Fundamentals of Nursing Q 551
A nurse is preparing to deliver a food tray to a Jewish client. The nurse checks the food on the tray and notes that the client has received a hamburger and whole milk as a beverage. Which is the appropriate action for the nurse?
A. Ask the dietary department to replace the hamburger with crabs.
B. Replace the whole milk with fat-free milk.
C. Call the dietary department and ask for a new meal tray.
D. Deliver the designated food tray to the client.
Correct Answer: C. Call the dietary department and ask for a new meal tray.
“You may not cook a young animal in the milk of its mother” -Torah says (Ex.23:19). From this, it is derived that milk and meat products may not be combined together. Not only may they not be cooked together, but they may not be served together on the same table and surely not eaten at the same time. This rule is followed observantly by the Jewish people so the appropriate nursing action is to call the dietary department to change the meal tray of the patient.
Option A: Jewish dietary laws are known as kashrut and food that adheres to these standards is called kosher. Many mandates of the kosher diet are similar to those found in Islam. The only type of fish that may be eaten are those that have fins and scales. Therefore, shellfish, such as lobster, shrimp, oysters and crab, are prohibited.
Option B: Certain parts of permitted animals may not be eaten. In the case of forbidden animals, their eggs and milk also cannot be consumed. Eating any pork or pork products, including animal shortening, is prohibited.
Option D: Dairy products and meat products cannot be eaten together, because this is considered unhealthy. Cooking equipment and eating utensils that have come into contact with dairy products cannot be used with meat, and vice versa.