There are many factors that, to a great extent, determine the attitude one has toward death, such as social, religious, cultural, and financial factors (Puente-Fernandez et al., 2020). According to some studies, death awakens feelings of frustration, fear, and insecurity in healthcare professionals. The Amish are best known for their traditional lifestyle and their rejection of modern technology. They protect their beliefs while remaining separated from the rest of the world. In their religion, death carries a great deal of spiritual meaning.
While the Amish focus on the world beyond this world, they certainly feel sadness and loss just like any other people when loved ones pass away. Therefore, when caring for Amish patients at the end of life, nurses should also pay attention to the patient’s family, providing them with the necessary support and informing them about the stages. In addition, nurses should also consider that the Amish prefer to stay at the bedside of a loved one while in the hospital, and especially when dying. For this reason, if possible, non-traditional visiting hours should be provided.
It should also be taken into account that representatives of this religion are characterized by very high pain tolerance, and they may accept palliative care (Givler et al., 2021). The refusal of representatives of this religion from technology can also cause some difficulties in leaving. Traditional transportation by horse and cart is inconvenient for meetings and visits, so assistance may be needed. Death is often seen as God’s will and fulfills God’s plan for humanity. The Amish generally do not accept any help from the government, as this independence from the government symbolizes faith in God and dependence on the church community, so the patient should be informed about the various programs that operate in the institution that may violate these values.
References
Puente‐Fernandez, D., Lozano‐Romero, M. M., Montoya‐Juárez, R., Martí‐García, C., Campos‐Calderón, C., & Hueso‐Montoro, C. (2020). Nursing professionals’ attitudes, strategies, and care practices towards death: A systematic review of qualitative studies. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 52(3), 301-310.
Givler, A., Bhatt, H., & Maani-Fogelman, P. A. (2021). The importance of cultural competence in pain and palliative care. StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. Web.