I.

INTRODUCTION OF Religions of the World:

1. Christianity
SPIRITUAL NURSING  Three main divisions:
a. Roman Catholic
Considerations: b. Eastern Orthodox
 Cultural sensitivity c. Protestant faiths
 Individuality  Largest religion in the world
 Open mindedness  2.3B total population
 Observe verbal and nonverbal cues  Bible-based practices
 Empathy and respect  Believes in 3 divine person:
a. God the Father,
Spirituality b. Son,
 Latin word “spiritus,” which c. and Holy Spirit
means “breath”  Issues of Concern:
 A search for what is sacred in life,  Birth: infants must be
one’s deepest values, along with a baptized soon after birth.
relationship with God, or a higher  Death is viewed as a
power, that transcends the self transition to a life with God
 Believe in eternal life
Religion  Sacrament/Anointing of
 Organizes the spiritual experiences the sick: administered by
of a group of people into a system the priest to patients who
of beliefs and practices are ill and conscious; may
 As a set of beliefs, rituals and also be performed after
practices, usually embodied within death
an institution or an organization  Birth control: natural
family planning is the only
Difference between religion and acceptable method of birth
spirituality: control
Religion Spirituality  Organ donation:
Community focused Individualistic donation and transplants
focused are acceptable
Observable, Less visible,  Sterilization is
measurable, measurable, forbidden unless for
objective subjective medical reasons
Formal, orthodox, Less formal,  Jehovah’s Witnesses
organized unorthodox believe that it is against
Behavior-oriented, Emotionally- God’s will to receive blood
outwarded practices oriented, inward and, therefore, they
directed refuse blood
“Good/evil” doctrine Non-doctrine transfusion, often even if
oriented it is their own blood.
Authority-directed Self-directed  Members of the Iglesia Ni
Religious practices Spiritual practices Cristo do not eat
such as prayer, such as meditating, “dinuguan” or food mixed
reading the listening to music, with blood because
Quran/Bible/Torah and hiking accordingly, the Lord God
prohibited His servants to
do so.
 Members Church of God
International
(MCGI)/Dating Daan
also bans going to the
movies and drinking
alcoholic beverages, and
women are prohibited from
wearing make-up, wearing
pants and tight shirts, and
cutting their hair.
 Seventh-day Adventists
refrain from eating pork
 because God has revealed
that it is not good for food.
They are distinguished by
its observance of Saturday,
the seventh day of the
week in Christian and
Jewish calendars, as the
Sabbath.
2. Islam
 Second largest
 1.9B population
 Believes only on one God,
Allah
 Emphasized equality of the
races and social classes and
attempts to promote
brotherhood for all
 Issues of Concern:
 Diet
 Only eats Halal foods
(no animal fats, pork,
byproducts of pork and
any animals that have
not been slaughtered
according to Islamic
custom)
 During Ramadan. May
result to significant
health problems
(Diabetics)
 Refrain from full
observance due to
their health status
 Family
 Behavior and acts of
individual or family are
greatly influenced by
the spouse, children
and relatives.
 They are often
consulted in all
important decisions.
 Health VS Illness
 Taking care of one’s
health is a religious
duty
 Spiritual needs may
take precedence over
physical needs
 Muslim patients believe
illness, suffering, pain
and dying as a test
from God and
perceives illness as a
trial by which one’s
sins are removed.
 Medications
 Medications that
contain alcohol,
gelatin, and pork-
based are forbidden.
May recommend
gelatin-free
alternatives. If none
are available, the drug
may be used but his
should be explained to
the patient to help
them make correct
decisions.
 Medications during
Ramadan:
 Eye drops, ear drops,
dental care - yes
 Inhalers, nebulizer
treatments, nasal
spray - yes
 Immunization,
insulin injections -
yes
 IV Fluids - no
 Donating Blood - no
 Oral medications -
no
 Privacy and Dress
 It is best that they be
cared for by a
healthcare professional
of the same gender. If
this is impossible, a
female staff or
patient’s relative
should always be
present.
 Request permission
before uncovering any
part of the body.
 Language
 Best practice is to have
Arabic or Urdu
speaking professional
in the hospitals, and
should have Muslim
chaplains be made
available anytime to
patients.
 Other Considerations:
 Cremation is forbidden.
Organ donation is not
permitted.
 Contraception is
permitted. Abortion is
prohibited.
 Privacy must be provided
for prayer.
 The QUR-AN should not
be touched by anyone
ritually unclean, and
nothing must be placed on
top of it. Muslim women
 usually wear clothing that
covers the entire body.
3. Hinduism
 1.1B population
 Many are vegetarians
because most believe that
eating meat involves harming a
living creature
 Illness or disease is seen as
the result of the misuse of the
body or a consequence of sin
committed in a previous life
 Issues of Concern:
 Diet
 Are strict vegetarians
 They believe in non-
violence which extends
to animals
 Cows are considered
sacred and pigs are
considered “unclean”
 They do not eat from
plates or utensils that
have previously been
used to serve meat.
 Decision-making
 Elder family members
have a strong influence
on decision-making
related to health
 Medication
 May use a variety of
“Ayurvedic
medicines”
 World’s oldest holistic
(whole body) healing
 It is based on the
belief that health and
wellness depend on a
delicate balance
between the mind,
body, and spirit. Its
main goal is to
promote good health,
not fight disease.
 Eldest woman is
considered the authority on
health and healing matters
 Ayurvedic medicine
follows principles of “hot”
and “cold” to balance the
diet as needed for the
season and the disease
state
 Hygiene
 Patient may request
beaker of water be
made available when
they use bedpan and
toilets to assist with
washing
 Older Hindus may
prefer to shower after
defecation
 Oral hygiene usually
done immediately after
waking up but should
also be informed of the
benefit of brushing
teeth after eating.
4. Buddhism
 521M population
 Do not believe in healing
through faith
 Believe spiritual peace and
liberation from anxiety through
following Buddha’s
teachings are important in
promoting health and recovery
 Believe that illness or disease is
due to an imbalance in yin
and yang
 Diet
 Yin foods are those that
generate cold or cool
energy in the body such
as watermelon, bitter
gourd, crab and most
green vegetables
 Yang foods such as red
meat, ginger, pepper and
garlic, generate warm or
hot energy
 Issues of Concern:
 Post Mortem Care
 Body should not be
moved for at least 72
hours
 Believes in rebirth or
reincarnation
 No prohibitions on
healthcare practices
 Believes in karma
 Believes that death is
their fate
 Contraception is
allowed but no
condoms and other
natural method