PHI-413V Topic 2 DQ 1

How can the Christian concept of the imago Dei inform a holistic perspective of the patient within their family and community?
Initial discussion question posts should be a minimum of 200 words and include at least two references cited using APA format. Responses to peers or faculty should be 100-150 words and include one reference. Refer to “Discussion Question Rubric” and “Participation Rubric,” located in Class Resources, to understand the expectations for initial discussion question posts and participation posts, respectively.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education
This assignment aligns with AACN Core Competencies: 2.3

Solution

The Christian belief of imago Dei entails that every human being is made in the image of God and as such is valuable, worthy, and has dignity. Thus, this theological view creates a significant influence on the patients within their family and community in health care systems. Acknowledging Imago Dei leads the health care practitioner to understand that each patient is not a set of ailments or a disease, but a person who should be treated with dignity, density, and respect regardless of the nature of the ailment (Eke, 2024).

From this perspective, healthcare professionals see the patient, not just as a body with a disease or ailment, but as a person with psychosocial and spiritual aspects. It is a therapeutic model that embraces the patient physically, psychologically, socially, and spiritually by recognizing the interaction between the patient, the patient’s family, and the community. It influences healthcare providers not only to take into account the medical condition of a patient but also his or her family status, friends, and cultural, religious, and other beliefs. In this way, the identified aspects contribute to the formation of the client’s care plan, and, by jointly considering them, healthcare teams gain an understanding of how the individual’s physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs can best be met (Sequeira, 2023).

Moreover, by embracing the concept of imago Dei when interpreting patients, it becomes possible to ensure justice and equity in the health systems and the surrounding societies. It obliges the healthcare settings to erase any barriers in providing care to patients, encourage diversity, and enhance the patient and their family involvement in crises and decision-making. Finally, it is the message that the concept of imago Dei brings to healthcare practice. It results in treating each person with care and respect while acknowledging the corresponding valuable place within the familial and other communities (Ciocan, 2024).

Reference

Ciocan, C. T. (2024). Toward a theology of compassionate release: Orthodox Christianity and the dilemma of assisted eying. Confronting end-of-life realities with aith and Compassion. Dialogo, 10(2), 221-240. https://digitalcollections.tyndale.ca/handle/20.500.12730/2627

Eke, M. P. (2024). Spiritual care and the art of holistic healing at Swedish hospital in Chicago. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5417/

Sequeira, A. W. (2023). A Psychospiritual Approach to Christian Spiritual Formation (Doctoral dissertation, Tyndale University). https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=1249758

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