title: Understanding the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses.
abstract: The individual religious belief system of the patient who is one of Jehovah's Witnesses regarding the refusal of blood products may have a direct impact on his or her treatment and its outcome. The critical care nurse is in a unique and powerful position to support this patient through the many potentially stressful clinical and emotional situations that this decision may engender. A thorough understanding of the rationale behind the Jehovah's Witnesses' belief system is necessary to provide intelligent and ethical nursing care.
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Thurkauf
mesh_terms: D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002835:Christianity; D003422:Critical Care / Q000451:nursing; D003657:Decision Making; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D006801:Humans; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D010349:Patient Compliance