Abstract: The increasing number of female Muslim enrollees in the nursing course has given rise to the issue of Muslim religious and cultural rights vis-à-vis such nursing practice concerns as the hospital dress code, infection control, and terrorism. This qualitative study sought to determine and describe the participants’ perceptions on the wearing of the hijab by Muslim student nurses while on hospital duty. The study utilized the focus group discussion method to gather data from 33 participants purposely chosen from the faculty and students of five nursing schools in Zamboanga City, Philippines. The participants perceived that the wearing of the hijab while on hospital duty can affect student nurse-patient relationship and the performance of the student nurse; it can also be a source of infection. However, they were sympathetic towards the wearing of the hijab because of cultural, religious, and personal considerations. The study unearthed the complexity of the issue on the wearing of the hijab while on hospital duty and the pertinent significance of the hospital dress code. Therefore, it was recommended to the hospital administrators in Zamboanga City that a sensitive approach to the dress and uniform requirements of female Muslim nursing students should be taken so that these would not in any way violate the significance of the hospital dress code.
Keywords: hijab, nurse-patient relationship, performance, infection, hospital dress code, religion, culture
Title: To Wear or Not To Wear: Perspectives on the Wearing Of Hijab While on Hospital Duty
Author: Rica Rose May Adjawie Rubio
International Journal of Healthcare Sciences
ISSN 2348-5728 (Online)
Research publish journals
