Nursing care for patients with diverse religious and spiritual beliefs

¶ … Health Care to Varied Faiths

Spirituality in Health Care

Providing

Health Care to All Faiths

Providing health care is a challenging prospect. Compounding the challenge is the need to provide health care to individuals with differing beliefs from that of the caregiver. Nurses must recognize the multifaceted paradigm of health care in that the patient has spiritual as well as physical needs. Addressing these needs becomes even more complex when the spiritual beliefs of the patient are unfamiliar to the nurse. Discovering the details of the patient's specific religious affiliation enables the nurse to provide quality, spiritually-appropriate care. The following discussion addresses several distinct cultural perspectives on healing

Perspective on Healing

Native American Indian Spirituality

One religion with distinctive health care beliefs is American Indian Spirituality. The Native American patient considers illness to be the result of spiritual problems (Native American, 2008). Further delving into the religion reveals a belief that diseases strike those individuals who are out of balance with nature, concentrate on the negative, or live an unhealthy lifestyle (Native American, 2008). Healing practices focus on reestablishing balance, thus returning the individual to a whole, spiritually and physically pure state (Native American, 2008).

Confucianism

The followers of Confucius have a strong belief in familial ties (Cao, Chen, & Fan, 2011). These ties are more than simply physical in nature, but also metaphysical or spiritual (Cao et al., 2011). Maintaining a harmonious balance between the physical and spiritual is the family's responsibility (Cao et al., 2011). The locus of control in health care decision-making resides with the family rather than just the patient; thus patient autonomy is expanded to include these familial entities (Chen & Fan, 2010).

Native American Indian Spirituality

Purifying rituals are performed to prepare the body for healing (Native American, 2008). A shaman may be called in to address the spiritual health of the patient: this aspect is central to wholeness (Native American, 2008). Symbolic rituals, which include praying, chanting, singing, or dancing, are performed to entreat the spirits to intervene on the patient's behalf and provide healing (Native American, 2008). These may involve the patient's entire community (Native American, 2008). In addition, American Indians utilize many natural herbs and plants in their quest for healing (Deubel, 2009).

Confucianism

While followers of Confucius need to be consulted in regard to health care interventions, the nurse must be cognizant of the familial hierarchy and ascertain who the head of the family is in order to include this person in decision-making (Chen & Fan, 2010). Specific edicts are not in place for daily living, including edicts which could pertain to health care interventions; however, prayers and sacrifices of food or incense may be proffered in