A nurse is working with a patient whose ethnic background emphasizes collective family decision making. The nurse needs to teach this patient self-care of diabetes, including how to take blood glucose readings and adjust insulin doses

Question

The best action for the nurse to take in this situation is to
a. confirm the patient's beliefs in this cultural value.
b. discuss the family's wishes to be involved in care.
c. plan to include both patient and family in teaching.
d. wait for family to come before teaching the patient.

Answer 1

A
Although knowledge about specific cultural beliefs is invaluable when working with patients from diverse cultures, the nurse should always confirm the patient's beliefs and values with the patient.
Before discussing the family's wishes, the nurse needs to know the patient's wishes, which would involve clarifying the patient's cultural values.
The nurse may well include both patient and family in the teaching, but this option assumes that both patient and family want to be involved and that the patient agrees to their involvement. It is better to clarify with the patient first.
Waiting for the family to come before beginning to teach the patient means the nurse has assumed what the patient and family want. The nurse should clarify the patient's beliefs and values before going further.