What would spirituality be according to your own worldview? How do you believe that your conception of spirituality would influence the way in which you care for patients?
Expert Answer and Explanation
Topic 1 DQ 1: Spirituality
In my own worldview, spirituality entails the belief system of a person regarding the existence of a supernatural being. Human beings are governed by laws and regulations that facilitate the coexistence of various aspects of the environment. According to spirituality in the Christian worldview, human beings were made in the image and likeness of God and have to be treated with respect and acknowledgment (Ransome, 2020). Human life is priceless and cannot be compared to any other life form. Human beings were given power overall and the ability to make decisions depending on their choices and mode of life. Spirituality is based on the notion of ethics and treating each person while ensuring their best interests. Christians are guided by a strict moral code that outlines the need to be your neighbor’s keepers and ensure that we act in a manner that glorifies God.
My conception of spirituality would directly impact the way I offer care and treatment to patients. To begin with, there is a need to understand the belief of each patient and respect their concerns and requirements. At the same time, there might be challenges with the mode of treatment, or when a patient requires medication that is not in line with the moral teaching of spirituality (Pirkola et al., 2016). As Christians, abortion is considered a crime, and its administration is unethical. However, as a nurse, it is my duty to offer and respect autonomy for the patience and respect their choices and free will. Spirituality ill enable me to interact freely with the patients and offer high-quality care to each patient regardless of their background. Through spirituality, I am also able to facilitate efficient recovery and instill hope in vulnerable patients.
References
Pirkola, H., Rantakokko, P., & Suhonen, M. (2016). Workplace spirituality in health care: an integrated review of the literature. Journal of nursing management, 24(7), 859-868. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12398
Ransome, Y. (2020). Religion spirituality and health: new considerations for epidemiology. American journal of epidemiology. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwaa022
Topic 1 DQ 2: Disease and Healing
The topic that interested me the most from the reading was ethical decision-making in healthcare. Ever since I decided to pursue my career, I have always been fascinated with how healthcare practitioners make decisions that involve critical dilemmas or choosing between two morally acceptable options. I have always wanted to understand the variables at play and how the decisions are made with the least consequence both to the nurse and the patient. Ethical decision making is a critical topic of study and requires extensive knowledge on a given subject to facilitate its implementation (Osamor, & Grady, 2018). Ethics is basically the principle of understanding between right and wrong, including how they impact the practice and patient outcome. However, there are other instances when healthcare one morally acceptable act in a society is not acceptable in another, making it difficult to implement the action. I have learned how to handle different ethical scenarios, even if they do not align with the policies or prevailing laws.
My views on the analysis of disease and healing from the readings are that there are guidelines that identify the various stages of disease and healing. The understanding of each stage would help a nurse identify the applicable treatment option with a higher capacity for success. The Christian narrative of disease and healing identifies the attributes of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration (Junkerman, 2020). A nurse makes use of the knowledge of each step to offer reassurance, personalized care, and healing. Through belief and holistic care, nurses offer improved services to the patients that are in line with the teaching from the reading. Disease and healing are complex elements, but the application of high-quality care and hope can assist with healing.
References
Junkerman, N. (2020). Washington Allston’s Christ Healing the Sick: disability, history painting, and narrative time. Nineteenth-Century Contexts, 1-22. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/08905495.2020.1755189
Osamor, P., & Grady, C. (2018). Autonomy and couples’ joint decision-making in healthcare. BMC Medical Ethics, 19(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-017-0241-6
