Patients Spiritual Needs in Light of the Christian Worldview
Assessment Description
In addition to the topic Resources, use the chart you completed and questions you answered in the Topic 3 about \”Case Study: Healing and Autonomy\” as the basis for your responses in this assignment.
Answer the following questions about a patient\’s spiritual needs in light of the Christian worldview.
In 200-250 words, respond to the following: Should the physician allow Mike to continue making decisions that seem to him to be irrational and harmful to James, or would that mean a disrespect of a patient\’s autonomy? Explain your rationale.
In 400-500 words, respond to the following: How ought the Christian think about sickness and health? How should a Christian think about medical intervention? What should Mike as a Christian do? How should he reason about trusting God and treating James in relation to what is truly honoring the principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence in James\’s care?
In 200-250 words, respond to the following: How would a spiritual needs assessment help the physician assist Mike determine appropriate interventions for James and for his family or others involved in his care?
Remember to support your responses with the topic Resources.
While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.
Benchmark Information
This benchmark assignment assesses the following programmatic competencies:
BS in Health Sciences 1.2; BS Nursing (RN to BSN ) 5.2
Assess for the spiritual needs and provide appropriate interventions for individuals, families, and groups.
Attachments
PHI-413V-RS-T3T5CaseStudyHealingAndAuton
Here is the content of thsi attachment:
Case Study: Healing and Autonomy
Mike and Joanne are the parents of James and Samuel, identical twins born 8 years ago. James is currently suffering from acute glomerulonephritis, kidney failure. James was originally brought into the hospital for complications associated with a strep throat infection. The spread of the A streptococcus infection led to the subsequent kidney failure. James’s condition was acute enough to warrant immediate treatment. Usually cases of acute glomerulonephritis caused by strep infection tend to improve on their own or with an antibiotic. However, James also had elevated blood pressure and enough fluid buildup that required temporary dialysis to relieve.
The attending physician suggested immediate dialysis. After some time of discussion with Joanne, Mike informs the physician that they are going to forego the dialysis and place their faith in God. Mike and Joanne had been moved by a sermon their pastor had given a week ago, and also had witnessed a close friend regain mobility when she was prayed over at a healing service after a serious stroke. They thought it more prudent to take James immediately to a faith healing service instead of putting James through multiple rounds of dialysis. Yet, Mike and Joanne agreed to return to the hospital after the faith healing services later in the week, and in hopes that James would be healed by then.
Two days later the family returned and was forced to place James on dialysis, as his condition had deteriorated. Mike felt perplexed and tormented by his decision to not treat James earlier. Had he not enough faith? Was God punishing him or James? To make matters worse, James\’s kidneys had deteriorated such that his dialysis was now not a temporary matter and was in need of a kidney transplant. Crushed and desperate, Mike and Joanne immediately offered to donate one of their own kidneys to James, but they were not compatible donors. Over the next few weeks, amidst daily rounds of dialysis, some of their close friends and church members also offered to donate a kidney to James. However, none of them were tissue matches.
James nephrologist called to schedule a private appointment with Mike and Joanne. James was stable, given the regular dialysis, but would require a kidney transplant within the year. Given the desperate situation, the nephrologist informed Mike and Joanne of a donor that was an ideal tissue match, but as of yet had not been considered Jamess brother Samuel.
Mike vacillates and struggles to decide whether he should have his other son Samuel lose a kidney or perhaps wait for God to do a miracle this time around. Perhaps this is where the real testing of his faith will come in? Mike reasons, This time around it is a matter of life and death. What could require greater faith than that?
Patient’s Spiritual Needs in Light of the Christian Worldview
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Patients Spiritual Needs in Light of the Christian Worldview
Introduction
One of the major challenges health workers face is providing comfort for their patients. The spiritual belief of people has increasingly become more complex regarding health and diseases. In the case study, Healing and Autonomy, James is brought to the hospital for medical intervention due to acute glomerulonephritis. However, the spiritual belief of James’ parents has hindered the proper treatment of their son. In that regard, this paper answers the provided questions related to the study.
In 200-250 words, respond to the following: Should the physician allow Mike to continue making decisions that seem to him to be irrational and harmful to James, or would that mean disrespect of a patient’s autonomy? Explain your rationale
Based on the case study, Healing and Autonomy, the decisions made by Mike seem irrational and harmful to the patient. Mike should not make further decisions because he might cause more health problems for James. His decision led to James losing the chance to restore his kidney functions. He is now required to undergo a kidney transplant. The physician has professional responsibilities that he needs to undertake, which include ensuring patient safety (Haddad & Geiger, 2018). The physician has the responsibility to provide advice, as well as, useful information to patients and their families. It will not be disrespectful to the patient’s autonomy if the physician prevents Mike from making further decisions.
Based on the case study, both the parents have not received substantive education regarding the consequences of their decisions. Also, Mike makes most of the decisions alone without consulting his wife. Therefore, the physician should enlighten the two parents regarding the proper measures, other than their religious beliefs, that can provide better results and improve James’ condition (Haddad & Geiger, 2018). However, if Mike is just left to continue making decisions blindly, the chances are high that James might die. Mike might change his mind and return James to the pastor and it might be too late to save him on his return to the hospital.
In 400-500 words, respond to the following: How ought the Christian think about sickness and health? How should a Christian think about medical intervention? What should Mike as a Christian do? How should he reason about trusting God and treating James concerning what is truly honoring the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence in James’s care?
Christians have different perceptions about sickness and health. Some Christians perceive sickness as a way through which God tests their faith. The bible provides some stories where God tested people’s faith by subjecting them to suffering. For example, God brought disease upon Joab and, in addition, took all the wealth he had to test him (Herrmann, 2018). Another group of Christians sees sickness as punishment for their sinful acts. Similarly, Christians have varied perceptions regarding good health. Some Christians see good health as a reward from God. They believe that God is a healer and giver of life.
Generally, Christians should look at sickness and health as a manner in which God shows His might. Suffering came to existence due to the fallenness of the world. Everyone must become sick, not because of their sins, but the first sin committed by Adam and Eve (Herrmann, 2018). After the fallenness of the world, God Said that mankind must suffer till death. Christians see this as the reason behind the disease and that is also why both Christians and non-Christians suffer from disease and death. God manifests his power either through sickness or good health. In the bible, God brought diseases to Egyptians (as boils) to show His power (Testament, 2018). Christians should understand that sickness is not an automatic assurance that God is testing their faith. Sickness sometimes comes naturally due to other things that have nothing to do with their faith (Herrmann, 2018). That is the reason why both Christians and non-Christians suffer from sickness.
Christians should see health as a gift from God that must be protected and cared for. Even God values health and that is why He worked miracles in the Bible healing them. Jesus Christ healed many people including those with bleeding diseases, leprosy, cripples, and others. The healing miracles are manifestations of God’s power (Testament, 2018). The healing miracles show that even God perceives it as a precious gift given to man. By having that kind of understanding, Mike will be ready to do anything to ensure his Son gets well.
As a Christian, Mike should listen to the doctor’s advice and allow James to receive proper treatment. Mike should be respectful and ready to listen to the experts. As a Christian, Mike needs to understand that James’ life is valuable, therefore, cannot be gambled with (Testament, 2018). He should reason that combining spirituality and medical treatment is more beneficial and non-maleficent than simply relying on faith alone. Therefore, he should ask God to work miracle and bring healing through medical interventions.
Christians should think of medical intervention positively. Medical intervention helps to end sickness and improve the quality of life of loved ones. Christians should be ready and willing to seek and receive the medical intervention (Herrmann, 2018). The bible says that God is the giver of knowledge and wisdom. Medical professionals receive their knowledge and skills from God so that they can help the world. Most drugs are derived from plants and other things created by God, therefore, medications should also be perceived as God’s work (Herrmann, 2018). Therefore, Christians should see medical interventions as acceptable activities before God.
In 200-250 words, respond to the following: How would a spiritual needs assessment help the physician assist Mike to determine appropriate interventions for James and his family or others involved in his care?
Mike and the physician hold contrasting beliefs regarding the course of action that should be applied to help James. Mike seems to have insufficient information about the importance of medical intervention. The physician also seems to have an inadequate understanding of the best approach to give Mike regarding his spiritual beliefs (Timmins & Caldeira, 2017). A spiritual needs assessment will help the physician to understand Mike better. As a result, the health care provider will be able to create a comprehensive and effective care plan based on parents’ spiritual beliefs to improve patient outcomes (Timmins & Caldeira, 2017). A combination of medical intervention and spiritual support has proven to be more effective than either of the two.
Through spiritual needs assessment, the physician will be able to determine effective spiritual support for the patient and their families. Most patients have spiritual needs, hence, health care professionals should utilize different sources available to them to gain spiritual needs (Timmins & Caldeira, 2017). Spiritual needs assessment would allow the physician to gather more information about the family and the patient. It offers a context for discussing the experiences of patients and their families in coping with illnesses and beliefs that contradicts medical interventions. By identifying the spiritual beliefs of James’ parents that contradict medical interventions, the physician will be able to provide proper advice to the parents in trying to enlighten them to change their mindset (Timmins & Caldeira, 2017). Therefore, a spiritual needs assessment will be of significant importance to save James.
Conclusion
Spiritual beliefs have a significant influence on peoples’ willingness to seek medical intervention, as well as medication adherence. In the case study, the spiritual beliefs of James’ parents have led them to make decisions that are against medical advice. Christians should perceive medical interventions positively. The paper answered all the questions required for the completion of this assignment.
References
Herrmann, S. (2018). Sickness and Healing: A Cognitive Study of Mature Lele Christians in Papua New Guinea. Fuller Theological Seminary.
Haddad, L. M., & Geiger, R. A. (2018). Nursing ethical considerations. https://europepmc.org/article/nbk/nbk526054
Testament, O. (2018). The holy bible. http://www.modernliteralversion.org/books/8303111.pdf
Timmins, F., & Caldeira, S. (2017). Assessing the spiritual needs of patients. Nursing Standard (2014+), 31(29), 47. http://dx.doi.org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.7748/ns.2017.e10312