Religious Diversity

RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY

You need to be aware of the different religious practices that can affect your care of the patient. Different religions have different rules about healthcare and different ways that they conduct themselves around illness and death.

In Buddhism, mindfulness” is a part of their belief system. Patients may ask for some period of peace or quiet in order to meditate. Modesty is very important, particularly around the opposite gender. Many are vegetarian so they won t take medicines that contain animal products. They may reject medications that cloud their consciousness, including analgesia. They prefer analgesics that do not cloud their thinking.

Chanting or praying out loud is common with Buddhism and a picture of the Buddha may be in the room. They prepare deeply for dying so they may not wish to be disturbed if death is imminent. Death is seen as a transition rather than an end to life. Do not handle the body aggressively after death because they do not believe the soul leaves immediately after death. Religious rites may need to be done by family members after death, which may take hours to accomplish. Organ donation is not generally asked for or desired by Buddhists.

In caring for patients of the Catholic faith, you need to be aware that there will be a focus on sacraments from a Catholic priest with the Last Rites or Sacrament of the Sick done when the patient is very ill or near death. There may be a request for Holy Communion, which involves eating a small wafer. Baptism will be requested if an infant is likely to die, although this rite can be done by anyone with the right intent, including a healthcare person.

Holy Communion may be requested by the patient when they are supposed to have nothing by mouth. This should be cleared by the physician. They often carry religious objects, such as rosaries, on their person, which they may request, even if they are stripped of their clothing. Catholics may also be upset if they might miss Sunday services or Mass and they may seek the advice of the priest about withholding life-saving measures in certain circumstances. There may be times when Catholics do not eat meat.

Hindu patients are extremely concerned with modesty around the opposite gender, even if the person is their spouse. Like Buddhists, they tend to be strictly vegetarian and may have times where they wish to fast. Washing up implies running water rather than sponge bathing. The right and is used for clean” things and the left hand is used for things like toileting. They may wear certain religious jewelry. Death is considered a transition and many prefer to die at home. Family may wish to constantly attend to the deceased person s body for an extended period of time.

Jehovah s Witnesses have a strict belief against getting any type of blood products, even if it is their own blood given back to them. Some will allow certain things found in blood, like immunoglobulin or albumin, to be given and some will allow organ donation or organ transplantation. They will otherwise accept most other treatments. They do not belief in faith-healing and do not believe in an immediate afterlife. They do not celebrate popular holidays or birthdays.

Jewish patients may observe the Sabbath from Friday at sundown to Saturday at sundown. Only life-saving procedures are done that day. Jewish holidays of Passover, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are strictly adhered to. Some Jewish people will follow a Kosher diet and some are extremely modest around people of the opposite sex. End of life care may wish to be withheld and, after the patient dies, burial must happen quickly. They may often request the advice of a rabbi. Some Jewish patients may wish to wear a yarmulke or skull cap or a prayer shawl.

Muslim patients often have strong beliefs around modesty and may request their clothing be kept on. They follow a specific diet that avoids gelatin and pork products and many will be vegetarian. Alcohol is strictly avoided. Washing means using running water and they tend to pray five times a day. They may refuse pain medication because they are so emotionally reserved. They do not like to withdraw life-sustaining therapy but have family members stay with the dying person. They may wish to die with their head facing Mecca with burial as soon as possible. They celebrate Ramadan with fasting during the daytime hours for a month.

Pentecostal patients often pray loudly with others and practice speaking in tongues. They often pray in large groups and have strong beliefs regarding miraculous healing.