Question

When it comes to facilitating spiritual care for patients with worldviews different from your own, what are your strengths and weaknesses? If you were the patient, who would have the final say in terms of ethical decision-making and intervention in the event of a difficult situation?

Answer 1

The spiritual worldview of an individual is entirely different from the others because it is perceived in different ways by different people. It includes the incorporation of popular or common beliefs and references, which leads to framing some assumptions about existence. The personal spiritual worldview of an individual is important as it strongly influences their behavior, habits, relationships, and professional work.

The nurses should not induce their own worldview on the patient’s spiritual view. However, sharing the view with each other’s consent can be okay as long as the conversation is focused on the patient’s perspective.

Religion and spirituality should be considered as personal views of an individual, which makes us less to interfere with the other’s opinions and make assumptions about their wishes and practices. Understanding the patient’s spiritual world view also helps to plan interventions that work best for them. This approach also helps in making the patients commit to treatment regimens and include healthy living practices. Building a close patient relationship is also a key step in providing spiritual care to patients.