Treating the Muslim patient

[Inspired By Silence]

I'm still in my nursing prerequsite phase of college, but I have some concerns about treating Muslim patients and would like some clarification. I'm very eager to make sure my patients are comfortable with the level of care I provide and are comfortable with my role as a MALE nurse.

Now, my first concern is that Muslims do not believe males should handle the role of the nurse and thus refuse to be treated by male nurses. Is this true? If so, how can I handle such a situation should it present itself?

Should the above statement be false and Muslims do appreciate male nurses, what are their strict standards for giving them intimate care such as sponge baths and foley catheters? Do male and female Muslims have different requirements for their care?

What other situations involve carefulness so as to avoid disrespecting their sensitive beliefs? Anything particular involving pediatric Muslim patients?

I hope you can see that I want to come off as culturally competent and do not want to cause embarrassment or disrespect to any of my future patients. Part of the reason I'm taking a class on ASL and deaf culture.

[skylark, BSN, RN]

holy ignorance, batman!

it has nothing to do with their views of gender roles, it is about their views of modesty.

I'm not sure who that comment was aimed at, but there are certainly two issues here, modesty and the role of women in islamic society.Their role can vary for cultural reasons, for example, Iranian women are clearly property, while some more westernized cultures allow womem to work and go out alone.

As I said, the city where I am is predominately muslim, and for that reason, the more traditional cultures remain. Chaperones are necessary even if going to the grocery store, they need to have a male relative with them at all times, and cannot speak directly to a male who is not a relative, (even if they are a nurse, doctor, or intepreter, which causes a lot of problems).

Can I suggest two things for those who do not work in a muslim culture?

Firstly,watch a movie called "Not without my daughter", its on youtube, and tells the story of an American woman who married an Iranian. They went Iran to se his relatives, and her role changed drastically, not even the US Embassy could over-ride the fact that she was his property.

Second, find some books by a guy called Patrick Soodheko, (sp?), he is a convert from islam to Christianity, and describes from an 'insider' perspective what living under islam is like.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

There are plenty of other books too.

'In the Land of Invisible Women' by Qanta Ahmed.

'Nine Parts of Desire' by Geraldine Brooks

'The Bread of Angels' by Stephanie Saldana

'Tea with Hezbollah' by Carl Medearis and Ted Dekker

You can find negative and positive in any culture. There is plenty to critique in American culture too.

[waterlily777]

Check out "Daughters of Another Path" and "Easily Understanding Islam".

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

I think the complexities that have come up with providing culturally competent care are really just an outgrowth of this hole switch to a "customer focused" health care paradigm. The hole thing is nonsense really! I think wherever possible guide your actions with respect. But having said that, we are highly trained health care professionals providing life or death skills to patients; we are not diplomats.

When would your actions ever not be guided with respect?

I've dealt with violently psychotic individuals, and we did what we had to do, but were never disrespectful. Being brusque & leaping into action in an emergency is one thing, disrespect is another.

And why is a "customer focus" wrong? People come in; sick, scared, angry, exhausted. We need to do the best we can to provide them the best experience that we can (yes, I do hands on care). It's not a hotel, not a spa, but why wouldn't we want to create as positive experience. Don't forget, health care is competitive, and in most cases people have choices in where to go for their care. If you want your institution to stay open, you want to continue to be employed in a facility you can be proud of, you need to treat your customers as adults who participate in their care, not passive patients.

[Fiona59]

When would your actions ever not be guided with respect?

I've dealt with violently psychotic individuals, and we did what we had to do, but were never disrespectful. Being brusque & leaping into action in an emergency is one thing, disrespect is another.

And why is a "customer focus" wrong? People come in; sick, scared, angry, exhausted. We need to do the best we can to provide them the best experience that we can (yes, I do hands on care). It's not a hotel, not a spa, but why wouldn't we want to create as positive experience. Don't forget, health care is competitive, and in most cases people have choices in where to go for their care. If you want your institution to stay open, you want to continue to be employed in a facility you can be proud of, you need to treat your customers as adults who participate in their care, not passive patients.

Your final paragraph summed up what is wrong with healthcare. Americans see it as a moneymaking business.

Canadians and Europeans see it as a basic human right.

[Cul2]

"Your final paragraph summed up what is wrong with healthcare. Americans see it as a moneymaking business. Canadians and Europeans see it as a basic human right."

Very true. But what's happening in health care is part of a much bigger picture. Corporate culture, the "for profit" culture, now dominates. It's always been there. America is a capitalist country. But big business now has taken over all aspects of our lives. It was President Eisenhower who first used the phrase, the "Military Industrial Complex." We now have the "Medical Industrial Complex," the "Media Industrial Complex," the "Banking Industrial Complex," the "Educational Industrial Complex," etc. Use a flow chart. You can trace every profit making venture in all these areas back to a very few major corporations who control everything. Follow the money.