Caring for the Dying muslim patient

[zahraa ali]

hi, everybody

any one had previous experience of caring for the dying muslim patient , how we can deal with

[Dixielee, BSN, RN]

I don't know specifically about Muslim culture and customs, but regardless of religion or ethnicity, everyone deserves to be cared for compassionately and dignity. I think that crosses cultural constraints. I would assume either the patient or a family member could advise you of specific requests. As all Christians do not think and act alike, the same would hold for Muslims.

[systoly]

All my patients get better.

[Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN]

You need to talk to the family.

If my memory serves me correctly, after death only people of the Muslim faith are to touch /prepare the body. You will probably be given a number to call when death occurs - they will bring their own supplies etc and will attend to the body.

[najah-al]

hi i am najah i am a muslim nurse, the family would like to be present at the time of death so that they will help her /him to say the shahadh which is the last words of islam the other preprations will be given by the family.

[mindlor]

Najah, is it true that devout Muslims prefer to be cared for be same sex nurses. Females caring for females and males caring for males?

[GHGoonette, BSN, RN]

Hi mindlor, I can't answer your question with anything like Najah's authority, but our patient population is about 40% Muslim. There is a different dynamic, as the majority of our Muslim community are "evangelized" Muslims, in that they converted to the faith. Consequently, the taboos that hold sway in strictly Islamic countries are less in evidence.

Yes, amongst the more devout, there is a preference not to be touched by members of the opposite sex, but common sense also plays its part. If medical care is urgent, the gender of the care provider is not an issue. In non-emergent cases, there may be a tendency to "wait a while" if the condition arises during one of the fast periods.

One of our doctors is an elder in the faith - I'm not sure of the actual term, but he is ranked similar to what my church would refer to as a "deacon", or minor official. Being very devout, there are times when he recoils from physical contact with his scrub or circulating staff, but at others has stood literally shoulder to shoulder next to me while talking to one of his patients post-op.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

If you're a student, your school's Muslim Student Association (if there is one) or a local mosque might be able to help.