CULTURAL INFLUENCES

Cultural Influences to Consider When Planning Nursing Care.
• The nurse should take into consideration the needs of people who practice folk healing. The folk healer (curandero in Spanish) should be allowed to see the patient.
• South Americans often wear chains to drive away evil spirits. The nurse should not remove these unless it is absolutely necessary.
• Native American women are not likely to seek early prenatal care. They believe that pregnancy is a natural, normal process; a clinic or a hospital is associated with illness.
• Many Latino patients believe that it is dangerous to bathe immediately after delivery. The nurse must remember this during postpartum care.
• Many cultural groups, such as Native Americans and Southeast Asians, believe that it is improper or impolite to look someone in the eye when speaking to him/her.

RELIGIOUS BELIEFS ABOUT ILLNESS AND DEATH
The Jewish Religion.
Practices.
o Dietary practices vary among Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform Jews.
 The patient should be asked if/how he/she observes the Kosher dietary laws.
 The head nurse or dietician should be notified so that the dietary practices can be considered when meals are prepared and served.
o The Jewish person is expected by the culture to be independent and self-reliant; and emphasis is placed upon responsibilities and obligations to God.
o All practicing Jews observe Saturday as the Sabbath.
o The most important Jewish holidays are Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, and Passover.
o The patient may wish to see the Rabbi (spiritual leader).
o Circumcision of male infants is generally a religious ceremony and is sometimes performed at the hospital.

Nursing implications.
o Although it is usually not possible to serve Kosher meat in a nonsectarian hospital, the nurse can be sure not to serve meat and dairy foods together or pork to an Orthodox Jewish patient.
o Allow the patient to be as independent as possible and make as many of his/her own decisions as possible.
o Be especially observant for indications that a patient needs pain medications because he/she may not tell you if he/she needs them. These indications may be:

1. Restlessness.
2. Diaphoresis (perspiration, often perfuse).
3. A distressed facial expression.
4. Withdrawal.

o You may have to help arrange for a place in the hospital to have a male child circumcised.
o Arrange for a Rabbi to visit the patient on Saturdays or special holidays.