Problem
Consider the following scenario of a male-identifying patient with strong cultural and religious preferences, who just received a total hip replacement. He is recovering from his operation in a hospital near his home. The nursing staff are increasingly frustrated; feeling like they are having to make many accommodations for his needs.
1) This patient is devout with his prayers but because of the nature of his surgery, it is difficult for him to take a shower or bathe himself. When preparing for prayer, he needs to cleanse himself and he declines the help of female nurses. Finding a male nurse or healthcare aids to assist him to bathe has been a staffing challenge. His prayer times are at specific times of the day, and he needs to have a nurse help him get out of bed, but he has complained that his nurses cannot always make it there in time to assist.
2) Because of religious requirements, he does not eat pork. The cafeteria food often contains pork products or by-products, it is hard to find food that fits his needs to ensure he eats well balanced meals. Medication provided to him must not have any pork products or alcoholic substances-this limits some of his treatment.
3) He has many relatives that visit him every day; as a result, the patients that share his room complain about the noise, level of activity, and lack of privacy.
How do your own values, beliefs and culture impact your practice?