Culture sums beliefs, and attitude towards something or someone. These customs distinguish one cultural group from another. Cultures are carried through languages, rituals amongst other institution from generation to the other. For that reason, every cultural group always try to retain its culture regarding anything is it makes them stand out of the crowd regardless of regional differences. On the other hand, the cultural practices are the way that cultural group reveals their culture regarding a customary practice or a traditional practice. Therefore, it is important to note that every group has different cultural beliefs and practices from the other.
African American cultural beliefs and practices related to terminal illness, dying and death
African American has cultural beliefs and practices related to terminal illness, dying and death. Terminal illnesses are the diseases that have no cure and at the end, they result in the passing of the patient. African American culture believes someone in this condition has been bewitched other that taking it as a disease. In that regard, they try to get advice from witch doctors and sorcerers. All the practice they sought from other persons aims to prolong the life of the sick person. However, when the issue is out of hand, they consult priesthood ministries who advise them to keep praying for the ill person. Again, they try to seek advice from doctors on the issue regarding hospice in the case of a cancer-related problem.
Despite the fact that death is universal, some behaviors are culturally bound. For instance, African American is a culture that takes death as an enemy other than life transition. African American has a different culture from those who have been in the US since time in memorial (Johnson, 2005). For that reason, most of their culture has a perspective that is more African. The culture (African American) takes death as a taboo. They think that no one has the mandate to talk openly regarding death. In that case, they will always try to fight against any family member who is sick. For instance, they prefer that the health specialists should not break the news to the ill person that he/she is dying. The family members think that if a person gets the news that he/she is dying soon, there are high chances that the individual loses hope in life. African American also believes that only God has the power to determine everyone’s fate. Therefore, breaking the news to the sick person is going against the will of the ancestors.
Religious Beliefs on Death and Dying (Christianity)
According to Puchalski (2005), there are many religions in the world. These include Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Chinese folk religion, amongst others. However, every sub-religion has different beliefs regarding dying and death. Most of the African American is Christians. Christians believe in life after death. However, the life may be in heaven or hell, depending on an individual conduct when they were on earth. Therefore, we find that Christians who believe have no fear towards death. The take deaths as a gate pass to the heavenly Father. Christians, in this case, have the belief that without death, there is no way one can see God. For that reason, they celebrate the end and at the same time honor it for giving them the opportunity to meet the living God. Therefore, after the passing of an individual, Christians perform various activities. These activities include inviting friends and relatives to encourage the beloved ones. Again, Christians have the right to bury the dead body. However, they may choose to cremate the body too.
Beliefs comparison
Our culture regarding terminal illness, dying and death is different from that of African American. Our culture is Asian American. However, much of our beliefs have roots in Asia. Above all, most of us are Hindus. Our culture is more conversant with religion; this is because we believe mind, and body and spirit work together. Besides beliefs, our practices are different too. For instance, our culture believes that death is a natural process. In that case, we do nothing to prolong the life of a sick person. Therefore, health practitioners like nurses have no role to play too (Vera, 2004).For terminally ill patients, we prefer inviting friends for prayers and songs that can aid the patient to die peacefully at home. After death, there is no ceremony in the family site. Our culture believes on disposing of the dead body through cremation. During the funeral, we prefer wearing whites, unlike African American who put on black clothes
Roles and practices of nurses in African American
In this culture, they believe that the nurse has the role to take responsibility in educating them (Vranizan, 2009). Nurses are deemed as people who are close to the patients for that reason; they think that if nurses educate them on how to handle the patients, more so the terminally ill patients, they can help to prolong the life of the patients. Managing transitions in vulnerable population is also the duty of a nurse. That way, the culture thinks that they are safe from the diseases. The culture assumes that nurses are responsible for patient’s health. Therefore, they prefer that nurses are taking care of the patients 24 hours.
References
Johnson, K. S. (2005). The Influence of Cultural Beliefs and Practices on the Treatment Preferences of African Americans: a Review of the Literature. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 53(4), 711-719.
Puchalski, C. M. (2005). Religious and Spiritual Beliefs in the End of Life Care: How Major Religions View Death and Dying. Techniques in Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management, 9(3), 114-121.
Vera, M. (2004). Considering Context, Place and Culture: the Asian American Study. International journal of health research, 13(4), 208-220.
Vranizan, K (2009). The Role of Black and White Physicians in Providing Health Care for Underserved Populations. New England Journal of Medicine, 334(20), 1305-1310.
