An immigrant from China needs a colonic resection but is anxious and reluctant about surgery. This patient usually follows traditional Chinese health practices. Which comment by the nurse would most likely reduce the patient's anxiety and reluctance?
a. "Surgery will help rebalance the yin and yang forces and return you to harmony."
b. "The surgery we are recommending will help you achieve final transformation."
c. "I know this is new to you, but you can trust us to take very good care of you."
d. "If you would like, we could investigate using acupuncture to help control pain."
ANS: D
It would be helpful to incorporate elements of TCM as appropriate, such as acupuncture for pain control. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has the goal of healing in harmony with one's environment and all of creation in mind, body, and spirit, as well as balance of yin and yang energies and a state of transition. However, it would not be helpful to suggest that surgery will balance the yin and the yang, since this is not how balance is achieved in TCM. Transformation is recognized as a stage of healing occurring when mutual, creative, active participation occurs between healers and the patient toward changes in the mind, body, and spirit; but "final transformation" could imply the end of corporeal life and might be perceived as hastening his demise. Appealing to him to trust persons whose practices are foreign to him conflicts with the patient's values and would not likely be effective.
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