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Reprinted with permission from Arizona Nurse April 2021 issue
Imagine having to make the ultimate decision for a loved one who has a terminal diagnosis. No one likes to face a difficult ethical decision when it comes to a family member. The unexpected awaits and not knowing what is at the other end can be traumatizing for anyone. Nurses every day face the challenge of dealing with ethical issues. When it comes to end-of-life care, this can be a difficult decision for all those involved. The nurse must face the difficult decision of providing ever-loving care to their patients while respecting their cultural beliefs. The Chinese culture can be especially challenging so nurses must be educated on their beliefs in order to care for these patients. They need to understand the role that they play when it comes to caring for the dying patient. Having education and being able to communicate properly is critical for end-of-life care.
Mr. Ting Lee is an 88-year-old male that is terminally ill. His family is there at the bedside with the patient. The family decides that the patient should not be made aware of his terminal condition. The oldest son is at the bedside along with several other family members. Before the nurse begins caring for this patient it is important that they understand their own beliefs and culture. This will help build a therapeutic relationship with the patient. By having the nurse identify their own cultural competency, it can help them from not judging the patient. In the case of Mr. Lee, it may be difficult for the nurse to understand why the family does not want the patient to know about his condition.
The Chinese culture is one of many different things that make it unique. "People's beliefs and attitudes about health and disease are influenced by their traditional culture" (Tung, 2011, para. 1). Chinese philosophies and religion play a major role in how they view healthcare and accept treatment when needed. Dealing with the illness and end of life of a loved one can be difficult for this group of people to deal with. Typically, talking about end-of-life issues is avoided because it is bad luck and it could hasten the...