8. Nurse Parker is attending to an adult client who is recovering from an abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and experiencing slow bleeding from the graft. The client, now in the ICU with restricted visitation to family, insists on a visit from a medicine man who is regularly consulted by the family. In interpreting this request, how should Nurse Parker proceed?
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EXPLANATION
✔Correct answer:
Realize that delivering holistic care involves respecting and incorporating the client's belief system into the care plan. Holistic care in nursing emphasizes the importance of considering the entire person, including their physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs. For many patients, spiritual beliefs and practices, including those involving traditional healers or medicine men, play a crucial role in their overall well-being and recovery process. By respecting and incorporating the client's belief system into the care plan, Nurse Parker acknowledges the client's cultural and spiritual needs, which can enhance the healing process and patient satisfaction.
Holistic care is based on the recognition that health and healing are influenced by a combination of biological, psychological, social, and spiritual factors. When patients feel that their cultural and spiritual beliefs are respected, it can lead to improved trust and communication between the patient and healthcare provider, which is essential for effective care.
Imagine treating a plant that needs not only water (medical care) but also sunlight (spiritual support) to thrive. Ignoring the need for sunlight might result in a less healthy plant. Similarly, ignoring a patient's spiritual needs can impede their overall recovery.
Nurses should facilitate the inclusion of the patient's spiritual and cultural practices in the care plan while ensuring it does not interfere with medical treatment and hospital policies. This involves:
- Communicating with hospital administration to make exceptions for spiritual healers if necessary.
- Ensuring that any spiritual practices do not pose a risk to the patient or interfere with medical procedures.
- Collaborating with the healthcare team to create a care plan that incorporates the patient's spiritual needs.
- Providing a private and comfortable environment for the patient to receive visits from their spiritual healer.
- Educating the patient and family about any potential limitations or guidelines to ensure safety and compliance with hospital policies.
✘Incorrect answer options:
Recognize that the principle of justice requires equal treatment, disallowing privileges for one client that are not available to others. While the principle of justice is important, it must be balanced with the need for individualized, patient-centered care. Disallowing a visit from a medicine man without considering the patient's spiritual needs may not be in the best interest of holistic care.
Understand that faith healers do not qualify for the clergy exemption in the visitation guidelines. This answer overlooks the importance of cultural competence and individualized patient care. Many hospitals recognize the need to accommodate various spiritual and cultural practices, even if they are not part of the formal clergy.
Acknowledge that medicine men are not recognized by the hospital as legitimate healthcare providers. This statement fails to recognize the value of culturally competent care. While medicine men may not be recognized as healthcare providers, their role in the patient's spiritual and emotional well-being is significant and should be considered in the care plan.
References
- Dossey, B. M., Keegan, L., & Barrere, C. C. (2016). Holistic Nursing: A Handbook for Practice. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
- Berman, A., Snyder, S., & Frandsen, G. (2016). Kozier & Erb's Fundamentals of Nursing: Concepts, Process, and Practice. Pearson Education.