Nursing implications
As we read, the Baha’I faith shares many views with contemporary nursing theory and Western medicine. Baha’i followers are ready to turn toward the later one whenever necessary. Knowledge and research are important for the Baha’i, and they are looking forward to the next breakthroughs in western science. They believe that these new discoveries will only confirm their belief in a thigh interrelation between the body, the soul, the community, and the rest of the universe.
Nursing also believes in a thigh interrelation between the bio-psycho-social dimensions of health and illness. Because of these similarities and the importance the Baha’i followers attach to a healthy lifestyle, prevention teaching and measures might be better received by Baha’is than in the general population. The nurse could even use medical knowledge as a basis to validate her arguments. Her teaching will also be much facilitated by the great importance that education holds in the Baha’i faith.
In fact, the Western’s most revolutionary conception of health and illness, with its attempts to democratize medical knowledge and focus on prevention and the Baha’i faith agrees perfectly. The most recent nursing and social models I’ve learned, like the Ecological Framework, the Calgary Family Intervention Model and the McGill model of nursing, would be the most efficient ones to apply when working with a Baha’i patient. A nurse working with Baha’i patients would be wise to integrate the family or even the community in the care plan, as many illnesses, according to the Baha’i faith, can be the result of disunity between the person and his or her environment. Letting the family or the community members visit the patient might also facilitate recovery.
But these similarities between the Baha’i view of health and illness and our own body of knowledge must not let us forget that we are dealing with a religion emphasizing the spiritual dimension of health and illness. Patient must be allowed time to pray and meditate. Between the 2 and the 20 of March, Baha’i patients will need to fast between sunrise and sunset, but will continue to take their medication as prescribed.
Compliance to medication might be a problem in some other cases. While following the doctor’s prescription is in accordance with the Baha’i faith when the person is sick, Abdul-Abba clearly advised: “Do not neglect medical treatment when it is necessary, but leave it off when health has been restored. Treat disease through diet, by preference, refraining from the use of drugs; and if you find what is required in a single herb, do not resort to a compound medicament. ... Abstain from drugs when the health is good, but administer them when necessary.” (Abdul-Abba, 1990)
This might make it challenging to convince patients to follow prophylactic prescription or to continue to take any medication after they feel better. Taking many pills might also be difficult for a Baha’i follower. In those cases, the most helpful approach might be to limit the amount of pills to the strict minimum and accompany each pill with a good teaching regarding its use to prevent illness. Encouraging a healthy lifestyle, on the other hand, might be much easier with Baha’i than with the general population.
Nursing also believes in a thigh interrelation between the bio-psycho-social dimensions of health and illness. Because of these similarities and the importance the Baha’i followers attach to a healthy lifestyle, prevention teaching and measures might be better received by Baha’is than in the general population. The nurse could even use medical knowledge as a basis to validate her arguments. Her teaching will also be much facilitated by the great importance that education holds in the Baha’i faith.
In fact, the Western’s most revolutionary conception of health and illness, with its attempts to democratize medical knowledge and focus on prevention and the Baha’i faith agrees perfectly. The most recent nursing and social models I’ve learned, like the Ecological Framework, the Calgary Family Intervention Model and the McGill model of nursing, would be the most efficient ones to apply when working with a Baha’i patient. A nurse working with Baha’i patients would be wise to integrate the family or even the community in the care plan, as many illnesses, according to the Baha’i faith, can be the result of disunity between the person and his or her environment. Letting the family or the community members visit the patient might also facilitate recovery.
But these similarities between the Baha’i view of health and illness and our own body of knowledge must not let us forget that we are dealing with a religion emphasizing the spiritual dimension of health and illness. Patient must be allowed time to pray and meditate. Between the 2 and the 20 of March, Baha’i patients will need to fast between sunrise and sunset, but will continue to take their medication as prescribed.
Compliance to medication might be a problem in some other cases. While following the doctor’s prescription is in accordance with the Baha’i faith when the person is sick, Abdul-Abba clearly advised: “Do not neglect medical treatment when it is necessary, but leave it off when health has been restored. Treat disease through diet, by preference, refraining from the use of drugs; and if you find what is required in a single herb, do not resort to a compound medicament. ... Abstain from drugs when the health is good, but administer them when necessary.” (Abdul-Abba, 1990)
This might make it challenging to convince patients to follow prophylactic prescription or to continue to take any medication after they feel better. Taking many pills might also be difficult for a Baha’i follower. In those cases, the most helpful approach might be to limit the amount of pills to the strict minimum and accompany each pill with a good teaching regarding its use to prevent illness. Encouraging a healthy lifestyle, on the other hand, might be much easier with Baha’i than with the general population.
posted by karine at 10:50 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home