Mathew is a nurse working in a remote First Nations community. The client is using traditional medicine to treat a wound. Mathew is experiencing moral distress because he believes that a Western therapy is required to treat the wound. How should Mathew resolve his moral distress?
A) Ask another nurse to take on this client so that Mathew does not have to compromise his standards of practice
B) Ask the client how he may support them in using traditional medicine
C) Transfer care to a Shaman or herbalist in keeping with the client's belief system
D) Tell the client that Western medicine is needed because the wound is not healing with the traditional approach

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mathew should recognize the importance of cultural safety and work with the client to understand how he may support their use of traditional medicine. It is not appropriate to transfer care to someone who may not have the appropriate training or knowledge of Western medicine. It is also not appropriate to compromise his standards of practice by completely ignoring Western medicine. Finally, it is not appropriate to tell the client that they are wrong and that they need Western medicine. Therefore, option B is the best choice.

Mathew Is a Nurse Working in a Remote First Nations