Death and Dying Cultural Report Topic Needed

TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN · Feb 12, 2011

You could discuss how your responsibility to your patient may sometimes conflict with the religious beliefs of the family. For example, the family may not want you (as a nurse) to tell the patient that they are dying because of their beliefs. What is your responsibility as a nurse to prepare your patient for their death? What are your moral and legal obligations when dealing with such dilemmas? How does your own belief structure influence what you do?

SkiMama · Feb 12, 2011

You could do a comparative discussion of how grief is handled across several cultures. It would open things up a bit and there is such variety in how grieving is socially accepted across the globe.

Good luck!

anon695 · Feb 12, 2011

If nobody has picked Jewish faith, you will find a wealth of information on cultural practices and beliefs related to death and dying with that one. They have very specific practices that I don't believe any other culture has.

Hallows_Eve · Feb 13, 2011

Just some ideas to toss to you... going off of memory from Catholic school. If you go with Catholic faith, you could discuss the processes of the Anointing of the Sick and Viaticum.

There is also the cultural aspects of the patient going through Confession and receiving the Eucharist during this time, as well as the nursing aspects.

Ex: HOB for a patient depending on what they are affected with, whether they are in a condition to/should receive the wafer or Olive Oil (anointing oil) on their head and hands. Knowing when to give patient private time with the priest for confession without family being present, or keeping rosary beads or patron saints' medals nearby to give the patient comfort (and meditation in prayer to calm the vitals, potentially).

There is the aspect that mainly only priests and bishops can administer the Anointing of the Sick, as with baptisms (for babies) but anyone can do it in an emergency. Catholic Nurses may be asked by the family to fill this role, and you have the ethical question of this as well.

Also, there is the aspect of postmortem planning. I believe that many churches prefer to be called first, over a funeral home, and it can be the church who comes to take care of the body.

If there is a Catholic health system near you, you may be able to bend the ears of the nurses, priests, or nuns there.

Hope this helps!

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Feb 13, 2011

I would do something not the norm (religion) Maybe death and dying in a prison culture, What happens if an inmate is terminal or after they die. Culture is not just limited to religion. I would branch out and bring something unique.

allnurses Guide · Feb 13, 2011

Traditional Navajo do not like to die indoors, and the family will take a member home if possible. A hogan where a death has occurred is abandoned and considered unclean. State laws in NM honor traditional beliefs and allow for burials by many of our people groups, and we release bodies to family/tribal reps without major interventions. One Apache family could not touch any of the person's belongings, but we aren't allowed to keep personal effects with the body; they are supposed to not be away from the body. They agreed having her effects in security was close enough, so we packaged everything for them.