A nurse is about to despair.Earlier in the week,she carefully taught a patient from a different culture exactly how much medication to take and emphasized the importance of taking the correct amount.However,the patient is back in the hospital today with symptoms of an overdose although the patient denies taking more than the label indicated.Which of the following is the most likely explanation?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

For fear of disapproval,a person may not tell the nurse that he or she is using folk medicine as well as Western medication.The two medicines may have cumulative effects that could be dangerous to the client.Nurses who lack cultural knowledge may develop feelings of inadequacy and helplessness because they are often unable to effectively help their clients.It is unlikely that tne patient was taking too much medication,taking the incorrect dose,or having a unique reaction to the medication.Rather the nurse should first interview the patient about use of folk medicine which may interact with the prescribed medication regimen.

A Nurse Is About to Despair