A Native American client is admitted to an emergency department (ED) with an ulcerated toe secondary to uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. The client refuses to talk to a physician unless a shaman is present. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate?
A. Assist the client in contacting a shaman of his choice.
B. Explain to the client that "voodoo" medicine will not heal the ulcerated toe.
C. Ask the client to explain what the shaman can do that the physician cannot.
D. Inform the client that refusing treatment is a client's right.
ANS: A
The most appropriate nursing intervention would be to facilitate meeting the client's need to have a shaman present. The nurse should understand that in the Native American culture, religion and health-care practices are often intertwined. The shaman, a medicine man, may confer with physicians regarding the care of a client. Research supports the importance of both health-care systems in the overall wellness of Native American clients.
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