Understanding the Orthodox Jewish family during childbirth.

PURPOSE

This educational intervention uses the generalized empirical method (GEM) of Bernard Lonergan for nursing students to gain an understanding of the Orthodox Jewish family during childbirth.

SETTING AND POPULATION

this activity occurred at a baccalaureate, nursing program in the Northeast United States. It consisted of two semesters of 32 undergraduate junior nursing students enrolled in a maternal-newborn nursing course.

FINDINGS

Five themes emerged from students' reflective journaling related to the Orthodox Jewish Laws and traditions included: Laws of Modesty, Laws of Niddah, Laws of Sabbath and Holidays, Laws of Kosher, and Laws of Naming the child and circumcision.

CONCLUSIONS

The GEM facilitated students' understanding and knowledge of cultural traditions of the Orthodox Jewish childbirth experience. Lonergan's GEM provided insights and reflection so students could become culturally competent in providing nursing care.