Culturally Sensitive Care
Gyto Bonaventure Joseph
Miami Dade College
Benjamin Leon School of Nursing
RN-BSN Program
Culturally Sensitive Care
A holiday refers to a time in the calendar year where a population celebrates a date or a time range related to their culture or religious beliefs. Few of them are considered significant holidays, while others are less important. The interdependence of the nations on a socio-economic standpoint facilitates population's interactions that lead to cultural exchange. This exchange helps to explore diverse customs, religions and ethnicities, thus the appreciation of their holiday. This date or number of days can be observed by suspending or reducing regular activity. Some of them are conducted globally, whereas others remain traditional to their groups. This paper will exploit one of the holidays highly celebrated or observed by the Jewish community, which is Chanukah or Hanukkah.
Many feasts and festivals mark the Jewish year. The Jews are well known for the observance of their Shabbat their holy day or day of rest. All year long, the Jews enjoy a cultural treasure of religious and social festivities. Rosh Hashana is a religious holiday "All holidays begin at sundown on the evening before the specific date. For examples, if the dates for Rosh Hashana were listed as Sep19-20, then the holiday begins at Sundown on Sep 18 and ends at nightfall on Sep 20." (Jewish Holidays, 2020, para.2)
Hanukkah is popularly known as a celebration of lights. The Jews hold it in commemoration of the establishment of the temple. Besides, as per the Hebrew calendar, the festival begins on 25th Kislev and ends on 2nd or 3rd Tevet taking a total of eight days (Chanukah/Hannukah, 2018, para.3). For instance, in 2020, the celebration will commence on the sunset of December, 10th (Gregorian calendar) and ends on the nightfall of December, 18th. The holiday's approval is rabbinical. The significance of this holiday to the Jewish culture is that they have an opportunity of celebrating Maccabee's victory against Antiochus IV Epiphanes (Syrian ruler). Talmud texts indicate that after the win, lighted wicks in the temple miraculously provided light for eight days yet the available oil would only suffice for a single day. Therefore, the celebrations involve the lighting of candles every night, singing dedicated hymns, prayers, eating of fried food and playing of many games.
Jewish populations are unevenly distributed in different parts of the US, thus contributing to the lower numbers of Chanukah celebrations as compared to North America. The most substantial proportion of Jews in the US is the Ashkenazi. Moreover, they are mainly located in areas such as New York City, Philadelphia, Miami, and Florida. A striking feature of all Jews is how they are deeply rooted in adhering to their religion. Culturally, the Jews speak two languages, namely Hebrew and Yiddish. However, in modern America, a majority of Jewish descendants are native English speakers.
The holiday will help me in providing culturally sensitive care in many ways. I have very many Jewish patients. From my interactions with them, I appreciate that they are so much attached to their culture. For instance, when it is Chanukah day, and a Jewish patient needs my care on that day, I may present a gift to him or her (Hannukah gifts, 2009, para.1). Consequently, a better patient-nurse relationship results and patients adherence to treatment is enhanced. Health is holistic according to the WHO's definition and is not only founded on physical and mental well-being but must also satisfy patients' social factors. As healthcare professionals deal with eliminating disease, it is best if the service is delivered in a way that respects the patient's culture.
References
Chanukah / Hanukkah • Torah.org. (2018, December 10). Torah.org. https://torah.org/chanukah/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwu8r4BRCzARIsAA21i_Be5ecu2jvfZnoYZ4pQMdqBmK0dDcU2POQf007pabezNWkmWM8MO88aAlW_EALw_wcB
Hanukkah gifts. (2009, December 14). My Jewish Learning. https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/hanukkah-gifts/
How to celebrate Chanukah. (2007, November 29). Judaism, Torah and Jewish Info - Chabad Lubavitch. https://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/603798/jewish/Chanukah-Guide.htm
Jewish holidays 2020 | Hebcal Jewish calendar. (n.d.). Jewish Calendar, Hebrew Date Converter, Holidays - hebcal.com. https://www.hebcal.com/holidays/2020