I need 175 Words per each response
Response 1
Christian spirituality profoundly influences the practice of compassionate care by embedding the values of empathy, respect, and unconditional love into the heart of healthcare delivery. This perspective is anchored in the belief that every person is made in the image of God and thus deserves care that respects their inherent dignity and worth. Such an approach enhances the quality of care provided and deepens the relational aspect between caregiver and patient, fostering a healing environment that transcends mere medical treatment.
Firstly, Christian spirituality emphasizes sacrificial love, as exemplified by Jesus Christ. This type of love encourages healthcare professionals to go beyond the standard obligations of their role to connect with and support their patients genuinely. For example, the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) teaches that care should be extended to all, regardless of their background or circumstances, promoting an inclusive approach that is essential in a diverse healthcare setting.
Secondly, the Christian commandment to love one’s neighbor as oneself (Mark 12:31) underpins the ethical treatment of patients. This scriptural directive ensures that Christian healthcare providers approach each patient with the highest empathy and kindness, striving to meet their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. This holistic care is crucial, as it acknowledges the multifaceted nature of healing and recovery.
Empirical research supports the integration of these Christian principles into nursing practice. For instance, a study by O’Callaghan et al.(2020) has shown that spiritual care can help improve health outcomes by providing patients with a sense of peace, a positive outlook, and increased satisfaction with the care received. Furthermore, a review by Rykkje et al. (2021) suggests that spiritual care is linked to better patient recovery, demonstrating the tangible benefits of integrating spirituality into patient interactions.
Christian spirituality can enhance the practice of compassionate care by motivating healthcare professionals to treat patients with the utmost respect and kindness, thus reflecting the love and compassion central to Christian teachings.
References:
O’Callaghan C, Seah D, Clayton JM, et al.(2020). Palliative Caregivers’ Spirituality, Views About Spiritual Care, and Associations With Spiritual Well-Being: A Mixed Methods Study. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, 37(4):305-313. doi:10.1177/1049909119877351
Rykkje, L., Søvik, M., Ross, L., McSherry, W., Cone, P., & Giske, T. (2021). Educational interventions and strategies for spiritual care in nursing and healthcare students and staff: A scoping review. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 31(11-12), 1440–1464. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16067
Response 2
Nursing is more than a career for me, it is a calling. When I was 11 years old, my 7-year-old brother was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma. He had a tumor in his sinus cavity. We also had a 9-year-old sister too. I still remember the day of his first central line dressing change and hearing him scream in pain. A nurse whisked me out of the room and into the bathroom where she hugged me as I cried. She explained to me that he needed to have his central line cleaned so it would not get infected, she assured me that with time it would not hurt anymore, and she changed the entire trajectory of my life in that moment simply by taking the time to explain what was going on to me.
I decided at 11 years old that I wanted to be a Registered Nurse. I have never looked back but I know that this is what I am meant to do. I know that I touch the lives of my patients. The Christian Worldview holds that human beings are part of God’s creation and as such he wishes to be involved in all aspects of their lives. I am learning this now and I often wonder how people can get through life without God’s love in their life.
“Spirituality is the aspect of humanity that refers to the way individuals seek and express meaning and purpose and the way they experience their connectedness to the moment, to self, to others, to nature, and to the significant and scared. According to holistic care, humans have physical, psychological, and spiritual dimensions and spiritual needs are very important” (Polat et al., 2022, p.1). It is important to remember that patients are people. They are someone’s child, parent, grandparent, and/or sibling. When patients are hospitalized, it can be a highly stressful time and it is important for the healthcare team to remember this. Cultural competence is also an important piece of holistic care. My rule of thumb is to treat people the way that I would want them to treat me. I would want to be treated with dignity, autonomy, respect, and I would like my healthcare team to advocate for my best interest. There was a study conducted on nurses who believed in a higher power and it revealed: “Participants who reported Deity (God, Christ, Holy Spirit) as their source of caring were more likely to view nursing as a calling and report a higher degree of volunteering (serving), giving (financially to a religious community), devotions and prayer (personal walk), and fellowship (meeting with a community of other believers)” (Rieg et al., 2018, p.168). This makes sense, as I am coming to understand walking with God makes life feel much easier.
References
Polat, H.T., & Ozdemir, A.A. (2022). Relationship between compassion and spiritual care among nurses in Turkey. The Journal of Religious Health, 61(13), 1894-1905. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-021-01287-6
Rieg, L.S. Newbanks, S.R., & Sprunger, R. (2018). Caring from a Christian Worldview – Exploring nurses’ source of caring, faith practices, and view of nursing. The Journal of Christian Nursing, 35(3), 168-173. https://doi.org/10.1097/CNJ.0000000000000474
Response 3
From the standpoint of Christian ethics and spirituality, compassionate care depends on the teachings of Jesus Christ. He demonstrated kindness, love and empathy in his relationships with others. Putting empathy, kindness and total support, compassionate care acknowledges the worth and dignity of each and every person as a cherished child of God (Vincensi, 2019). This method of health and healing includes taking care of patients’ emotional, spiritual and social requirements as well as their physical ones.
I approach compassionate care with a deep feeling of empathy and understanding for the pain of others since I am a medical professional who is guided by Christian ideals. I strive to create a healing space where people feel respected, heard and supported further building an atmosphere marked by kindness and compassion. Providing patients with complete care that tends to their physical, emotional and spiritual needs entails paying attention to their worries and consoling them with words of sympathy and encouragement (Guidi & Traversa, 2021). After all, a Christian understanding of compassionate care inevitably aims at conveying the compassion and love of Christ subsequently offering those who need hope, healing and wholeness.
References
Guidi, C. & Traversa, C. (2021). Empathy in patient care: From ‘clinical empathy’ to ‘empathic concern’. Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy, 24: 573–585. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11019-021-10033-4
Vincensi, B.B. (2019). Interconnections: Spirituality, spiritual care, and patient-centered care. Asia-Pacific Journal of Oncology Nursing, 6(2): 104-110. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.4103/apjon.apjon_48_18
Response 4
One of the most potent forces influencing health and healing outcomes is compassionate care. Being compassionate in your role as a doctor, nurse, or caregiver can have a profound positive impact on patients and caregivers alike. Compassionate behaviour improves the health of the patient. There are various advantages that arise from healthcare personnel demonstrating compassion and empathy, including decreased healthcare utilization and expedited recovery. Medical personnel frequently place a great deal of emphasis on the practical aspects of patient care. On the other hand, the body-mind-spirit trinity is brought to our attention by Christian faith. Healthcare professionals must attend to the patient’s spiritual health in addition to their physical needs.
Not only does compassion benefit patients, but it also helps caregivers by lowering burnout through acts of kindness and compassion. Caregivers’ immune systems are strengthened, and their physical and mental health improves. Caregivers can overcome burnout and carry on delivering high-quality care when they experience positive emotions from compassion. Among the various benefits of showing kindness to patients, Standford Medicine 25 (2019) lists medication adherence, improved attainment of sufficient sedation prior to surgery, and a reduction in the requirement for opiate medicine following surgery. The decision to extend oneself to relieve the patient’s pain is motivated by compassionate openness to it. (Pembroke, 2019)
People look to God for everything in life, including the capacity to work and support themselves, love, forgive, be merciful, and exhibit compassion (Bogue and Hogan, 2022). To lessen suffering, they also turn to God for the capacity to reason, think, and investigate the world around them (Bogue & Hogan, 2022). This includes their understanding of the disorders and functions of the human body and mind. Christians also look to God in the hope that he will fulfill his promises and for eternal life free from suffering, illness, and the presence of evil (Bogue & Hogan, 2022).
References
Bogue & Hogan. (2022). Practicing Dignity. BibliU: Learning Enablement and eTextbooks: Grand Canyon University. https://bibliu.com/app/#/view/books/B1B4SGSSID7LR/epub/Chapter1.html#page_7
Pembroke. (2019). Neil Pembroke, empathic and compassionate healthcare as a Christian spiritual practice – PhilPapers. PhilPapers: Online Research in Philosophy. https://philpapers.org/rec/PEMEAC
Stanford Medicine 25. (2019). Compassion: A powerful tool for improving patient outcomes. https://stanfordmedicine25.stanford.edu/blog/archive/2019/compassionimprovingoutcomes.html
