Hey folks I would like some input please. Now, I do not want this to turn into a battle of sorts, but there are some things I must learn in order to be a well rounded nurse in a society that has culturally expanded.

As a nurse I am expected to respect and understand the needs of all cultures and religions when dealing with their medical needs.

I understand that JW's cannot accept blood or blood products, people of the Jewish faith who need a valve replacement cannot accept a valve from a pig. Those are just 2 examples of what I have learned so far.

I was wondering if you all would teach me what you all do or do not expect, in terms of what is acceptable and not accpetable in terms of your religion, if I were to be your nurse in the hospital. I must learn all religious aspects of medicine.

Thanks, and I hope to learn a lot.

Hi J_9,
With the increased interest in Buddhism, and particularly Tibetan Buddhism, it is possible you may at some time encounter some unique challenges, particularly relating to the terminally ill or dying.
One possible challenge common to all forms of Buddhism, is the great importance of the Sangha or spiritual community. Many hospitals will only allow the visitation of relatives, in extreme situations, though Buddhists consider these people to be as close as their own biological family. It is very important for the dying to have the direct, and often fairly continuous support of spiritual mentors and Dharma brothers and sisters (fellow students or close practitioners).
Tibetan Buddhism will provide unique challenges of its own.
Patients are highly likely to resist any extreme life-support measures in all Buddhist beliefs, though Tibetan Buddhists will likely also resist any form of pain nullifying or sedative medication, as they believe it of utmost importance to be as lucid as possible at the moment of death. As well, they believe some medications can block the central channel (nadi) of the body, not allowing the person's essence to properly exit the body, allowing for an optimal rebirth; or rebirth in a "pure realm", and possibly even enlightenment.
When the person is near death, it is likely someone will wish to administer a practice called the "phowa", transference of consciousness. This is often considered a very vital and beneficial act, and should be allowed whenever possible.
Finally, even after a person is declared "clinically dead", the process is not necessarily considered complete from a Buddhist perspective. In Tibetan Buddhist society, it is customary not to move the body for a certain number of days. People would also visit the body during this time, reciting from the Tibetan Book of the Dead around the clock, in order to help guide the individual through the "bardos" or between states, as it is believed the recently deceased can hear, much as a person immersed in a deep coma. It is believed that if the body is moved too soon this may upset or cause confusion for the recently deceased, and therefore hinder them on their journey toward a higher state or realm. Though climatic differences and the necessity of the bed will likely be understood, you may still encounter some resistance.
Two other things to possibly be conscious of: Try not to allow any sacred teachings or texts they might have in the room to make contact with the floor. And as well, they may object to any texts or sacred articles being placed at the foot of the bed, as the soles of the feet are associated with the hell realms.
Aside from the fact that many, if not most, will be strict vegetarians, I guess that about covers it.
And don't swat any flies that may enter the room, all life is sacred and of equal value. :)

Good question!
We aren't doing your homework now, are we? LOL, just kidding :p

A little off topic as I have no religious aspects to deal with, however I tend to be very interactive as a patient which sometimes does not mesh well with the "body mechanics" we tend to have in my area. Although I bet this is preaching to the choir, I would offer only that you ask often, "Have I answered all your questions?" at the end of every informational encounter. It is my only suggestion to all medical professionals, especially any doctors who might be reading this!

Good to see you again Thomas... your post is interesting as always!

Good thought Mom. Although I try to remember that question, I do forget.

Thomas, good to see you back. Your post was very interesting, and thought provoking as well. I will be seeing many terminally ill patients within the next month. While we do not have a large Buddhist population here, we do have a few. And this was one topic that was not covered in my Cultural Diversity course.

Although religion does play a great role in nursing, we have to put aside our beliefs and heal the people with beliefs different than ours. Culture is a major problem in nursing these days.

In some societies culture and religion go hand in hand.

Remember too Janine that polite and humble ignorance of a specific cultural or religious practice that is open to sincere and loving correction is usually a very forgivable act. While that wouldn't work for the serious situations you mention in your OP, I would hope that its pretty universal, especially in today's mixed up world, about the smaller stuff? You, of all people I know, is very capable of putting the long lost "serve" back into nursing care and it makes a big difference.

Thomas1970-
I've never come across religious Buddhist patients or this ritual. You know the hospitals may become increasing accommodating to such wishes but it may be necessary to move the body out of one unit to the morgue much sooner then your ideal.

However, Pumpkin, I have to be aware of most every practice of religion to be culturally and religiously diverse.

Here where I live, in Memphis, we are a very diverse population. Not sure about you, but with St. Jude's and all we are extremely diverse.

I just wanted to be sure that I know of many of the religious practices involved with the nation's culture today.

You may not have encountered this, I may not either, but it is a good thing to know if I ever come across this.

As I stated in my OP, "I do not want this to become a battle of sorts" so even though you have not encountered it, neither have you experienced it.

This thread is not a battle of wits, nor is it an I know more than you know thread. This thread is specifically for informational and educational purposes.

So, if you wish to post your religious preferences here in case I am the nurse treating you on your last day, please do so. But please do not criticize someone else's religious preferences or beliefs unless you have experienced them firsthand.

THAT IS NOT WHY I STARTED THIS THREAD!! Yes, I am yelling, you did not provide any information that I asked for in my OP.

P.S. Thomas, thank you for the info, it was very informative and I will be sure to keep it in mind. It is very interesting information, and a very interesting religion to boot.

I guess I did not make this clear. This thread is about religious TOLERANCE, not intolerance.

Those of us in the medical profession must be tolerant of every religion we may or may not encounter.

If you plan on disagreeing with a post here, please be able to back your disagreement up with fact so that I will know that I am going to go into a situation with knowledge, not personal ingorance.

I will soon have a very important job to do and I want to be able to treat each individual with the respect and dignity that they deserve.

Hi Val. Hi J_9. Good to be back, and good to see you as well.
Hi 31pumpkin. Though you may not have as yet encountered these situations, it never hurts to be knowledgeable and prepared. Remember, their faith is as important to them as yours is to you.
You would most likely encounter certain challenges with Tibetan Buddhist followers, particularly native Tibetan refugees. Though there may not be many in Florida, there are in the Boston area, close to where I am originally from, as well as parts of CT, where I now live. Though not that far north from you in Charlottesville, VA, is one of the largest Tibetan communities in the world, outside of northern India.
I'm not asking you to embrace such beliefs, only to be aware of how you would wish to be treated in your final moments, human to human.
I personally respect the need to move the deceased in most modern situations, just keep in mind that there is a potential that it could be distressful to some of the living. Part of the job of nursing is, I feel, to help comfort those that are left behind.

That is just part and parcel to what I am asking for Thomas. Thank you once again for your input.

No, Mom, this is not homework, so to speak, but it is something I will deal with in the future.

Thomas, I am very interested in what you have to teach. Another topic though.

Part of nursing is to take care of the suffering client, no matter the religion, and taking care of the family, whether the patient is dying or not, and if the patient does pass, to take care of the family.

This is rather new to the nursing experience since our culture became so diverse in the recent years. We are now REQUIRED to know about many different cultures and religions.

J9-

With regards to your OP, I can say that in the hospital patients can be more or less culturally diverse. I probably spent more time studying about the religious practices than even encountering them. A special diet here, maybe someone refusing blood there- but it's mostly culture at best. Nurses have to pay attention to the medical care, which is 99% Leaving 1% for everything else.

If you work in ICU- you may encounter Christians , for example, with family & clergy with Bibles praying for or with the patient-just asking for a little privacy for a while.

Well I'm sorry you took my post so badly. I hope your B/P is back to normal (not a joke-remember?)

My apologies,
Lee

Never underestimate the value of culture.
Personally, I feel nursing is 99% compassion, 1% everything else. Listening is still the best way to alleviate anyone's suffering. The most advanced medicine in the world may not help someone suffering from advanced cancer, if they don't feel adequately supported and encouraged to maintain a positive frame of mind.

I do agree that we have to learn possible more about culture, and will deal less with religion. However, I live in the Bible Belt. Almost every religion you can think of comes through the doors of St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, The Med, and Lehboneur's Children's Medcial Center.

People are flown to these hospitals from many different states due to the medical technology in these hosptials.

I have see the Asians, Buddhists, Jehovah's Witnesses and so on. So, I am quite interested in how to put aside my own beliefs for these people and help to heal them holisitcally, which means to learn their culture as well as their religion. Living in a culutrally diverse area I am already aware of the cultures I encounter on a daily basis, but not the particular religions.

Actually, I think all indicators are that the US is only going to become more and more culturally and religiously diversified and there is considerable talk on my radar about making a country that was founded on religious freedom one that is supportive in all kinds of ways of other religions -- not just in health care but all sorts of industries and professions. Ecumenical councils talk of this often and at length. So are some of the big picture think tanks who's hope is that the US will be the world stage where a broadbased, works-for-everyone solution to religious conflict emerges. Pretty exciting stuff! So your question could not be more timely Janine.

As far a JW not accepting blood. They are not accepting it because of a verse in a bible that says do not eat anything with blood. Do not accept food with blood because blood is what gives life. It does not say anything about accepting blood through medical means. There is by way no means of eating blood when you are having a transfusion.

Another part of the bible, J9 I will look it up later but it also says that doctors are here to help sick people and when we are sick we need to be able to accept their help because God is the one who gives these people gifts of medical knowledge in order to help the sick.

So my thinking and the way I interpret the bible. We are going against Gods will if we do not accept medical help from somebody who God has given the gift of healing too. That means using medicine and all things that are able to prolong our life and make it comfortable.

Joe

Joe, I have to disagree with you about the blood. I have a friend who is a JW and she specifically told me that they are not to receive any blood or blood products.

There is a form in our hospital that JWs sign if they may possibly need a transfusion that specifically waives their rights to a transfusion even if it means they will bleed to death.

They cannot receive any plasma that is made of blood products, no medicine that is made of blood products.

There reasoning for not accepting it is because of the verse that I just told you. They interpret the verse differently and because of that a lot of people have died because they refused or that they refused blood transfusions for their young children. I am not against JW, even went to one of there churches because my Step Granny was JW. I know you do not want a debate but I am just stating the fact of where they get there belief from and how they intrepret it in my opinion wrong. It has killed lots of people, that other wise would have been alive.

I appreciate that you disagree with me but denying somebody treatment that is necessary for their survival and do not get it, to me is manslaughter. Like the story of a little boy got stung by bees and instead of getting medical care they had a bunch of children and adults stand around him and pray. What happened. The boy died. Is this JW, no. It is just an example of religious interference that cost a boy his life.

Just as a side note though, I have also heard that JW's will not accept blood products. Though curiously, I also once witnessed a Muslim openly refuse court mandated tests, on the basis of relinquishing his DNA. I do not know if this is common, or where this belief stems from. Sadly, it drew more quiet laughter than anything.