Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017) - Community-Based Nursing Practice Related

Review Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017) - Community-Based Nursing Practice related questions and content

A recent nursing graduate has been surprised at the sharp contrast between some patients lifestyles in their homes and the nurses own practices and beliefs. To work therapeutically with the patient, what must the nurse do?

  • A. Request another assignment if there is dissonance with the patients lifestyle.
  • B. Ask the patient to come to the agency to receive treatment, if possible.
  • C. Resolve to convey respect for the patients beliefs and choices.
  • D. Try to adapt the patients home to the norms of a hospital environment.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: To work successfully with patients in any setting, the nurse must be nonjudgmental and convey respect for patients beliefs, even if they differ sharply from the nurses. This can be difficult when a patients lifestyle involves activities that a nurse considers harmful or unacceptable, such as smoking, use of alcohol, drug abuse, or overeating. The nurse should not request another assignment because of a difference in beliefs, nor do nurses ask for the patient to come to the agency to receive treatment. It is also inappropriate to convert the patients home to a hospital-like environment.