Introduction
Culturally sensitive nursing implies that healthcare professionals should be aware of the unique characteristics of various cultures, religions, and social norms. The Muslim community is currently the most rapidly growing religious population globally, and it is critical for nurses in the United States to become acquainted with this culture (Attum et al., 2023). Since the religious beliefs of Muslim patients might be incompatible with healthcare practices, I would change my nursing approach.
Main body
First, it is essential to ask the patient about their spiritual routines and assure them that both the nurse and the hospital accept them. This approach will help me identify whether the patients are comfortable taking specific medications, eating certain foods in the facility, and using English for communication. Secondly, if they need a special place for praying, it is appropriate to ask the hospital to provide a particular interfaith room. Ultimately, learning about the patient’s preferred cultural beliefs is paramount.
Another critical issue in providing care to Muslim patients is identifying their attitude towards Ramadan. It is a pillar of Islam and a particular month for many Muslims, which they devote to praying and spiritual rituals (Attum et al., 2023). The believers should fast during this period, and this obligation might significantly impact their health and acceptance of certain medications. It is a sensitive issue for nurses, but communication remains the most critical aspect, and researchers continually develop new protocols, such as the RAMCOM tool, to enhance the patient-nurse dialogue (Amin & Abdelmageed, 2020). Therefore, if the patient observes Ramadan, I would use supplementary strategies to learn about their preferences and adjust my nursing approach accordingly.
Nursing Approach Towards Muslim Pediatric Patients
Working with Muslim pediatric patients is a complex healthcare collaboration between the nurse, the child, and their family. Therefore, in addition to cultural differences, the specialist must be knowledgeable about the unique family dynamics and social norms (Attum et al., 2023). Researchers note that critical decisions about pediatric patients might also require approval from the extended family and should always be clarified by the patient’s parents (Attum et al., 2023). Therefore, providing care to Muslim pediatric patients demands more active collaboration with their families compared to other cultures.
Regarding Ramadan, children are often not required to fast during the month. It makes providing care to pediatric patients less challenging, particularly for diseases that demand drastic changes to nutrition or medication intake (Attum et al., 2023). I would still discuss this issue with the patient’s parents and inform them about the potential impact of fasting on physical and cognitive development in children.
Lastly, it is critical to identify whether the family members are comfortable with me as the care provider for their child. Gender roles play a significant role in Islam, and parents might have preferences for the nurse to be a man or a woman (Attum et al., 2023). In other words, the pediatric patient and the care provider should typically be of the same gender, and it is critical to clarify this issue with the family. All of the mentioned practices are common in working with children; however, these recommendations are more significant for providing care to Muslim patients. Nurses should always consider the patients’ cultural norms, religious beliefs, and family dynamics to provide culturally sensitive care.
References
Amin, M. E. K., & Abdelmageed, A. (2020). RAMCOM: A qualitative study of clinicians’ viewpoints on a tool for communication with Muslim patients considering fasting during Ramadan. PLoS One, 15(2). Web.
Attum, B., Hafiz, S., Malik, A., & Shamoon, Z. (2023). Cultural competence in the care of Muslim patients and their families. National Library of Medicine. Web.
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