The nurse is admitting a Native American patient with uncontrolled hypertension and type 1 diabetes to the unit

Question

During the initial assessment, the patient informs the nurse that he has been seeking assistance and care from the shaman in his community. The nurse recognizes that the patient's blood pressure and his blood sugar level are elevated upon admission. What is the nurse's best response to the patient's indication that his care provider is a shaman?
A) "Thank you for providing the information about the shaman, but we will keep that information and approach separate from your current hospitalization."
B) "It seems that the care provided by your shaman is not adequately managing your hypertension and diabetes, so we will try researched medical approaches."
C) "Don't worry about insulting your shaman, as he will understand his approach to your hypertension and diabetes was not working after your doctor tells him how sick you were in the hospital."
D) "I understand that you value the care provided by the shaman, but we would like you to consider medications and dietary changes that may lower your blood pressure and blood sugar levels."

Answer 1

Ans: D
Feedback:
Native American patients may seek assistance from a shaman or medicine man or woman. The nurse's best approach is not to disregard the patient's belief in folk healers or try to undermine trust in the healers. Nurses should make an effort to accommodate the patient's beliefs while also advocating the treatment proposed by health science. The nurse's best response incorporating these strategies is, "I understand that you value the care provided by the shaman, but we would like you to consider medications and dietary changes that may improve your blood pressure and blood sugar levels."