[ShayRN]

I work at an inpatient Hospice facility. Last week we had an elderly Mexican patient that was actively dying for 3 days. The last day I was with him, the family had placed a key in his hand. I didn't ask, because they were all so emotional. But I am curious, is this a cultural thing, or maybe they just placed it there because he was "reaching" like our patients sometimes do in the end.

[edgwow]

How about a key to the wife's heart so he knew in words how much she loved him? May be wrong, but at least romantic!!

[CHATSDALE]

maybe it was a family thing...i have never heard of a cultural thing like this

[SweetieRN]

Maybe it was a key to the kingdom of heaven?

[RTstudent]

Originally Posted by CHATSDALE

maybe it was a family thing...i have never heard of a cultural thing like this

im mexican and we don't ever do that , maybe it's a family thing. I'm Catholic so who knows maybe a different religion does this