The nurse is advising a client about the proper use of herbal and dietary supplements. What is the responsibility of the nurse in recommending herbal products?

Question

1. The nurse should advise the client to seek information on herbal products from a practitioner of alternative medicine rather than a health care provider, because the health care provider has no knowledge of these products.
2. The nurse should be aware of the latest medical information on herbal products, including interactions and side effects.
3. The nurse should seek to dissuade the client from using them, because they are not "scientific."
4. The nurse should say that clients can trust the labeling on herbal products because the U.S. government tests them rigorously before they are marketed.

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 2
Rationale 1: Many health care providers are informed about herbal products.
Rationale 2: Nurses need to be informed about the advantages and limitations of using herbal products in order to educate their clients, who then can make informed decisions regarding their usage.
Rationale 3: The nurse should be sensitive to the client's need for alternative therapies and not be judgmental.
Rationale 4: The U.S. government does not rigorously test the safety and efficacy of these products.
Global Rationale: Nurses need to be informed about the advantages and limitations of using herbal products in order to educate their clients, who then can make informed decisions regarding their usage. Many health care providers are informed about herbal products. The nurse should be sensitive to the client's need for alternative therapies and not be judgmental. The U.S. government does not rigorously test the safety and efficacy of these products.