Does anyone here know Vietnamese culture?

Specialties Private Duty

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Specializes in Peds, developmental disability.

Usually will a Vietnamese family have a no- shoes- in -the -house rule?

For some reason the agency does not know....

I do plan to bring slippers.

Thanks in advance. :yawn:

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Specializes in Peds(PICU, NICU float), PDN, ICU.

I worked for a family from Thailand. While they took their shoes off, they didn't expect the nurses to. They let us be us, while they lived the way they knew. I always do research about the family culture that I will be working in. Sometimes its what the family expects and other times the family doesn't expect you to follow their culture. If you can find out ahead of time somehow, it may make you more comfortable.

I worked for a Muslim family that expected us to follow their religious rules while we were in the home. That was hard! And very uncomfortable. But doesn't mean all are like that. I worked for another Muslim family that was understanding of the nurses and their beliefs.

I worked for a Korean family and they were tough. They went through nurses faster than most people change their underwear. They didn't speak a word of English and that made things very complicated.

I've worked for quite a few Mexican families and all have been very different from each other...even when they came from the same area of Mexico.

I'm sure if I thought more, I'd think of other experiences. I've never had a problem asking the families what they expect. I also ask the families about things they don't like, to avoid any future issues. Hope that helps.

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I worked for a Muslim family that expected us to follow their religious rules while we were in the home.

I'm curious what religious rules you were expected to follow?

As a Christian, that would probably be a deal breaker for me.

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Specializes in Peds(PICU, NICU float), PDN, ICU.

It was difficult. I left that case quickly! Its been a while so I may have some of these backwards with right and left. I hope this does not come across as disrespectful to anyone that is Muslim, as that is not my intention.

We couldn't bring pork products in. Not a problem for me, but other nurses had problems. We had to step in the bathroom with the left foot and leave with the right foot. There were 2 sinks in the bathroom. One for "clean"things to be washed and the other for dirty items. We were only allowed to wash our hands in the dirty sink in the bathroom. We had to be quiet during prayer times. We weren't allowed to wear shoes in the house. As a female, we were expected to do as the dad said without question or suggesting anything. They had cameras everywhere. They would take the child in their room for hours sometimes and leave us in the kids room without TV or radio and no cell phones allowed. They expected the kid to be suctioned at the slightest sound. The kid drooled heavily and they wouldn't tolerate him being "dirty"in the slightest. They had a schedule of where he had to be and what he had to be doing, which included their religious rituals. This was a kid that had no potential to do anything more than lay there due to his diagnosis. I know there is more, but its been a long time. It was awkward and uncomfortable. I remember the mom would rush to cover herself when men would come to the home. She was also expected to cook, clean, etc at his demand. Oh yeah, when the kid was with his dad in the parents room and would soil his diaper, the dad would bring him in for us to change the kid and then the dad would take the kid back.

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Specializes in Peds(PICU, NICU float), PDN, ICU.

To add, I'm a Christian as well. My personal opinion is that while I disagree with the Muslim religion, they have the right to believe and live the way they choose as long as they don't harm others...just as much as I have the right to believe what I choose to believe. And I was there to do a job, not judge their easy of living. I left because I couldn't keep up with all of their requirements and needs! It was too much! And a solid white room with no TV or radio or cell phone was awful. I'd walk out of the house and the color would just explode from outside.

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To add I'm a Christian as well. My personal opinion is that while I disagree with the Muslim religion, they have the right to believe and live the way they choose as long as they don't harm others...just as much as I have the right to believe what I choose to believe. And I was there to do a job, not judge their easy of living. I left because I couldn't keep up with all of their requirements and needs! It was too much! And a solid white room with no TV or radio or cell phone was awful. I'd walk out of the house and the color would just explode from outside.[/quote']

Oh, I agree they can live and believe as they wish, but I draw the line at partaking in someone else's religious practices. That's just me.

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Specializes in Peds, developmental disability.

Well, that turned into a whole other subject! So, it came to pass, no shoes. And they are very nice, hospitable and thankful. The house is spotless, and religion is no issue at all.

Perks galore.

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Specializes in Peds(PICU, NICU float), PDN, ICU.

Great! I hope it stays that way for you!

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Sounds good, Texan!

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