An older Mexican-American woman with traditional beliefs has been admitted to an inpatient care unit. When admitting this patient, what would a culturally sensitive nurse do?

A) Contact the hospital administrator about the best course of action.
B) Arrange for a shaman for her, because requesting one herself is not culturally appropriate.
C) Further assess the patient's cultural beliefs and offer the patient assistance in contacting a curandero or priest if she desires.
D) Ask the family what they would like to do because Mexican-Americans traditionally give control of decision making to their families.

A health care provider should not assume an understanding of a person's culture but should ask about cultural beliefs that may impact the health care provided, such as health practices and religious beliefs. Some people may believe that the cure is incomplete unless the body, mind, and spirit are also healed so may seek help from folk or religious healers in addition to biomedical or scientific health care. Members of the Mexican-American culture often seek care of curandero or priest. The nurse should conduct a cultural assessment of the patient to learn about her cultural beliefs that may impact the health care provided, not contact the hospital administrator. The nurse should not arrange for a folk healer before finding out the patient's beliefs on health care practices and also a Shaman is the typical folk healer for a American Indians. The nurse should not ask the family their preferences, but the patient herself.