HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS’ RESERVATION 1

Healthcare Professional’s Reservations

Name

Institution

Course

Date
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Healthcare Professional’s Reservations

Culture defines an individual and the individual’s connection to the society.

Therefore, there are many different cultures and a nurse must seek ways of acknowledging

them in providing culturally competent care. Religion and faith is one major part of the

components that form the culture of an individual or a group (Ritter & Graham, 2017). In the

case of Sister Mary, the patient may decide to consider the condition as a test of her faith

which will affect her willingness to comply with the treatment. While spirituality and religion

are important to individuals, healthcare professionals are in most cases uncertain of these

beliefs as they have adverse effects on health outcomes. For instance, faith healing which

may become present in the case will affect the patients’ compliance level.

Psychosocial response may include frustration, shock, anger, guilt, and fatigue

associated with dealing with a patient whose religious and spiritual aspects are impeding care

approaches. The belief that God will intervene and that the current illnesses are just but a test

of the patient’s faith may have significant detrimental effects on the health outcomes of the

patient. Denying or refusing healthcare interventions as evidenced by Ritter and Graham

(2017) is part of the people’s manifestations of their faith which may not align with medical

evidence. Healthcare providers can therefore increase compliance only through educating and

sharing information with patients while acknowledging their faith. Flavo (2011) indicate that

patient education increases their literacy levels. This improves their level of participation in

care processes.
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Reference

Falvo, D. R. (2011). Effective patient education: A guide to increased adherence (4th ed.).

Boston, MA: Jones & Bartlett.

Ritter, L. A., & Graham, D. H. (2017). Multicultural health. Jones & Bartlett Learning.