Content area
Full Text
A YOUNG NATIVE PATIENT IN PALLIATIVE CARE TEACHES HIS CAREGIVERS A LESSON IN SPIRITUALITY AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY.
[Graph Not Transcribed]
[Graph Not Transcribed]
[Graph Not Transcribed]
[Graph Not Transcribed]
[Graph Not Transcribed]
JOYCE MULLIN, BScN, MA(Ed)
Joyce Mullin is a Clinical Manager at the Continuing Care Centre at St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital, St. Thomas, Ontario. She facilitated the process for a smudging ceremony at the facility.
LINDA LEE, RN, BSc
Linda Lee is a Staff Nurse at the Continuing Care Centre, C Unit, at St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital. She attended the smudging ceremony.
SHARON HERTWIG, MD
Sharon Hertwig is the Medical Director of the Continuing Care Centre at St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital. She was Jamie's attending physician.
GORDON SILVERTHORN
Gordon Silverthorn is the Project Manager of the Engineering Services Department at St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital. He developed the smudging ceremony policy and procedure for the hospital.
Nurses try to meet the needs, whether physical, psychological or spiritual, of every patient. In most cases, religious practices are familiar, but occasionally requests or needs come forth that are unique, and nurses have no precedents for dealing with them. In palliative care, nurses look at the patient holistically, not just as a patient with a disease and symptoms that must be managed. Often there are many other needs to be met. Spirituality is one area where nurses may be culturally naive. This was one of those cases.
A young patient named Jamie who had recently received a diagnosis of terminal cancer was admitted to hospital. He was a member of the Oneida on the Thames First Nation from Southwold (near London, Ontario). He also belonged to the Turtle Clan on his mother's side of the family. In the course of his stay, this patient opened the eyes of the nursing staff to another culture and taught them a lesson in spirituality. Jamie had strong ties to his people's customs and beliefs. As his illness progressed, these spiritual ways became important not only to him and his family but also to all who became part of his circle (nurses, doctors, support staff, etc.). Jamie was unable to speak with his voice but was able to communicate on a higher level, especially toward the end of his life.
CULTURAL DIVERSITY