Through the Eyes of the Patient and the Healthcare Professional

Case Study: Through the Eyes of the Patient and the Healthcare Professional
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Through the Eyes of the Patient and the Healthcare Professional
The loss of a loved one, commonly known as death, is a very agonizing and traumatizing experience. It affects both the patients and those who are close to the patient, or in essence, taking care of the patient. Death affects everybody involved financially, emotionally, spiritually, psychologically, and physically. Cultural and religious beliefs have been found to be fundamental sources of help as they give strength to those dealing with dying and death experiences. It is through such scenarios that health care professionals have been confronted with different beliefs and practices regarding dying and death. An effective health care professional identifies the importance of understanding different cultural practices, and learns how to examine death, dying, and spiritual beliefs and practices across the different cultures (Stewart, 2012). There is need for health care professionals to be careful when caring for patients from different cultures. Being aware of a patient’s beliefs can help eliminate the negative judgment that he/she is likely to pass based on different personal beliefs; this is because their perceptions can easily affect the patient’s inclination and conduct. Passing wrong judgment can occur when one has not taken time to learn the other’s cultural values and beliefs. What a patient believes can lay down the health care practices to be provided for him/her. Therefore, it is necessary that the healthcare workers are aware of different cultural practices, so that they can be effective while handling the patients. In the case study of Abby’s dying rituals, a number of cultural challenges have been presented. Accordingly, this paper presents care plan giving a detailed report about the cultural practices of the Native Indian patients and how one can approach the situation as presented in the case study.
Communication: Family and Patient
The native Indians revere nature, and death being part of nature, hence, there were preparations made for the dying people. Death is believed to be a journey to another world. The Indian cultural rite aims at helping the deceased to be comfortable in his/ her afterlife. It also focuses on protecting them in the afterlife. Important items and food, or other custodies that belong to the dead or the dying are placed near. Examples are jewelry, tools, or pots. Placing such treasures close to them is a symbol that even if they become deceased, they exist in their hearts (Stewart, 2012).
In regard to the case study, Abby’s family wanted to prepare her body for her death, and for this reason, they sought for a private room from the nurses. This practice is in regard to the Ojibwa culture. In the private room, certain rituals are performed, and this gives peace and at the same time gives reality and finally Abby’s joyful death (Stewart, 2012). This portrays the importance of family participation during the final journey of a loved one. From the above explanation, it is clear that care plan for the patients of the Indian natives needs to create room ...