PHI 413 GCU Wk 1 Christian Values And Decision Making In Health Care Discussion

Sources to Look At

This course requires the use of a Bible. Students should use one of the following versions: the English Standard Version (ESV), the New International Version (NIV), or the New American Standard Bible (NASB). Each of these versions is available in print and also for free at BibleGateway.com.

Students might also find it helpful to choose a study Bible such as the NIV Life Application Study Bible or the ESV Study Bible in order to take advantage of additional information.

Review the “Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)” section, found in the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions Undergraduate Field Experience Manual (2018-2019), located in the Student Success Center.

https://www.gcumedia.com/lms-resources/student-success-center/v3.1/#/?enc=pfQDIO PgUyBq4wWuT%2B0871gVKc4lkXSxHSIq%2Fu62bjCkGGYott5RQMR8nvney1IA4mqFLzk8h8GXgERaxVGmeh9j8sAvR1s%2Fpk%2F2zDYZk5s%3D

DQ1

Re: Topic 1 DQ 1

Taking a hard look at my beliefs and values, I would have to say that my worldview would be theism. I was born and raised Catholic, but as I have grown older, some of my views have changed a little even though I still associate myself as Catholic. I do believe also that nature and God do inter-relate, and that is viewed as pantheism, but I would say I’m more of a believer in theism.

I hold myself to the standard of a good Christian. I would say when it comes to spirituality I look towards the religion in which I was raised, but I also look at the foundation of which I was raised by my parents; the values we have as a family and how we value and care towards one another.

I look to God for guidance as well as my husband and family, and I look at the world as a whole, and I see how it needs to heal, and I have to reflect and evaluate how I can make a contribution to make it better based on my life up till now. Even though I am not a practicing Catholic, I still have a great spiritual belief in my one God and the values I was raised with as a good Christian.

I try to help those that are in need in any way I am capable of providing. I feel that maybe I need to look a little more towards prayer, especially now in this worldly unrest, as I see no real resolution, and possibly spiritual intervention may be the only way …

I am still unsure.

When it comes to my patients, the care I provide them comes from the foundation that I was raised with, but I also incorporate the values and beliefs my patient’s families bring.

I work in the nursery ICU and therefore, I work directly with parents of these premature infants, and many times different religious beliefs are brought to the table with my patients and their families, and I must incorporate that into my care.

I also have to leave out my own personal feelings when there is a conflict of interest, and the medical team and family of the patient must work together for the best outcome of the baby. Sometimes, it can be difficult, knowing that the patient’s best interest is being upheld by the medical staff, but knowing the family wants other procedures done or not done based on their religious and spiritual beliefs. Sometimes it is a very fine line.

DQ2

Re: Topic 1 DQ 1

A worldview can be described as how one understands and views the personal events of their own life (Grand Canyon University [GCU], 2020). For many, a worldview can be a subconscious, underlying assumption of how and why the person acts, and what is done to them. Two broad categories that worldviews may be shaped into are religious and nonreligious, GCU has separated these into subcategories of atheism, pantheism, and theism (GCU, 2020).

My personal worldview has ebbed and flowed as my life has gone on, and I believe all events, experiences, family, teachers, and mentors have had an influence on my worldview.

To verbalize my worldview is a challenge to myself, and an internal conversation that I have been grappling with for many years. Once a woman with faith, then brought down by personal events and then discovering a new path for myself, I feel as if I have integrated aspects of all three subcategories of the two worldviews. I believe humans create their own morality as taken from atheism, I believe each person walks through their life making decisions, each decision leads them down another path, and so on.

However, I do believe in a God, Pantheism is a new worldview for me that I have never heard of until now. Pantheism immediately spoke to me as I read about it in our text. The idea that God grows and changes as the world changes is important to me; we are all changing and we all have different needs at different points in our life, to know that God will change with me is comforting.

However, I was baptized Catholic and grew up a Christian during my adolescence. This strong background guides me subconsciously, daily in my life. My worldview seems jumbled, and our text explains it is important to test one’s worldview because it will guide our practice as a health professional (GCU, 2020).

I am a nurse, and when I became a nurse I took a pledge to do no harm and to use my knowledge to elevate the health of all I come into contact with. I made this pledge in the presence of God, to guide me to morally care for my patients, and all I am with. This pertains to me at all times, not just while I am clocked in at work, but at all times. My worldview has many lenses. I will continue to learn and hope this course will aid me to better define my worldview as I open myself to others and their worldviews.

References

DQ3 CAT QUESTION

Re: Topic 1 DQ 1

According to Bogue & Hogan (2020), “Spirituality is a dynamic and intrinsic aspect of humanity through which persons seek ultimate meaning, purpose, and transcendence, and experience relationship to self, family, others, community, society, nature, and to the significant or sacred. Spirituality is expressed through beliefs, values, traditions, and practices” (key terms).

To me, spirituality is what one uses to make sense of his/her existence concerning the world around him/her. About my Christian worldview, spirituality is all the actions in one’s life related to his/her sense of purpose and expectation in life.

My concept of spirituality influences my nursing care daily. First, I do believe every human being is made in the image of God, and as such I must treat everyone with respect regardless of how they treat me and be an advocate to my patient to the best of my ability.

I also believe the LORD is the perfect judge and that He renders to each one according to their actions. I recently took care of a patient with some cognitive impairment and who constantly used a racial slur while I was taking care of him. Though it was difficult, I still followed the Airway-Breathing-Circulation method to keep him alive, render care, and relieve his pain.

I want to know I followed the LORD’s commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 12:31, New International Version) and to preach the gospel. I want to be able to sleep in peace when I lay down. Nursing calls for some tough situations at times, but through each one of them, I want to represent Jesus rightly.

Reference

DQ4

Re: Topic 1 DQ 2

I was unaware that there is a difference between science and scientism. I had no idea that scientism is a philosophy. I thought that I was just based on science, where scientific methods are used and have been used to prove the foundation of living things; chemical and biological make up of things, formulas and procedures that are used.

I also thought that evolution was based on this. I wonder if atheists use scientism to explain why things are the way they are. It doesn’t prove anything scientifically but in turn, states that science is the only way to obtain knowledge and reason for why things are the way they are.

When it comes to health and diseases, I believe science is important to understand the biological makeup of disease processes and how medication and medical procedures can work. But I also believe there is a human side to treating sick patients. Sicknesses can come in all forms, and sometimes, I have noticed that medications and medical interventions do not always work, and I have heard of religious and spiritual healing.

I have seen where people have used the power of prayer to help heal sick loved ones with different ailments. I have also seen where naturopaths help heal outside of scientific medical proven interventions. Some patients view medicines and poisons and only want natural herbs and treatments for their body. In nursing, I find that it is especially important for us to be able to use all these aspects in our medical treatments, and that we need to keep the focus on the patient and their wants, and to keep their mental health in mind as well as their physical health.

It is almost like a mental game for us to use all aspects of life, if I can put it that way, to treat the patient as a whole, and that’s where I think that it is important for nurses to be able to look at all aspects of healing and treatment, and to use our best knowledge of when to bring our personal feelings and beliefs into a situation, and when it leave it out.

DQ5

Re: Topic 1 DQ 2

I found the introduction to Pantheism very interesting. As I mentioned in my previous discussion question I had never heard of this worldview until now and it really spoke to me. I have been taught theism all of my life, and it has always guided my morality and aided me in my life, however, Pantheism holds interesting aspects. I am constantly growing as a person, as a nurse, and it is familiar to hear of a God who is also growing and changing with the world, and as we can all see, our world is in a state of constant change.

Disease and healing is a holistic event. When one is sick, hurt, or suffering it is not only the body that suffers, the whole person including their spirituality. While evidence-based science and research should be utilized for the disease process, healing after surgery, and curing illness, the nurse should always approach the patient as a whole, and care for the entire person.

I have seen what anxiety, fear, and loss can do to a patient’s physical symptoms. Vital signs go out of range, and pain can become worse. The nurse has the unique opportunity to care for people at a time where they may need holistic care more than most. Respectfully, the nurse can include the patient’s spirituality into care if the nurse has the patient’s permission, and should only do so if it aids in the healing process for that patient. It is up to the nurse to use their nursing judgment to ensure the patient is being cared for in the best way possible.

DQ6

Re: Topic 1 DQ 2

A number of issues highlighted in the readings are interesting in one way or the other. However, the most interesting aspect in my view is that which touches on the changes that have been experienced in nursing over time. There are different personalities whose role in the development of nursing cannot be underestimated, Florence Nightingale being one of them.

Shelly & Miller (2006) noted that her role greatly influenced the starting of this career. Nightingale was the founder of a school that educated the people on how they could carry out nursing practices at the basic level. The interesting part about this history is that some of the teachings she provided back then are still in use in modern nursing practices.

Nightingale’s emphasis was on nursing and taking care for the sick as opposed to dealing with the sickness whereas modern definition for nursing goes further to incorporate care for the whole being (Shelly, & Miller, 2006). This is a useful aspect of understanding how this field has evolved.

My view on the analysis of disease and healing can be looked at from the perspective of the role of science and religion in attending to patients. Individual beliefs and preferences may be used to determine the decision one makes as it may either be based on factors such as religion and science (Meilaender, 2013).

Accepting the use of the concepts of clinical diagnosis and treatments with bias to the spiritual effect on healing, patients can identify a more significant concern on their lives by those taking care of them. The patients can exercise faith in God while trusting that the medical practitioners will offer them quality care that will help them to heal (Meilaender, 2013). When a patient has high belief in recovery and the process of care, the probability of healing will rise through spiritual and physical healing.

References
  • Shelly, J. A., & Miller, A. B. (2006). Called to care: A Christian worldview for nursing. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic/InterVarsity Press. 
  • Meilaender, G. (2013). Bioethics: A Primer for Christians ( 3rd Ed). Grand Rapids, Michigan / Cambridge, U.K: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company

EXTRA CREDIT QUESTION Re: Topic 1 DQ 1 This Week’s CAT Week 1 CAT:

All:

Each week, I will post a specific Classroom Assessment Tool (CAT) that helps gauge how well you are learning a key component of that week’s new information. The CAT will be posted within one of your weekly DQ forums. You still need to respond to the actual DQ for points, but responding to the CAT does count as a participation post. This week’s CAT:

Please choose one topic and discuss it in 200 words or less.

  • List some of the pop culture caricature portrayals of Christians and present evidence to the contrary, including Christians you know personally. You should begin your answer with a definition (in your own words) of “caricature.” or;
  • Identify a medical decision that a patient or family might have to make that involves only scientific or medical considerations; If you are not able to identify such a potential decision, discuss why.
Read Chapter 1 from Practicing Dignity.

URL: https://www.gcumedia.com/digital-resources/grand-canyon-university/2020/practicing-di gnity_an-introduction-to-christian-values-and-decision-making-in-health-care_1e.php