Religion is a significant aspect of human experience that can provide a framework for an individual's response to a health challenge or transition. Individual religious beliefs, or those of a patient's family or community, may influence health care decisions and provide a means for coping. This book provides accessible and comprehensive information about various religions, offering nurses insight into their patients' religious beliefs and practices nad thereby enhancing therapeutic care. The centerpiece of this book is the compilation about diverse religions written by highly knowledgeable religionists. The reference includes information, formatted concisely and consistently, on a religion's history and theology; views on health and suffering, explanations for disease; beliefs and practices related to birthing, childrearing, and dying; healing rituals; corporate religious resources for the sick; and more. Prefacing this information are chapters discussing clinical aspects of addressing religion at the bedside. These include strategies for sensitive and respectful communication about religion with patients, assessing a patient's religious beliefs, supporting bedside rituals that are part of a patient's religion, and understanding ethical and legal considerations. The book also provides a comprehensive list of additional resources.

Section I - Exploring the relationship between religion, patients, and nursing -- Chapter 1: Religion at the Bedside -- Chapter 2: Talking with Patients about Religion -- Chapter 3: Assessment of Religiosity -- Chapter 4: Key Religious Rituals: How Clinicians Can Care -- Chapter 5: Legal Perspectives on Addressing Religion in Nursing Care -- Chapter 6: Ethical Perspectives for Addressing Religions in Nursing Care -- Chapter 7: The Nurse as a Religious Person -- Section II: Religious Beliefs and Practices -- Anabaptist-descended groups (eg, Mennonites) -- Anglican/Episcopal -- Atheist -- Baptist -- Buddhist -- Christian Science -- Christian Orthodox -- Hindu -- IFCA International -- Islam -- Jehovah's Witness -- Judaism -- Latter-day Saints -- Lutherans -- Methodists -- Neopagan -- Pentecostal -- Presbyterian/Reformed -- Roman Catholic -- Seventh-day Adventist -- Sikh -- Unitarian Universalist.Susan Ritchie. Religion at the bedside : why? / Talking with patients about religion / Assessing religiosity / Supporting religious rituals / Legal perspectives / Ethical perspectives / Integrating personal religiosity with professional practice / Anabaptist-descended groups : Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites / Anglicans and Episcopalians / Atheists / Baptists / Buddhists / Christian Scientists / Hindus / IFCA International Christians / Jehovah's Witnesses / Jews / Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) / Lutherans / Methodists (Wesleyans) / Modern pagans / Muslims / Orthodox Christians / Pentecostals / Presbyterians and others in the Reformed tradition / Roman Catholics / Seventh-Day Adventists / Sikhs / Unitarian Universalists /