Running head: HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND FAITH DIVERSITY

Health Care Provider and Faith Diversity
Tina D.
Grand Canyon University: HLT-310V
6-28-2012

Health Care Provider and Faith Diversity In nursing, patients from many different backgrounds end up needing care. Nurses need to know their own faith, morals, and values when caring for these patients. When a nurse knows how they feel personally they will then need to learn about different backgrounds they may have to care for. Religious beliefs are a huge factor when patients are deciding what kind of care they want. Looking at different religions and how they perceive health and health care is very important in the learning process in how to take care of patients from different backgrounds or religions. In a comparison to Christianity: the Aboriginal faith community, Christian Science faith community, and Sikh faith community will be looked at. Aboriginal faith community includes people of Canada. They include more than fifty cultural language groups within Canada (Linda, 2009). In the Aboriginal faith community they believe health is holistic and is a balance of all aspects of life including physical, mental emotional, and spiritual. As Christians request anointing with oil during illness or when close to death Aboriginals do what is called smudging. Smudging is burning sweetgrass, sage, cedar and tobacco. Traditional healers or medicine men are the ones who perform smudging techniques. Herbs used in smudging are considered sacred herbs (Linda, 2009). Most medical treatment is generally accepted to the aboriginal people (Linda, 2009). They use western medicine as a enhancing or complement to their herbal medicine (Linda, 2009). Immediate family is included in any medical treatment decision making processes (Linda, 2009). It is asked that ceremonial practices be respected and that the sacred herbs, medicines bags and pouches, and traditional blankets are not to be handled without permission (Linda, 2009). An interpreter will be needed if the only language spoken is their mother tongue and the elders must be respected as spiritual leaders (Linda, 2009). The Christian Science faith community is based on the Bible and the teaching of Jesus (Linda, 2009). The emphasis of Christian Science is the practice of spiritual healing which is prayer based (Linda, 2009). The Christian Scientist haas members and branches throughout the world. Christian Scientist believe that each individual has a unique spiritual journey. When a Christian Scientist goes to a medical facility on their own they are likely to accept conventional medical treatment, this is the same as Christian’s. They may ask for drugs and therapy to be kept at a minimum. The individual or family will decide on procedures such as transfusions transplants, or organ donations. If a Christian Scientist is taken to a hospital involuntarily they may refuse treatment and ask to be released to family for care (Linda, 2009). There are Christain Scientist nursing facilities that give treatment without the use of medications. Babies are born usually in hospitals and have a physician prior to birth which is the same as Christian’s. Some, like Christian’s may choose to have a home birth with a Midwife (Linda, 2009). It is important to talk to patient to ask about the level of care they want. They may wish to have contact with a Christian Science practitioner. It is important to offer time and quiet for prayer. Respect their wishes to decline any care (Linda, 2009). The Sikh faith community was founded in northern India by Guru Nanak Dev Ji in 1469, it is now the fifth largest religion in the world (Linda, 2009). Like Christian’s, Sikh believe in one God. The most important thing to Sikh’s is to seek the trurth. Baptized Sikh’s have five articles of faith they have on them at all times: Kesh (uncut hair and beard) which shows respect for God’s creation of human form, Kunga (small wooden comb) to maintain hair and also symbolize cleanliness, Kirpan (small sword) represents self restraint as God witnesses each action of a person, Kashera (special cotton underwear) represents self control and purity (Linda, 2009). Health in the Sikh faith community is directly related to spirituality, the connection between mind, body, and spirit are intricate. Meditation is an important part of daily life. Many Sikh’s combine western medicine with herbs and other alternative therapies (Linda, 2009). The hair of the body is considered extremely precious so when a person of Sikh faith is a patient explicit permission must be given to cut, trim, or shave hair. Some may reject care if hair has to be cut in any way (Linda, 2009). The turban should not be removed from the head without explaining why and then the patient should be allowed privacy to remove turban on their own. Turban’s should not be in same place as shoes and must be handled with respect and clean hands (Linda, 2009). Articles of faith should be handled with clean hands and be kept on the person. Treament is preferred from same sex as patient unlike Christian’s (Linda, 2009). Christian’s do not have a preference as to the sex of their health care provider. If possible the articles of faith should be kept on the patient even during a surgical procedure. Daily bathing should always be provided unless medically unable to perform (Linda, 2009). Unlike most Christian’s, a full medical history may be hard to get due to sexual issues being considered extremely private and could possibly not be discussed with the healthc care provider. A lot of Christian’s will give a full medical history to allow for the best possible treatment with no associated problems. Assisted suicide is not encouraged, which is true with a lot of faith’s. Autopsies and blood transfusions are allowed. Abortion is up to the patient but is discouraged unless medically necessary and providing prolonging of life measures is discouraged if patient is in a vegetative state. Avoid interference with prayers and meditation if at all possible (Linda, 2009). In conclusion, whether someone is Christian, Aboriginal, Christian Scientist, or Sikh it is important to respect the religion no matter what the health care provider may be. What is sacred to one may not be to another but that does not mean that sacred thing should be dismissed. A patient will be greatful that they are allowed to carry out their faith and belief with no judgement. It is important to put ones feelings aside and do what is important to that patient so they feel good in what they are doing. In experience a person goes to the doctor when they are sick has whatever procedure that is needed, and abides by whatever treatment is necessary. Someone who follows their faith may have small changes in how they do those things, for example Christian’s who want to be anointed when close to death or are ill (McBride, 2012). People of different faiths are usually open to combining their own practices with western medicine to enhance their health and treatments. If respect is shown to people of all faiths no matter the faith of the health care provider, the patient will be greatful and have respect for the provider. It will also open up the patient to maybe giving full disclosure for even better treatment opportunities. Everyone is not the same and everyone deserves to be respected no matter their faith or beliefs.

References
Linda, L. (2009, May). Health Care and Religious Beliefs. Retrieved July 1, 2012, from Alberta Health Services: http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/ps-1026227-health-care-religious-beliefs.pdf
McBride, J. (2012, July). What to do When you are Ill. Retrieved July 1, 2012, from Surf-in-the-spirit: http://www.surfinthespirit.com/healthy-living/when-ill.html

Reviewed by Tony Delph
I felt the paper flowed well, I am not very aware of the subject manner but going by what the objectives are and seeing what was written I felt the paper followed what was to be done. I pointed out a few grammatical errors and those will be taken care of. I asked about her having one main reference and she said it was from a booklet that contained all the religions so that seemed understandable. I also read professor comments and agree with a little more info in those areas. The highlighted sentences where professor commented also did not make sense to me. Overall I thought with the few errors in grammer and adding the needed info the paper is well written.