The African American patient had a myocardial infarction and is receiving atorvastatin (Lipitor). The nurse caring for the patient is Caucasian. The nurse assesses the patient's diet to be very high in fat. What is the best plan by the nurse to improve the patient's diet and reduce the risk for additional medications?

Question

1. With the patient's permission, plan to ask an African American nurse to speak to him about a low-fat diet.
2. With the patient's permission, plan to discuss his diet with whomever prepares meals for his family.
3. Plan to give the patient information specific to African Americans about low-fat diets.
4. Plan to ask the physician for a consult by dietary services so a dietician can teach the patient about low-fat diets.

Answer 1

2
Rationale 1: Asking the patient about having an African American nurse speak to him is racist and implies that a Caucasian nurse cannot understand the dietary needs of an African American patient.
Rationale 2: Every culture has culture-specific diets; the nurse must include the person in the family who does the meal preparation if a different diet is to be successful.
Rationale 3: Providing information is a good idea, but the nurse must also teach the patient.
Rationale 4: At this point, a consult by dietary services is premature.
Global Rationale: Every culture has culture-specific diets; the nurse must include the person in the family who does the meal preparation if a different diet is to be successful. Asking the patient about having an African American nurse speak to him is racist and implies that a Caucasian nurse cannot understand the dietary needs of an African American patient. At this point, a consult by dietary services is premature. Providing information is a good idea, but the nurse must also teach the patient.