Culturally competent care in the medical field can make a huge difference in the satisfaction and recovery of patients hosted in the facilities where we will be. In central Minnesota we are privileged to have many different cultures in one small area. With many people immigrating here from their homeland it is important, as healthcare professionals, to understand the many different beliefs and traditions we may encounter in our personal and professional lives. The Somali population has seen a significant increase in the number of individuals now living in central Minnesota. The majority of the Somali population is Islamic. I would like to explain some of the differences in Islamic beliefs and traditions about death and dying, why it is important to know the differences and what we can do to ensure we do not impede beliefs when we talk about caring for individuals of the Islamic faith. The family is very important in the Somali social structure. Their family lineage is based only on their paternal side. “Traditionally, the father is the decision maker and breadwinner of the family. He interacts with society outside the home.” (Children) When interacting with a Somali family it is advisable to ask questions to the male if he is present, otherwise, asking or explaining information about the children you can turn to the mother because she is responsible for the children's education. Elders are respected in the community and it is customary to call them aunt or uncle, even if they are not related. For this reason it is very important to ensure that they are responsible for the person in case consent is needed in an emergency. Death i...... half of the document ...... and cultural influences that the patient follows. A good nurse is someone who is willing to learn about patients and their beliefs to make their experience the best it can be. Patients will appreciate the staff's efforts if they try to follow their beliefs as best as possible. Works CitedChildren's. (n.d.). Somali Culture and Medical Traditions 1. Somaliland Cyberspace Homepage. Retrieved August 1, 2011, from http://www.mbali.info/doc326.htmKemp, C., & Rasbridge, L. (2001). Culture and end of life. East African Cultures: Part I, Somali. Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing, 3(2), 59-61. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.Sheikh, A. (1998). Death and Dying: A Muslim Perspective. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 91, 138-140 Retrieved 1 August 2011. From http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1296563/pdf/jrsocmed00027-0028.pdf