In 200-250 words, respond to the following: How would a spiritual needs assessment help the physician assist Mike in determining appropriate interventions for James and for his family or others involved in his care?

The significance of Mike and his wife, Joanne, Christian faith in their lives is demonstrated by their first decision to choose faith healing over emergency dialysis, even though their doctor had advised it due to their son’s health. Religion is essential to many families in varying degrees, especially during life and death, and therefore, all families have the right to be provided with care that is considerate and respectful of their religious beliefs (Camara & Rosengarten, 2021). Nurses and healthcare professionals, in their patient assessments, must help them provide physiological care and thoroughly assess their patients’ spiritual health in order for them to provide culture- and faith-sensitive care (Green, 2021). The attending physician caring for James should conduct a spiritual needs assessment on Mike and the family in order to understand their Christian beliefs and values and how their faith in God is a source of support for the family. The information the physician will gain from the spiritual health assessment is useful in a number of ways. Firstly, it will help the physician tailor the medical intervention in a manner that incorporates the family’s Christian faith. Such care will address Mike’s concerns about the utilization of medical interventions as a Christian, as well as help the physician guide Mike in balancing his Christian faith with the benefits of medical care. The physician will also be able to communicate openly with Mike and his family in a manner that not only helps understand kidney failure and acute glomerulonephritis, associated complications, and risks but also the urgency for medical care and the available medical options for care. Such open communication and helping Mike understand his son’s current health conditions will help him trust the medical interventions and be willing to make the most beneficial decision for his son’s health.

Given that Christians’ decisions and actions are heavily influenced by their Christian faith (Camara & Rosengarten, 2021), the spiritual needs assessment will assist the doctor in comprehending Mike’s viewpoints regarding his son’s medical conditions as well as the rationale behind the decisions the doctor deems harmful and irrational. This understanding can help the physician to further educate Mike on the son’s condition, as well as help Mike be involved in making the right decisions that benefit James’ health. In this case, assessing Mike’s spiritual needs will not only help provide faith- and spiritually-sensitive care for James and his family, but it will also help promote collaborative decision-making. In all cases, the decisions the physician makes and the actions he takes, including advocating for James, educating Mike and his family on James’ condition, and medical interventions, as well as assessing Mike’s spiritual needs, reflect accountability and adherence to professional standards of practice, person-centered care, and participatory approach to care.

References

Bogue, D. W., & Hogan, M. (2022). Practicing Dignity: An Introduction to Christian Values and Decision Making in Health Care (2nd ed.). Grand Canyon University. https://lc.gcumedia.com/phi413v/practicing-dignity-an-introduction-to-christian-values-and-decision-making-in-health-care/v1.1/#/chapter/1