Page 585 - Saunders Comprehensive Review For NCLEX-RN

held in high respect).
Family is highly valued and is central to the care of terminally ill members.
Open displays of emotion are common and accepted.
Many prefer to die at home.

Asian Americans

Family members usually make decisions about care and often do not tell the
client the diagnosis or prognosis.
Dying at home may be considered bad luck with some ethnic groups.
Organ donation may not be allowed in some ethnic groups.

Hispanic and Latino groups

The family generally makes decisions and may request to withhold the
diagnosis or prognosis from the client.
Extended-family members often are involved in end-of-life care (pregnant
women may be prohibited from caring for dying clients or attending
funerals).
Several family members may be at the dying client’s bedside.
Vocal expression of grief and mourning is acceptable and expected.
Members may refuse procedures that alter the body, such as autopsy.
Dying at home may be considered bad luck with some ethnic groups.

Native Americans

Family meetings may be held to make decisions about end-of-life care and the
type of treatments that should be pursued.
Some groups avoid contact with the dying (may prefer to die in the hospital).

* Noted are general cultural and religious considerations in planning care for a client
and family. Not all members of a particular cultural or religious group adhere
to specified practices. Therefore, it is most important for the nurse to obtain an
individualized assessment to provide individualized end-of-life care to the
client and family.

Box 18-14

Physical Care of the Dying Client

Pain

Administer pain medication.
Do not delay or deny pain medication.

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