

Buddhist names are often associated with the day, month, season, and zodiac sign of the infant.ĭuring the end of life, families may chant or pray out loud and may request to burn incense or candles. Try to provide a quiet and tranquil setting for the patient and family when possible to facilitate meditation.īuddhist parents may seek the guidance of a Theravada Buddhist monk when naming and blessing their newborn child. Buddhists emphasize mindfulness and peaceful meditation during sickness and times of crisis. Nonpharmacologic pain management interventions, such as meditation and relaxation techniques, are often preferred. Ask patients if they have specific dietary or treatment needs to ensure that you're providing culturally sensitive care.īuddhist patients may refuse analgesics because clarity of the mind is very important to practicing Buddhists. He or she can likely help patients by reaching out to an affiliate chaplain of the patient's religion.īuddhist patients are typically modest and many have aversions to animal meat products, including those used to make certain medications. If these patients don't have their own clergy available, you can consult with your healthcare facility's chaplain. Buddhist patientsĪlthough most patients will call upon their personal clergy, Buddhist patients traveling far from home may need acute care services at a healthcare facility. This will keep the patient from feeling coerced or being unduly influenced by possibly opposing views of family and friends. Many patients strictly adhere to their religion's beliefs, whereas others have modified their beliefs from those of their religion.īe sure to ask patients about their religious preferences in a private area where family members or friends aren't present, if feasible. On the other hand, we also shouldn't make assumptions based on the patient's responses about religious preferences. Ideally, we use this information by incorporating it into the care plan when appropriate. Determining patient preferenceĭuring the admission process, we typically ask patients if they have any cultural or religious preferences. I encourage you to research religious practices specific to your patient population to optimize your patients' healthcare experience. Of course, this is just a start-although this article provides a brief overview of five of the world's major religions (Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, and Islam) and other religions (such as Christian Science, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Church of Scientology, and Jehovah's Witnesses) that you might see, there are many other religious groups, as well as numerous sects within these groups and variations in belief within each sect. Reading this article can help you begin to reach these goals. The goals of widening your knowledge base about cultural and religious diversity are to reduce the incidence of poor patient outcomes, boost overall patient satisfaction, and improve care quality-all while using best practices. Besides knowing your patients' cultural and religious beliefs, you need to understand the rationales supporting those beliefs because they can impact your patients' care plan. As a nurse, you need a culturally diverse knowledge base so you can provide individualized, patient-centered care. Increasingly, our society is a rich melting pot of cultures, religions, and ethnicities. Malaria: Has your patient traveled recently?.Nurses and smoking cessation: Get on the road to success.QSEN competencies: A bridge to practice.My aching back: Relieving the pain of herniated disk.Family presence during resuscitation in a rural ED setting.
