Muslim Nurse aide

Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN · Sep 7, 2013

What are the sort of restrictions a muslim nurse aide would have?
My facility has hired one. I have no problem with it. Except now there are rumors going about that no man can touch her unless she is providing care(some of the men on the units are touchy/huggy-type of people), she refuses to do some parts of care like baths, she wrote up a male CNA for touching her non-sexually as he passed by, can't work in the dining room (it takes almost all the aides to feed everyone), no postmortem care, and other stuff. I'm not sure what part of this is just rumor or what possible restrictions she would have due to her religion. Overall from the rumors, I would be afraid that an LTC could be inappropriate for her. Especially if she was pulled to another unit like the alzheimer's unit (I've had a man chase me to give me a hug!), I could see issues arising.
Thanks for anyone that could help!

I'm not muslim, but I don't like "strange" men grabbing, hugging and touching me, either. Even "non-sexual" touching from a coworker can be harassing if the coworker has been told to stop and continues. I've never written a coworker up for touching me, but I have slapped one hard across the face.

As for refusing to do baths and postmortem care, those could be issues, but you are dealing with a rumor. Try not to condem this girl before you work with her or even meet her.

Glycerine82, LPN · Sep 8, 2013

Yeah I'd find out what about the above is actually true....a pat on the back ....over board...a hug without permission, I can undestand (from a coworker) as far as unwelcomed touching from patients....its to be expected but should be corrected right away.

Refusal to provide post mortem carw or assist feeding and baths would mean the job requirements aren't met I would think. In this kind of setting you must be able to do that stuff physically (and spirituality I'd think as well )

Or why apply for the job??

duskyjewel · Sep 9, 2013

I'm a serious, practicing, orthodox Catholic, which means there are moral boundaries I can't cross in my care. However, it would be completely unfair for me to even bother applying for, much less to accept, a job at Planned Parenthood or a contraception clinic, then say I can't do A, B and C because of my religion. That would be irritating and stupid for me to do, and wouldn't give anyone a very nice opinion of the religion I represent. So if this Muslim woman accepted a job in a facility where she knew she would have to put unreasonable restrictions on her work that are unfair to her coworkers, that's crappy of her, and frankly, the facility should tell her to perform her job functions or pack her stuff. But I agree that so far these are just rumors, so just hang back and watch to see what is the truth before reacting in any way. I do think it would be perfectly fair for the other aides to protest, though, if their workload is increased by one person refusing to do certain parts of her job. That's not fair. And we all have a responsibility to make sure that we are prepared to do the job we are hired for before taking one. There are plenty of places for me to work where I won't have to compromise my moral boundaries. My Catholicism is a big part of why I work in hospice, but there are plenty of other venues where I could provide care inside the confines of my religious laws. It's my obligation to remain in those venues. If unexpectedly asked to do something that violated the parameters inside which I live, I would refuse. But taking a job where you KNOW you won't be able to do certain of the functions up front is just wrong. I would think you'd have to lie in order to get the job in the first place.

Or it could be that the administrators were and are so afraid of being called anti-Muslim, they were afraid to discuss those boundaries and now will be afraid to discipline her or terminate her.

JDZ344 · Sep 10, 2013

I can't think of a reason why the aide couldn't be in the dining room? Or bath patients?

I would wait until I work with her and see for myself, not listen to the rumours.

funtimes · Sep 10, 2013

I've worked with a female RN who was Muslim and wore the Hijab and she didn't have a problem with any of these things that I'm aware of, so its apparently not a universal issue for Muslims in healthcare. You have to wonder how much of these things are truly based on religious sentiment and what's based on simply not wanting to do them, or that particular person's interpretation of religious rules.

I don't think the hugging thing would be an issue though. Im definintely not a touchy feely type of person. I've hugged patients and family members, but its definitely not something I tend to do spontaneously like other aides. Also, if she doesn't want male coworkers touching her, then dont touch her, pretty simple.

duskyjewel · Sep 10, 2013

The dining room thing would have to do with risk of contact with pork. I forget what grocery store chain it was, but sometime in the last couple years, a group of Muslim employees demanded they stop selling pork. Being employed at the store meant they had to handle it, and even packaged, they refused to touch it. The grocery chain told them to pound sand, but they thought they had the right to make such a demand! There are some radical wackos out there, so this story could very well be true, in total or in part.

Madras · Sep 10, 2013

I go to school with a large population of Jewish students. There are so many restrictions that my eyeballs cross and my hair falls out.

Guys don't touch girls, girls don't touch guys, patient care limitations. At clinicals I'm completely exhausted doing the extra work. I know that my c'mates cant do certain things so I help. I'm not against culture/religion etc but darn it I'm tired. :sniff:

JDZ344 · Sep 14, 2013

The dining room thing would have to do with risk of contact with pork. I forget what grocery store chain it was, but sometime in the last couple years, a group of Muslim employees demanded they stop selling pork. Being employed at the store meant they had to handle it, and even packaged, they refused to touch it. The grocery chain told them to pound sand, but they thought they had the right to make such a demand! There are some radical wackos out there, so this story could very well be true, in total or in part.

I only have one thing to say- if a persons cultural or religious needs conflict with their job, then they need to find a new job. You can not accommodate one or two people at the expense of all the others on that shift. Either suck it up or leave. There are plenty of other jobs that won't require you to handle or sell pork* (or anything else they may object to). People should work somewhere that fits their needs, not expect places to bend to fit them. (outside of reasonable accommodations that doesn't mean people have to pick up the slack).

*Not implying this behaviour is restricted to any single religion or culture, just an example.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Sep 14, 2013

Get the RUMORS cleared up- then ask the questions.

i_love_patient_care · Sep 14, 2013

I've worked with plenty of people who practice Islam, and have never seen them object to anything relating to patient care. I've had female Muslim patients who didn't want male CNAs giving them personal care (peri area/showers/dressing), but didn't mind if they helped them eat. There are also a lot of (especially elderly) female patients who are not Muslim and require females only for personal care. If it directly affects you, tell management, otherwise it might be best to just ignore the rumors.

MomaNurse · Sep 14, 2013

What an opportunity to learn first hand about a new culture. And how awesome are you! Asking in advance will make you more prepared so you can focus on what's important- welcoming a new coworker and showing her the ropes.