A nurse is assigned to care for a patient whose cultural beliefs and practices differ significantly from their own. What action should the nurse take to ensure culturally sensitive and ethical care?

Remind colleagues about the importance of patient confidentiality and suggest discussing sensitive matters in private.

Maintaining patient confidentiality is a legal and ethical responsibility of healthcare professionals. In this situation, the nurse should remind colleagues about the importance of patient confidentiality and suggest discussing sensitive matters in a private, designated area. This action promotes ethical conduct, upholds patient rights, and helps create a culture of respect for privacy.

• Option a (joining the conversation and sharing experiences) contributes to the breach of patient confidentiality and does not address the issue.

• Option b (ignoring the conversation) passively allows the breach to continue and does not fulfill the nurse's responsibility to protect patient information.

• Option d (reporting the incident to the supervisor or appropriate authority) may be necessary if the breach persists or if the reminder is ignored. However, addressing the issue directly with colleagues is a proactive step that should be taken first.

Seek cultural consultation or guidance from resources within the healthcare facility.

Cultural competence and sensitivity are essential components of ethical nursing care. In this situation, the nurse should seek cultural consultation or guidance from resources within the healthcare facility, such as cultural liaisons, interpreters, or cultural competency training programs. This ensures that the nurse provides care that respects and incorporates the patient's cultural beliefs, practices, and values.

• Option a (ignoring the patient's cultural beliefs) disregards the principle of patient-centered care and may lead to ineffective or inappropriate care.

• Option b (avoiding discussions about cultural beliefs) limits communication and understanding, potentially leading to misunderstandings or compromised care.

• Option d (requesting reassignment based on cultural beliefs) is not the preferred solution, as it does not promote cultural competence or the development of nursing skills in providing care to diverse populations. Seeking cultural consultation and guidance is a more appropriate approach.