world and have different faiths. Although, every health care professional has firm belief in his own faith but he should also have the ability to accept the diverse faiths concept. He must respect all religions and should not argue with the patients regarding their spiritual beliefs.

Health care providers meet a variety of people that belong to different cultures and practice different religions. It is the responsibility of the health care professionals to provide sensitive care to all these patients having diverse faiths. Johnston (1990) defines sensitive care as "giving respect and incorporating the basic values of human freedom and religious diversity."

It is also important to remember that even if the background of the patient is similar to that of the health care professional; it does not mean that they both have same faiths. Therefore, stereotyping should be avoided and patients must be treated as individuals and should not be discriminated due to their religion, faith or culture.

In order to provide competent sensitive care to patients admitted to the health care system, it is necessary that health care professionals are able to relate to patients of different faiths and cultures. This paper will discuss the philosophy of providing health care from the perspective of three different faiths; Sikhs, Arabs & Hindus and will compare their spiritual beliefs and values with Christian perspective.

Thesis Statement: Health care professionals can only do sensitive and effective care of the patients if effectively trained to accept diversity of faith expressions.

Sikhs

Basic Beliefs

Sikhism founded in the 15th century is the fifth largest religion of the world. Sikhism started in the northern India but today a large population of Sikhs is living in different regions of the world. The main difference between Sikhism and Christianity is in the concept of God. The health care practitioners should know that unlike Christianity the having idea of Trinity, Sikhism believes in one God. Sikhism, based on the teachings of Gurus gives the concept of one God, which is shapeless, sightless and timeless.

Articles of Faith

Unlike Christians, it is obligatory for Sikh men and women to wear five articles of faith all time, therefore health care professionals must value these articles of faith and should not be remove any of the following articles from the patient without permission. These include:

1. Kesh (uncut hair) and his turban

2. Kangha (wooden comb)

3. Kara (Steel bangle)

4. Kirpan (short sword)

5. Kachera (undergarment)

Sikhs also have some unique concepts that are not common in other religions. For instance, removing hair from any part of the body is a sin for Sikhs. Therefore, health care professionals have to remember this faith of Sikhs and Hair should not be removed from any part of the Sikh patient without his permission or his decision maker's permission, which is usually his family member (Andrews, 2005).

Arabs

Arabs are the people that belong to a particular region of the world; starting from the Northern Africa and extending to the Arabian Gulf. Arabs include people living in Algeria, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Egypt, Iraq and many other countries.

Basic Beliefs

All Arabs are the Muslims practicing the second largest religion of the world "Islam." According to Islamic Encyclopedia, Islam is one of the major and widely spread religions of the world (Campo, 2009). Unlike Trinity concept in Christianity, Muslims believe in one God, "Allah" and submit their will to the God. However, like Christians they also believe in the Day of Judgment and concept of hell and heaven. The difference in the faith of the two is that Muslims (Arabs) believe that only their good deeds can take them to heaven while according to Christians' faith, Jesus Christ has already sacrificed himself for the sins of his people. Health care nurses must not argue on any such topic with the Arab patients and should respect their faith.

Arab's View on Illness and Healing

All Arabs handle illness with patience and consider it as a test from God. They absolute & pray five times a day and have a firm faith in their prayers. They believe that God listens to their prayers and heals them as HE has the power to cure their illness. They also believe that people who suffer pain in this world due to illness will be rewarded in the world hereafter. Therefore, health care practitioners should respect their belief and agree with them if the patients express their views of getting rewards in the later world.

Hindus

Basic Beliefs

Very different from Christianity, Hinduism is a one God religion, followed by the 80% population of India. Hindus have a different concept of their present life than the Christians, as they believe that their present physical disabilities or inequalities of birth are due to the deeds they did in their past lives. Health care nurses that believe in Christianity must not force Hindu patients to believe that this is not possible. They should remain silent and respect Hindi thoughts even if they do not believe them.

Prayers and Healing

Family members of Hindu patients sing aloud, and pray for the ill or dying patient. They have a belief that their prayers performed in this way will cure the illness or give peace to the patient. They should not be restricted from doing this but should be explained the hospital rules and advised to be lower in tone. They might also bring small god statues in hospital room, which must not be taken as Jokes by the health care staff as Hindus very much respect their statue Gods.

Conclusion

It can be concluded from this essay that accepting the diversity of faith expressions is very important for the health care professionals. They need to understand the spiritual values and beliefs of people belonging to different cultures and having diverse faiths.

Currently many expiates living in different regions of the world fail to take medical treatment due to the fear that medical professionals will not understand their faiths and will make negative judgments about their religions. Therefore, nurses should be taught how to respond to issues that conflict with their own faiths. They must keep in mind that not all patients can believe on what they do; therefore, in case of medical treatments patients can be advised and not controlled or forced to take a particular decision.

Teaching healthcare professionals about diversity of faith can improve the health care in future and people belonging to different regions of the world will be able to get treatment in hospitals without fear of being improperly treated or negatively judged.