1-31. RELIGIOUS BELIEFS ABOUT ILLNESS AND DEATH
a. The Jewish Religion.
(1)
Practices.
(a) Dietary practices vary among Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform
Jews.
1 The patient should be asked if/how he/she observes the Kosher
dietary laws.
2 The head nurse or dietician should be notified so that the dietary
practices can be considered when meals are prepared and served.
(b) The Jewish person is expected by the culture to be independent
and self-reliant; and emphasis is placed upon responsibilities and obligations to God.
(c)
All practicing Jews observe Saturday as the Sabbath.
(d) The most important Jewish holidays are Yom Kippur, Rosh
Hashanah, and Passover.
(e) The patient may wish to see the Rabbi (spiritual leader).
(f) Circumcision of male infants is generally a religious ceremony and
is sometimes performed at the hospital.
(2)
Nursing implications.
(a) 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.
(b) Allow the patient to be as independent as possible and make as
many of his/her own decisions as possible.
(c) 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).
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