Cultural Meanings of Death and Dying

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With the ever-increasing multicultural diversity in the landscape of the United States, culturally competent and sensitive practice is essential for practitioners. The purpose of this course is to increase clinicians' knowledge and awareness of the impact of culture on issues of death and dying in order to improve the provision of care and patients' quality of life. In addition, members of the public may use this course to enhance their personal knowledge of the subject matter presented.

Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

1. Discuss the changing demographic trends that contribute to the United States' multicultural landscape.
2. Define the importance of cultural competence when working with patients and families around end-of-life issues.
3. Compare and contrast Western and non-Western sociocultural values surrounding end-of-life topics.
4. Describe cultural belief systems, values and norms for various racial and ethnic minority groups around death and dying issues including discussing death, attitudes towards death and dying, death rituals, grieving and bereavement, advance directives, palliative care, and other end-of-life issues.
5. Discuss culturally sensitive communication strategies when discussing death and dying and end-of-life issues with racial and ethnic minority patients and families, including the role of interpreters.
6. Identify best practice guidelines that reflect ethical cultural competence and sensitivity when working with racial and ethnic minority patients and families around issues related to the end of life.

This 5-hour continuing education course is available for download for professional development; if continuing education credit is desired, please see instructions included in eBook.