How do you address cultural and religious considerations in end-of-life nursing to ensure respectful and individualized care?

Tammy Block RN BSN

I was caring for a child from another country. I looked up what they family does when a child. It was amazing . They placed oils on her face and prayed. They insisted on me staying the room, I was given a cup of tea and a sandwich. I’ll never forget this experience

You communicate. Communicate with the family, patient first (if possible). Educate yourself on basic cultural aspects of death and dying. Educate your team. Embrace the tradition even if it does not match your own. I once found a religion wheel and it covered many aspects of each culture, along with the overlap. I wish I still had it.

Hospice is not curative medicine—this is wholly respecting the dying wishes of a person and helping with their familial tradition stemming from long lines of cultural teaching.