Student Nurse, Essay Example

As a student nurse, I have witnessed another nurse use the approach of assessing the values of a family and contrasting and comparing them with those of American culture. The nurse in question was handling a maniac depression patient from China. According to Chinese culture, the behavior of a single individual is seen as a reflection of the entire family. Any form of mental ailment or a form of behavior portraying one is devoid of self-control is considered as a shameful act. Consequently, the Chinese patient was adamant to discuss his problem of depression with the nurse. The nurse asked the patient some open ended questions, while remaining keen on the body language. The nurse noted that the patient was hesitant to respond to her questions, and exhibited uneasiness.

From a professional opinion, this is an appropriate way of assessing values of a family. It is inappropriate for nurses to assume that patients will conform to the mainstream values. Such assumptions have established challenges to provision of healthcare owing to the diversity in education and language between nurses and patients. Without using this approach, it would be difficult to assist patients to cope, manage, and understand their course of ailment. The application of this approach gives patients a chance to discuss and open up to the nurses, and the measures to take are issued. The nurse should not give patients an opportunity to undermine his or her expertise, by allowing them to do as they wish. I do not have another approach to handle patients who find it difficult to discuss their health issues because they are bound by cultures. The approach in this discussion is effective and appropriate, as it provides the nurses with a chance listen to the patients and device the way forward.