From Danielle
Culturally competent nurses possess the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to understand and respect different cultures’ beliefs, values and practices.Nurses can effectively address healthcare disparities by fostering effective communication and building trust with patients from various backgrounds (How Culture Impacts Care: What Nurses Need to Know, 2023). Recently, while teaching a patient about health promotion strategies I faced an ethical dilemma concerning cultural sensitivity. The patient belonged to a cultural group with specific dietary beliefs that differed from standard health recommendations. As a nurse, I had to navigate their preference for a high-salt diet, which was customary in their community but posed risks for their hypertension. Most people in China consume too much salt, on average 9.3 grams per day from home cooking alone, nearly double the recommended amount. Too much salt in the diet can lead to high blood pressure and can increase the risk for heart disease and stroke (Reducing Salt Intake in China: Nudging Consumers towards Ordering Healthier, Low-Sodium Menu Options, n.d.). This situation raised a conflict between promoting evidence-based dietary advice and respecting the patient’s cultural practices.
To address this ethical issue, I followed a decision-making process. First, I assessed the patient’s cultural background and their beliefs about diet to fully understand their perspective. Next, I consulted with colleagues and utilized resources on cultural competence to gain insights into how best to approach the situation sensitively. Then, I provided the patient with evidence-based information about nutrition while acknowledging and respecting their cultural beliefs.
During discussions with the patient, I negotiated to find a compromise that respected their cultural practices while also promoting their health. After the interaction, I reflected on the process to learn how to better handle similar ethical dilemmas in the future. This approach aimed to uphold ethical principles such as patient autonomy, beneficence (doing good for the patient), and cultural sensitivity in promoting the patient’s overall health and well-being.
From Anna Maria
I was assessing my patient before his elective procedure. He has a history of diabetes, hypertension, and back pain. During my medication reconciliation, I found out he has not been compliant with his diabetic medications. I educated the patient on the importance of following his medication regimen. I took his blood sugar level, and it was 284. I told the patient his blood sugar was high, and I had to talk to the team about the result. The patient was in disbelief since his blood sugar was lower in the morning. The patient asked me if I could tell the physician a different result because he needed his steroid injection for his back pain. I empathized with his pain, but it was not safe to proceed with his result. I reported the result to the physician, and the physician spoke to the patient about rescheduling his procedure and to follow up with his endocrinologist. Ethical issues included the principle of veracity and nonmaleficence. The principle of veracity is truth-telling and supplying the patient with information to make decisions (Edelman & Kudzma, 2022). The patient wanted me to withhold the truth since his back pain was a 10/10; this breaks the code of ethics. We also prevented patient harm by canceling his procedure since his blood sugar was not controlled.
I identified the main issue and how it would impact the patient. I assessed whether the patient lacked information. The patient was desperate for pain relief, but I prioritized patient safety. I decided to report the result. The patient was disappointed, but his safety was more important.
from Ryan
Your discussion post insightfully highlights the complex ethical dilemmas faced by healthcare professionals. Navigating these challenges requires a deep understanding of both moral and professional obligations. Advocating for patients, particularly in nursing, demands careful consideration of culturally influenced values, as traditions and practices in a diverse society significantly impact health-related perspectives. The emphasis on empowerment is particularly valuable. By empowering patients you not only help prevent dilemmas from developing but so much more. Empowering patients fosters a sense of possessing knowledge about their health conditions, helps patients enact healthcare plans, improves engagement with their health management, and gives them a sense of control and the ability to make their own decisions (Sindhu, 2020). When resolving conflicts with clients, the strategies of empowerment, education, and advocacy are essential. However, it’s the approach of empathy and understanding that truly makes a difference. By striving for effective communication and understanding the client’s perspective, we can find solutions that benefit all parties involved. This commitment to mutual respect and common ground ultimately strengthens relationships and leads to more positive outcomes, making us more compassionate and considerate in our interactions. Reference Sindhu, T. (2020). Why Patient Empowerment Matters. Wolters Kluwer. https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/w…
From Ellen,
Thank you for sharing in this week’s discussion! Giving someone the ability to achieve something, “…to make someone stronger and more confident, especially in controlling their life and claiming their rights,” is a definition of empowerment that is widely used in health contexts (Tveiten, 2021). The health professions are particularly interested in the concept of empowerment. This is due to the fact that the idea emphasizes how crucial it is to help those who find themselves in precarious situations and how crucial it is to view people as participants in their own lives. What makes empowerment in hospitals difficult is just this: aiding someone who is in a vulnerable situation without taking over but instead assisting them in assuming as much control as they can (Tveiten, 2021). Hospitals serve as the setting for interactions between patients and medical professionals, and one of the primary focuses of health promotion in these settings is the hospital itself. Redistributing power, recognizing the patient’s competence, and assisting the patient in taking an active role in their own care and treatment are all aspects of health promotion (Tveiten, 2021). Reference: Tveiten, S. (2021). Empowerment and health promotion in hospitals. In Springer eBooks (pp. 159–170). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63135-2_13
