COMPLETE NURSING 369 GROUP PROJECT

1. 1
Jehovah’s Witnesses and
Their Culture
Steven Moon
Tyler Trapp
Prepared for NUR 369 Transcultural Health
Care
August 7 2016

2. What Do Jehovah’s
Witnesses
Believe? • Jehovah’s Witnesses worship God whose name
is Jehovah (Psalm 83:18)
• Jehovah’s Witnesses study and use the Bible
as God’s inspired message to humans.
• Jehovah’s Witnesses follow the teachings of
Jesus Christ and view him as their savior and
as the Son of God.
• Jehovah’s Witnesses believe God, Jesus, and
the Holy Spirit to be three separate entities, and
are not part of a trinity. They believe the holy
spirit to be God’s active will, or active force.
• Jehovah’s Witnesses view the kingdom of god
to be a real government in heaven, and not
”condition in the hearts of Christians”.
• Jehovah’s Witnesses also believe that salvation
from death is possible through Jesus Christ
ransom death and that people will benefit by
exercising their faith in Jesus and becoming
baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
2
(Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
of Pennsylvania(2016))
(Personal interviews
#1 & #2)

3. What Do Jehovah’s Witnesses
Believe? (continued)
• Heaven is ruled by Jehovah God, Jesus, and faithful angels in a spirit realm and only
144,000 people will be resurrected to live in heaven and rule with God and Jesus.
• Earth will become humans eternal home. After Armageddon man will be resurrected
to a perfect eternal earthly paradise.
• Humans do not have a spirit, or turn to spirit form when they die, but become nothing
until resurrected again.
• The structural head of their organization is located in New York City, New York which
consists of the Watchtower Bible and tract society. The men there are referred to as
the Governing Body and oversee and guide the worldwide work of Jehovah’s
Witnesses.
• They are organized into congregations throughout the world and meet regularly 2-3
times per week (called meetings) to discuss bible topics and go preach their message
of God’s kingdom to those in their neighborhoods (called service).
• Medically the are instructed to abstain from taking blood stemming from their
understanding of 3 Biblical scriptures. (Genesis 9:4, Leviticus 17:14, Acts 15:20)
However, through interview it was mentioned that they are allowed to receive blood
components and that it is a conscience matter to be decided personally by each
individual.
(Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania (2016)) (Personal Interviews #1 & #2)
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4. What Do Jehovah’s
Witnesses
Believe?
(continued)
• During meetings their Elders (men who are appointed
to an authority and responsibility position through god
by the Governing Body) and Brothers (other men who
have responsibilities or teaching duties in the
congregation) will lead topics of study or discussion on
bible based topics and material. Women are referred to
as Sisters. When addressing others they will use first
names or Brother/Sister “last name”
• Songs will be sang by those in attendance before, at
intermission, and at the end of each “meeting”, along
with prayer.
• Jehovah’s Witnesses will excommunicate, shun, and
forbid anyone from contact with those who were once
Jehovah's witnesses that do not continue to follow their
doctrine, or who have “errored in sin” and not practiced
what god commands them to do. This practice is called
disfellowshipping.
• Examples of disfellowshipping offenses include sexual
misconduct (sexual relations before marriage, adultery,
fornication, observation of pornographic materials),
apostasy, drunkenness, thievery, deliberate or
malicious lying, slander, obscene speech (swearing),
failure to abstain from blood, use of tobacco or
addictive drugs, along with other offenses .
4(The List of 15 Disfellowshipping Offenses. (2008))
(Personal Interviews #1 & #2)

5. Here is one of the songs that Jehovah’s
Witness regularly sing during meetings
• Possibly Embed Youtube Song video
on separate slide? I can’t embed
youtube on a mac.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmf
gGsGnUAI&list=PLC460752A5F993E
F7
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6. Ethno Demographics
• The ethnic demographics of interview
”A” include the following:
• She is Caucasian and identifies as white.
She was born a Jehovah’s Witness and
believes in the Christian Philosophy of
Jehovah’s witnesses with Jehovah (God)
and Jesus creating the universe and all
things in it.
• She is 4th generation German/
English/Polish
• 28 years old
• Female
• Married since 19 years old
• No Children, and does not plan to have
any.
• Her career is an Insurance Agent
The ethnic demographics of
interview ”B” include the following:
• Interviewee B identifies as white who
was born into a Jehovah’s Witness
family but no longer practices as
such.
• He is of Danish, German, Spanish,
and Australian descent
• Male
• 28 years old
• In long term relationship
• No children
• Career as a student studying
journalism
6
(Personal Interview #1) (Personal Interview #2)

7. Ethnohistory
“A”
American Female with
German, Polish,English,
and Irish ancestry.
English Speaking.
No mentioned culture
beliefs based specifically
upon ethnic background.
Beliefs and culture
reported to stem from
interpretation of the
bible.
B”
American Male of Danish,
German, Spanish, and
Australian descent.
Speaks English
Current beliefs come from
teaching learned from
scientific reading and
nature, which has
replaced his Jehovah
Witness teaching about
life.
No specific beliefs based
on ethnic background.
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(Personal Interview #1) (Personal Interview #2)

8. Kinship
“A”
• Born as one of Jehovah’s witnesses.
Married at 19 years old.
• Father died when she was 16.
• Strong family relationship with mothers side
of family who are all Jehovah's witnesses.
• Fathers side of family only some are JW.
Not as close with them.
• Many friends from around the state, and
some in other states, who are all Jehovah’s
witnesses.
• "A” reports that they are discouraged from
having friends “outside of the
congregation”, meaning those who are not
Jehovah’s witnesses.
• She works at a business that is owned and
operated by other Jehovah’s Witnesses
• When younger she wished to go to College,
but that is also discouraged due to it taking
away from their Bible Study and ministry
work and she is happier with her life this
way.
“B”
• “B” was born into a Jehovah’s witness
family and was raised as such. Paternal
grandmother began practicing JW in the
1950s and maternal grandmother began
practicing JW in the 1940s.
• He stated that his parents and family had
complete control over his life, activities,
and values, and heavily censored
anything that did not follow JW belief.
• At 24 “B” decided that he could not
stomach the JW beliefs and values
anymore and decided to leave the JW
society.
• To this day, “B” has no contact with his
parents, grandparents, or siblings besides
one brother.
• Believes his family still cares about his
salvation but is more concerned with their
own salvation and what will happen if they
do not shun him for not being a JW
8
(Personal Interview #1) (Personal Interview #2)

9. Cultural values
”A”
•Believes in the “golden rule” to do to others
that you would want done to yourself.
•Related to medical care, to assist those in
need who are close to you, just as you
would want them to help you if you were in
need.
•When “A” father was dying many people in
their congregation came to her and her
mother’s assistance taking care of them by
providing meals, money, and spent time
with them during their mourning period. This
is common in the worldwide brotherhood.
•“A” also has done the same for others that
have experienced difficult hardships related
to their health, explaining that she wants to
help others as much as her family was
helped in the past.
“B”
•Believed in -”Serve Where the Need is
Greater”
•Served on mission trips to other countries
to help the less fortunate.
•No Other cultural values shared
9
(Personal Interview #1) (Personal Interview #2)

10. Religious Beliefs and
Practices”A”
•Jehovah is the creator the universe with his son Jesus
Christ. We are living temporarily in an imperfect world
due to Adam and Eve originally sinning in the garden of
Eden. Thanks to Jesus ransom sacrifice we have the
opportunity to learn about his will and Jehovah’s
heavenly kingdom that he will one day establish on a
perfect earth. Does not believe that when people die they
go to hell – they just cease to exist until they are
resurrected by Jehovah. Only 144,000 people go to
heaven to help rule over a future earthly paradise with
Jehovah and Jesus.
•Medically Related they do not take blood. Blood fractions
are a conscience matter that all Witnesses must
determine on their own. It was brought out “a” heard that
JW’s who received bloodless surgeries that commonly
use blood had better recovery times and rates.
•Regularly during the week and on Sundays they will go
to meetings which discuss bible based topics or have a
group study of the Watchtower which talk about God’s
kingdom and relates the bible for them to use in daily life.
They also go door to door teaching others about God’s
kingdom, just as Jesus did during his time on earth.
“B”
• Was taught that everything in the universe was
created by the Jehovah god to enhance the
enjoyment of the universe by humans.
• Was taught that human creation happened 6000
years ago with Adam and eve and the concept of
evolution had been fabricated.
• Acted as a “Good JW” when at home and meetings
but was atheist outside of the home and meetings.
• Taught that all life's lessons and answers were in the
bible and doctrines created by the WTBTS.
• The act of trying to understand or dig deeper into
anything presented by the WTBTS was considered
unfaithful, sinful, and unloyal with ground for
disfellowship from the JW’s
• Does not wish to have any religious practices
incorporated into his healthcare.
10
(Personal Interview #1) (Personal Interview #2)

11. Professional Care Practices
• ”A” reports to following
allopathic or biomedicine for
professional care regarding
health issues. She will go
see her family practice
doctor when illnesses arise
and take medicines as
prescribed.
• “A” also reports to seeing a
chiropractor on occasion
when musculoskeletal
issues occur.
• “B” does not report any
alternative therapy or
care aside from
seeking normal
medical care practices
like any other person
when illness strikes.
11
(Personal Interview #1) (Personal Interview #2)

12. Generic Care Practices
• Along with one of our interviewees, it was mentioned that many Jehovah’s
Witnesses they know or have known use complementary medicine and
dietary supplements such as natural herbs and vitamins, homeopathic
remedies, essential oils, and chiropractic or osteopathic therapies. It was
brought out that some people they knew only rely on these types of
therapies.
• They do not utilize faith healing, however they do rely on prayer to god to
help them to manage and overcome any illnesses.
• “A” reports that utilizing different methods of health care do work for her
personally and others, and in fact make her feel more healthy than only
seeing her primary care physician.
12
(Personal Interview #1) (Personal Interview #2)

13. Culture Care Preservation
and/or Maintenance
• Nurses can provide culturally congruent care by learning the
beliefs and medical requirements that Jehovah’s Witnesses
have regarding the direction to abstain from blood and
following their wishes in order to provide the best possible
holistic and overall care to the clients.
• It is important to show empathy and concern to Jehovah’s
Witness clients by discussing their wishes with them and
following the requirements and medical directives that they
determine to be appropriate for them.
• Nurses and healthcare workers should respect their beliefs
and decisions, and also allow them time to pray and study the
bible.
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14. Culture Care Accommodation
and/or Negotiation
• Nurses and other healthcare personnel can also discuss and
determine how their clients may personally feel about
receiving blood components if there may be a need for blood,
or blood components. Do so prior to surgery or treatment will
facilitate a better treatment plan, and better outcome for the
client.
• We can accommodate Jehovah’s Witness clients by adhering
to their self determined wishes of what components of blood, if
any, they wish to receive or not receive. We can be advocates
for them when they are possibly not able (unconscious,
surgery, etc.)
• By accommodating and following their wishes regarding
treatments and blood, Nurses and healthcare workers can
provide better overall care for Jehovah’s Witness patients.
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15. Culture care Restructuring
and/or Repatterning
• Some Jehovah’s witness rely very strongly on, or only on alternative “natural”
therapies (homeopathic, herbal, vitamins, supplements, essential oils, etc.)
and may avoid allopathic medical based treatment.
• This can possibly be very harmful to those who avoid all allopathic, or
mainstream medical treatments due to the side-effects that these natural
supplements can cause, especially when healthcare personnel are not
notified while on other medications.
• In order to better treat those Jehovah’s witnesses, Nurses at first can do their
best to question respectfully and understand why they hold these beliefs. It
would be best for nurses then to talk to their patients and educate them on
the possibilities for harm that can occur from some of theses treatments and
encourage them to follow medical orders that do not conflict with their belief
and culture.
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16. Comparing Findings to
Research Article
• During the cultural interview, one of our interviewees had mentioned that
Elders had told them that Jehovah’s Witnesses that go through surgeries
without blood where normally patients would receive blood have better
outcomes and shorter hospital stays. “Possibly due to God’s blessing, or more
careful practice by healthcare workers.”
• Our research found this comment to possibly be true.
• In a study by Reyes et. al (2007) The hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were
in fact higher in Jehovah’s Witness patients before and after surgeries.
Jehovah’s Witness patients were also intubated for fewer hours, experienced
less bleeding, and had shorter hospital stays.
Reference
(Reyes, G., Nuche, J. M., Sarraj, A., Cobiella, J., Orts, M., Martín, G.. . Duarte, J. (2007). Bloodless cardiac
surgery in jehovah's witnesses: Outcomes compared with a control group. Revista Española De Cardiología
(English Edition), 60(7), 727-731. doi:10.1016/S1885-5857(08)60008-0)
http://www.sciencedirect.com.libproxy.umflint.edu/science/article/pii/S1885585708600080
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17. 17
Conclusion
• In summary we have learned that Jehovah’s Witnesses have
a strong belief system and convictions that results in a
substantial and tight knit community, or brotherhood
worldwide.
• Their medical beliefs may vary from person to person to some
extent based upon guidance from their Governing Body of
Jehovah’s Witnesses, however whole blood is completely
forbidden and should never be taken by a member of
Jehovah’s Witnesses.
• As nurses we need to show concern and compassion for
Jehovah’s Witness patients personally in order to
empathetically understand their individual beliefs and provide
them with the best culturally congruent care possible.

18. Multiple Choice Questions
• Include cited slide and/or research article for the reference
• Jehovah’s Witnesses believe how many people go to heaven after they die?
A. Everyone. B. 144,000. C. No one.
• Who are Jehovah’s Witnesses encouraged associate with or make friends
with? A. Everyone. B. Only those with similar beliefs. C. Those that they may
work or go to school with.
• Jehovah’s Witnesses often assist others that are going through health issues,
illnesses or deaths in the family. Choose practices that those in their
congregations may do to comfort and assist them? A. Meals. B. Money. C.
Spend time with them. D. All of the above.
• Jehovah’s Witnesses believe what about blood? A. They can take it only in
emergencies. B. That it is forbidden to take and holy or precious to God. C.
They must donate it to blood banks regularly.
• One research article showed what about Jehovah's Witnesses hospitals stays
with accompanied with their stance on blood? A. They were shorter. B. They
were Longer. C. They stayed the same.
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19. Questions & Answers Page
with references
•Jehovah’s Witnesses believe how many people go to heaven after they die? A.
Everyone. B. 144,000. C. No one. (slide 3) (What Do Jehovah’s Witnesses
Believe?)
•Who are Jehovah’s Witnesses encouraged associate with or make friends with?
A. Everyone. B. Only those with similar beliefs. C. Those that they may work
or go to school with. (slide 8) (Personal Interviews)
•Jehovah’s Witnesses often assist others that are going through health issues,
illnesses or deaths in the family. Choose practices that those in their
congregations may do to comfort and assist them? A. Meals. B. Money. C.
Spend time with them. D. All of the above. (slide 9) (Personal Interviews)
•Jehovah’s Witnesses believe what about blood? A. They can take it only in
emergencies. B. That it is forbidden to take and holy or precious to God. C.
They must donate it to blood banks regularly. (Slide 3) (What Do Jehovah’s
Witnesses Believe?)
•One research article showed what about Jehovah's Witnesses hospitals stays
with accompanied with their stance on blood? A. They were shorter. B. They
were Longer. C. They stayed the same. (slide 16) (Reyes et al., 2007)
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20. 20
References and Citations
• Interviewee #1
• Interviewee #2
• Reyes, G., Nuche, J. M., Sarraj, A., Cobiella, J., Orts, M., Martín, G.. . Duarte, J.
(2007).Bloodless cardiac surgery in jehovah's witnesses: Outcomes compared
with a control group. Revista Española De Cardiología (English Edition), 60(7),
727-731. doi:10.1016/S1885-5857(08)60008-0)
• The Oracle (2016).The List of 15 disfellowshipping Offenses. [Online forum comment].
Retrieved July 28, 2016, from https://www.jehovahs-
witness.com/topic/153096/list-15-disfellowshipping-offenses
• Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania (2016). What do jehovah's
witnesses believe? Retrieved July 28, 2016, from https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-
witnesses/faq/jehovah-witness-beliefs/
• Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania (2016). What does the bible say
about blood transfusions? | Bible Questions.Retrieved July 28, 2016, from
https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/bible-about-blood-
transfusion/#?insight[search_id]=4787816e-9fa6-4733-b637-09a6556468cf

21. Questions?
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