Caring for a Muslim pt in PostPartum

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I am in my first year of nursing school and recently started my OB rotation. I had a woman the first day who spoke very little English. Her native language was Urdu. Her husband was with her and I think her mother was also. The husband spoke enough English to help me out. They were Muslim. My question is: Are there any special things to know about care of a pt like this after birth. I have read some about the culture, but nothing specifically pertaining to birth. I felt that b/c of the language barrier that I wasn't giving good care, even though I had made sure that all of their needs were met. Should I have done anything specific? Is there anything I should know specifically (boundaries not to cross?) I gathered that there must be a big emphasis on family after a birth (I guess that is true in many cultures). Also, privacy I know is huge. I just want to make sure that in the future, I have a better understanding and can give the best care possible. Thank you.

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.

http://islam.about.com/od/parenting/tp/Islamic-Birth-Rites.htm

Google is a wonderful thing.

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Specializes in Rehab, critical care.

When a foreign language is involved and you do not speak that language fluently, always, always get an interpreter! Why, you ask, if the family can translate? A). The family may not have the pt's best wishes in mind and only translate things they want the pt to hear.

B). Any abuse issues may go undetected without an interpreter, especially in a high risk for abuse area like OB.

Oh, and there is nothing wrong with asking them if there is anything specific culturally you can do for a better hospital experience; you are not expected to be familiar w/every culture's practices, just to ensure that they get the individualized care they need. Just ask something like...."do you have any cultural/religious practices that we should be aware of? anyone we can contact for you?" Also, never assume that just b/c someone is middle eastern that they practice islam; some people have lived here for a while and have assimilated, drive a harley, have never seen a koran, etc lol.

Good luck!! You're on a good path to being a good nurse! Just keep asking questions! :)

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dccc2012student,

I am a Muslim and so from a Muslim point of view, i think you probably did just fine. I am not a nurse yet, so i don't know what the protocols are for treating patients after birth, but for treating Muslims patients we don't have any specifics...we are just like other patients, nothing special!

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Even amongst muslims every culture is different, i.e., Anglo-American muslims, Arab muslims, Algerian muslims etc.

Some things that MIGHT be universal, ensuring privacy, make sure female providers only if at all possible, boys will be circum, will likely want to BF and room in. Family that is staying over will want to pray at certain prescribed times.

Those are some of the things I can think of offhand.

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery, Newborn, Antepartum.

Like Good Morning, Gil said, always ask if you don't know! I would rather ask and be thought of as the nurse that wanted to know, than the nurse that was disrespectful.

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Thank you very much. I guess I did alright. Hope I was respectful and gave good care. I appreciate your input.

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Specializes in wound care.

read out of the koran for like 15 minutes then prepare them a spot to pray to the east

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I am LPN and muslim, and speak urdu (Pakistani) I think you did just fine. Usually after birth, husband or anyone muslim who knows

Azan,(muslim call for Prayer) will say Azan in new born baby in right and left ear gently. other then that it is just univeral care like you would do with any other pt.

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Thank you.

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Specializes in OB/GYN,PHN, Family Planning.

My experience has been they do not like men in the room. We had one incident that the pts normal OB was a Fe was not on call and a male OB was covering. The husband DID NOT want that male OB to deliver his wife. Had to call the supervising OB -big mess. Have had Indian pts also that the husband refuses to have male techs, etc.. in the room.

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