A Vietnamese patient was recently admitted to our Special Care Unit for end of life care. Although she had a strong connection to her Methodist faith community, and her daughter was present at the bedside daily, one of our RNs, Karen Croff-Nichols, wanted to be certain that all of those on the care team who came into contact with this patient and family were aware of, and respected, their cultural traditions. Karen took the time to locate multiple resources through the internet around what was meaningful and culturally appropriate for end of life care in the Vietnamese community. She inquired with the patient's daughter about how each member of the care team could best meet their needs as it related to food, medications and simply entering the room.
As the patient neared the end of life, Karen kept the Spiritual Care team informed of the status of the situation, allowing us to assist in offering support and pastoral care to them. For this nurse, protecting the sacred space of this patient's room was extremely important. When the patient passed, Karen provided tender, compassionate care for the body alongside the daughter, and honoring the customs of their culture in supporting her as she bathed her mother, applied a balming lotion procured for this specific task, and covering the patient's face with a white handkerchief as a means of keeping evil spirits away. All of this Karen gleaned from her research while the family was at the bedside. She gently placed the religious icon cards of Christ, the Virgin Mary and a photo of the patient's husband, on the bed in the prescribed places per faith tradition. This was incredibly meaningful to the family, as well as to the other members of the healthcare team.
If you knew Karen, you would understand how her commitment to this patient and family was a testimony to her calling as a nurse. While her exterior can often be seen as a bit abrupt due to her northern background, she is a deeply caring and skilled practitioner of her craft. One of the most difficult aspects of caring for and honoring this patient, she shared, was remembering not to put her hand on her hip when talking, as that is a natural stance for her but considered disrespectful in the Vietnamese culture. But she never lacked being attentive to her own presentation or reminding others how important these nuances were to this patient/family throughout their time with us. Karen provided practical, emotional and physical care while going the extra mile to expand her own competencies in a new cultural setting in order to make this end of life experience the best it could possibly be for this family.