Spiritual Competence: Sikh Beliefs and Faiths

Cultural diversity in the health care setting is increasing each year. Knowing how to care for patients of different religious and spiritual faiths is essential to providing high-quality, patient-centered care. The author of this paper will research three lesser-known religions; Taoism, Sikhism and Shamanism. Through this paper, she will provide a brief background on each of the three religions and present information regarding spiritual perspectives on healing, critical components of healing and health care considerations associated with each religion.

The United States has always been the symbol of freedom of religion and health care today has needed to increase its knowledge in incorporating the many different religions/spiritual beliefs in order to provide a more holistic approach to care. As health care providers we should not look in validating our own practice in regards to religion or spirituality but to comprehend and learn to see the patterns of similarities and differences in order to provide holistic care to our patients. As religious and spiritual beliefs are never permanent and are constantly changing and/or influenced by government, thinkers, historical events, technology and the shifting values of cultures the study of religions/spirituality should be continuous for all health care providers. The Native American, Buddhism, and Sikhism have some similar traits and values imbedded in their practiced religions that resemble the Christian Faith and medical providers needs to be aware and able to accommodate them in order to provide holistic care.

This paper provides a comprehensive look at the following faiths: Buddhism, Judaism, Baha’i, and Christianity. The reader will find that Buddhism is more of a philosophy than a religion that focuses on the mind as being the creator of illness and health. The reader will also find that Judaism, Baha’i, and Christianity are all religions that believe in one God, the creator of all. This paper lists various components that each of these faiths may use at one time or another to effect healing including prayer, meditation, chanting, the use of healers, etc. This paper also defines what is important to people

Physical evidence of this can be viewed as to how we have lengthened the life span in comparison to earlier times. Religion and spirituality has always and will remain to be the corner stone of medicine. Ethically, respect for everyone’s values and beliefs require competent communication skills in health care professionals. This can be crucial or a key factor to how a patient interprets their healthcare goals and outcomes. There are many key factors when one considers different religion and medicinal beliefs and practices, enhancing ones knowledge of these key factors can only help improve communication, patient understanding of their health and interpersonal relations with a healthcare

For health care providers to deliver the best holistic care that patients deserve, a thorough spiritual assessment must be included during their care. With more research showing a relationship between supporting a patient’s spirituality with their health and ability to cope with illness, it is now a requirement of organizations to include a spiritual assessment to maintain accreditation with The Joint Commission. The minimum required of a spiritual assessment by The Joint Commission is to determine the patient’s religion and

This is the guiding truth that she uses each day in the hospital setting that allows her to freely accept people of all faiths and support their personal journey toward healing. When asked about her spiritual perspective on healing she was very comfortable with her answer. She said “absolutely, God does heal.” She feels from a Sikh perspective that there is a balance in the soul and that the person who is ill must be willing to let go to receive. It is a type of faith, that the person seeking healing, beyond their ability to understand. As a caregiver she states “being a Sikh makes me one with most religions, because I believe we all are of the same God and it is His healing that they seek.

Different religious groups have different believe system in the provision of the healthcare. The health personnel such as doctors and nurses should be aware of the religious beliefs of their patients for effectively delivering medical care. In provision of medical care, religious faith and beliefs of the patient is incorporated with the scientific medical care in offering a holistic medical to the patients. The medical personnel should take into the consideration the religious belief of the patient in the course of offering medical care to the patient. The

1. Why and how understanding our patient's religious worldview can help us address patient needs more effectively.

As we in become more evolved as a nation one of the problem that needs to be address is how to response to diverse faith within our healthcare practices. This essay serves to compare these three different religious philosophies: Yoruba, Hinduism (karma) and Buddhism, to a Christian’s perspective. These religions have wide perspectives but one will key in on health management and what to expect from healthcare point of view while caring for these patients.

An investigation was conducted about two faith Christianity and Buddhism and compared in different aspect of relating to healthcare. Sources of information are gathered from web sites, books, school resources and personal observations as a practicing Christian. The major themes and insights from the research, reinforcing the worldview questions and critical common component relating to healing such as prayer meditation and beliefs towards healthcare. Findings presented these two faiths having different foundation of worship, Christianity who believes in God as the creator of humans with heaven and earth. Buddhist believe in no Gods, no heaven or earth, and humans with all earthly things being coincidence. The importance of the patient`s faith when cared for by health care providers with different faith revels that Christians hope for healing through God, spiritually and through technology from the powers given to humans by God. Buddhist believed in self and no soul, having a healthy life is determined by lifestyle of the individual and relationship to each other in peace at all times. Christians hope for eternal life and resurrection and the Buddhist believe in Karma and rebirth, living a pure life earns a rebirth of a good recantation and a bad life leads to a rebirth of a wild and mean animal.

As time passes, the field of health care continually expands and advances. When thinking back to the way health care was portrayed a few decades ago, healing pertained only to the correct administration of medical treatment and scientific interventions. However, it is now clear that spirituality relates to positive health results. In fact, society as a whole is more spiritually diverse now than ever before. Accordingly, health care associates must recognize that providing the highest level of patient care involves understanding different worldviews. By addressing these issues, it is possible to deliver spiritually fulfilling and respectful care for patients with varying religious beliefs.

People have different perspectives towards spirituality, and religions and whatever the decision of the patient, it is the responsibility of the health care authority to provide love and compassionate kindness to everyone regardless of their belief systems, preferences, and choices.

Sikhism shares beliefs with both Islam and Hinduism. Just like Islam, they’re monotheism, or they support the belief that there is only one God, and similar to Hinduism, they believe in reincarnation and karma. Interesting thing is that because Sikhism takes only certain beliefs from both, it has been presented as new religion. But, how do people find a balance? Well I believe not everyone finds a balance, because some Hindu’s or Muslims may find it ‘rude’ that the followers of Sikhism practice beliefs from both sides. For example, one belief may be supported by Hindu’s but not by Muslims, and therefore conflict may arise. Although, Sikhism’s purpose isn’t to see how many people can be gathered to follow their beliefs, instead it is to simply

Diversity in faiths of patients and nurses is an issue in nursing care which have to be evaluated. In a hospital many patients with different faiths gets treatment at same time. It is imperative to assess whether spiritual conditions may impact the success of patient’s treatment and how helpful human faith can be.The aim of this paper is to share the spiritual perspectives of people with diverse faiths and to analyze those with Christian philosophy of faith and healing. People from distant beliefs, which include Hinduism, Sikhism and Islam were interviewed. Summary of the interview, comparison of diverse belief systems and writer’s personal insights gained from the interviews are discussed in the paper.

We have chosen this topic in specific to explore on the role of religious beliefs in the medical decision making, and the importance of caregivers not to assume homogeneity among their patients since religious beliefs is considered as an integral component of a patient’s holistic healthcare.[1]