Jewish Culture?!

[LexaRN, BSN]

Ei, guys I really need your help. I was asked to make a research about the Culture, Ethnicity, and Religion that affect their communication, space, time, biological values, environmental control and social organization. And that was a had job. I just want to ask on how will I outline my project. Because when I search in the net, there's a lot of information and I don't know how to put them in one. And also if some of the people here already have a research about it could you help me where I could get some more information about it. Maybe a website? or a book? Please help me. I really need it badly.

Rain.

[rn/writer, RN]

Google "Jewish" and "culture." That should give you plenty of hits.

Probably the best place to start is to ask your instructor what kind of information is required for the assignment. Culture and religious practices in general? Or as they relate to nursing and hospital settings?

Break the assignment down into smaller pieces. If the goal is to relate Jewish religious practices and culture to a medical situation, think your way through it by looking at the things that affect a patient.

Food, medicines, having a nurse or doctor of the opposite sex, restrictions against work on the Sabbath, views on death, blood transfusion, organ donation. These are just the starting points.

See what you can find out and then come back if you need more help.

As a rule, members are happy to help students when they get stuck, but don't want to rob them of the learning opportunities that come from doing research and seeking out answers.

I wish you well in your efforts.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Which Jews?

Seriously. That's like deciding to research "Black Culture." WHICH black people?

[Jerzy Girl]

An excellent book is Transcultural Health Care A culturally competent Approach Second Edition by Larry Prunell & Betty Paulanka. This edition has a chapter for most cultures. It describes family roles, education, spiritual, communication patterns, economic factors, workforce issues, biolcultural ecology, nutrition, high risk behaviors, death rituals, healthcare practices, and heritage and residence. This is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to learn more about a particular culture/heritage.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

i would think that your instructor would have given you some kind of guideline as to what to include in your report.

i worked at a jewish nursing facility that was kosher. perhaps the most important thing that we had to know was the kosher dietary laws. they divide foods into "dairy" and "meat" groups and do not mix them at the same meal. truly kosher food does not include shellfish or pork. the dishes upon which these meals are served are also used exclusively for these meals and are kept in separate cupboards from each other. to mix them together is considered contamination. "meat" and "dairy" foods are never stored or prepared together either, so a truly kosher home, or facility, will have two refrigerators, two sinks and two cupboards to keep all these things separated. the way my facility handled this was that dishes used for "dairy" meals were one color and dishes used for "meat" meals were another color. glasses that were clear plastic were labeled "dairy" or "meat". the utensils used for these meals were distinctively different. there was also a person appointed by the local rabbi who was an authority on the kosher food laws who supervised the kitchen staff to make sure the kosher food laws were being followed. this included the way the foods were prepared.

you should also look at the various religious holidays. there are specific customs that surround each holiday. one of these holidays involves a day of fasting and if a patient wants to participate in this, then as a nurse you must find ways to accommodate this.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Have you visited your schools nursing library to see what books are available? Most schools in US have librarian who can help you discover resources available for research.

Internet searches often miss book publications that contain all the info. Little leg work: walking to library will lead one to vast amounts of stored info.

[LexaRN, BSN]

Wow, Thank you so much for all your advices. I already checked our library and I found some. I will also check the transcultural health care by larry prunell.

Thanks for the information about the separation of meat and dairy. Now I have some examples to put in my project. :balloons:

[tarapom]

just to clarify,

""meat" and "dairy" foods are never stored or prepared together either, so a truly kosher home, or facility, will have two refrigerators, two sinks and two cupboards to keep all these things separated."

it's standard practice that in a food distribution facility, like a hospital kitchen, there would be 2 refrigerators, but most people who keep kosher in their home do not have 2 refrigerators. also, i keep kosher and have only one sink, but i use basins for my meat or dairy dishes waiting to be washed.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

tarapom, www.marcusuniforms.com has long scrub skirts with big pockets that I am sure would comply with the requirements for tzinius.

And cheap!