Problem
Case Study:
You have been hired as a nurse manager on a busy pediatric unit in a large metropolitan hospital. The hospital provides services for a culturally diverse population, including African American, Asian, and Hispanic people. Family members often attempt alternative healing practices specific to their culture and bring special foods from home to entice a sick child to eat.
One of the more experienced nurses said to you, "We need to discourage these people from fooling with all this hocus pocus. We are trying to get their sick kid well in the time allowed under their managed care plans, and all this medicine-man stuff is only keeping the kid sick longer. Besides, all this stuff stinks up the rooms and brings in bugs."
You have observed how important these healing rituals and foods are to the patients and families and believe that both the families and the children have benefited from this nontraditional approach to healing. You also have observed that many of the nurses on the unit are often dismissive of the cultural norms of the patients on the unit. As the new Nurse Manager, you are responsible for facilitating a culturally inclusive environment for your patients as well as the nurses on your team.
Task
After reading the assigned case study, answer the following questions related to the case scenario with supporting documentation and most recent resources.
i. What are your feelings about nontraditional healing methods?
ii. How should you respond to the nurse?
iii. How can you be a patient advocate without alienating your team?
iv. What could you do to assist the nurses on your unit in becoming more culturally sensitive to their patients and families?