Choice A reason: This statement is correct and reflects one of the reasons why the nurse should provide patient education and counseling on safe and effective use of CAM. To help the client make informed and shared decisions about his or her health care, the nurse should provide accurate, evidence-based, and unbiased information about the benefits and risks of CAM products and practices, as well as conventional treatments¹². The nurse should also elicit the client's preferences, values, goals, expectations, and motivations regarding CAM use, and involve the client in the decision-making process¹². By doing so, the nurse can enhance the client's knowledge, confidence, satisfaction, and adherence to his or her chosen health care plan¹².

Choice B reason: This statement is also correct and reflects another reason why the nurse should provide patient education and counseling on safe and effective use of CAM. To provide accurate, evidence-based, and unbiased information about the benefits and risks of CAM products and practices, the nurse should seek reliable sources of information about CAM, such as Cochrane Library, Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, or National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health¹². The nurse should also evaluate the quality, validity, and applicability of the information to the client's specific health condition or symptom¹². By doing so, the nurse can help the client understand the current state of evidence on CAM use, and avoid misinformation, bias, or fraud that may be present on the internet or media¹².

Choice C reason: This statement is also correct and reflects another reason why the nurse should provide patient education and counseling on safe and effective use of CAM. To advise the client on how to use CAM products and practices appropriately, safely, and effectively, the nurse should provide guidance on the type, dose, duration, frequency, timing, quality, and combination of CAM products and practices that are suitable for the client's health situation¹². The nurse should also monitor for any adverse effects or interactions with conventional treatments that may occur with CAM use, and advise the client on how to prevent or manage them¹². By doing so, the nurse can help the client optimize the outcomes of CAM use, and minimize the potential harms or complications¹².

Choice D reason: This statement is also correct and reflects another reason why the nurse should provide patient education and counseling on safe and effective use of CAM. To empower the client to take responsibility and ownership of his or her health and well-being, the nurse should support the client's autonomy and self-determination regarding CAM use, based on his or her own values and beliefs¹². The nurse should also encourage the client to actively participate in his or her health care plan, self-monitor his or her health status and progress, seek help when needed, and communicate openly with other health care providers about CAM use¹². By doing so, the nurse can promote the client's empowerment and self-care abilities¹².

Choice E reason: This statement is incorrect and does not reflect a reason why the nurse should provide patient education and counseling on safe and effective use of CAM. While monitoring the client's compliance and adherence to his or her conventional treatments is important for ensuring quality and safety of care¹², it does not imply that providing patient education and counseling on safe and effective use of CAM is unnecessary or irrelevant. On the contrary, providing patient education and counseling on safe and effective use of CAM can help improve the client's compliance and adherence to his or her conventional treatments by addressing any concerns or barriers that may prevent him or her from following them¹². For example, if a client is experiencing side effects from chemotherapy that affect his or her quality of life, providing patient education and counseling on safe and effective use of CAM may help him or her find ways to cope with them without compromising his or her chemotherapy treatment¹².

Choice A reason: This statement is correct and indicates an understanding of the teaching. The nurse should teach the client that he or she should inform his or her health care providers about his or her CAM use so they can coordinate his or her care¹². The nurse should explain that CAM products and practices may have benefits, risks, interactions, or contraindications with conventional treatments, and that health care providers need to know about them to ensure safe and effective care¹². The nurse should also encourage the client to communicate openly and honestly with his or her health care providers about his or her goals, expectations, experiences, and concerns regarding CAM use, and to seek their advice and guidance when needed¹². By doing so, the client can foster a trusting and collaborative relationship with his or her health care providers, and avoid potential harms or complications from CAM use¹².

Choice B reason: This statement is incorrect and does not indicate an understanding of the teaching. The nurse should teach the client that he or she should not use CAM products and practices as a substitute for his or her conventional treatments¹². The nurse should explain that CAM products and practices are not proven to cure or treat any disease or condition, and that they do not replace the need for conventional medical care¹². The nurse should warn the client that using CAM products and practices instead of conventional treatments may worsen his or her health condition or symptoms, or cause serious complications or side effects¹². The nurse should also advise the client to use CAM products and practices as a complementary therapy along with his or her conventional treatments, and not as an alternative therapy that can replace them¹².

Choice C reason: This statement is incorrect and does not indicate an understanding of the teaching. The nurse should teach the client that he or she should not check the internet or social media for the latest information on CAM products and practices¹². The nurse should explain that the internet or social media may contain inaccurate, misleading, biased, or fraudulent information on CAM products and practices, and that they may not be reliable sources of evidence-based information¹². The nurse should warn the client that relying on the internet or social media for information on CAM products and practices may expose him or her to misinformation, scams, or harm¹². The nurse should also advise the client to seek reliable sources of information on CAM products and practices, such as Cochrane Library, Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, or National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health¹².

Choice D reason: This statement is incorrect and does not indicate an understanding of the teaching. The nurse should teach the client that he or she should not avoid telling his or her health care providers about his or her CAM use because they might not approve¹². The nurse should explain that hiding his or her CAM use from his or her health care providers may jeopardize his or her safety and quality of care, as they may not be aware of potential benefits, risks, interactions, or contraindications with conventional treatments¹². The nurse should also assure the client that most health care providers are open-minded and respectful of their patients' choices and values regarding CAM use, and that they are willing to work with them to coordinate their care¹². The nurse should also encourage the client to inform his or her health care providers about his or her CAM use so they can coordinate his or her care¹².

Choice A reason: This statement is incorrect and inappropriate for counseling a client who wants to use meditation as a CAM practice to reduce stress and promote relaxation. The nurse should not tell the client that he or she should meditate for at least an hour every day to achieve optimal results. There is no definitive evidence or guideline on the optimal duration or frequency of meditation practice for different health outcomes¹². The nurse should advise the client to start with a short and comfortable duration of meditation, such as 10 to 15 minutes, and gradually increase it as he or she becomes more familiar and proficient with the technique¹². The nurse should also encourage the client to find a convenient and consistent time and place for meditation, and to practice it regularly but not rigidly¹².

Choice B reason: This statement is incorrect and inappropriate for counseling a client who wants to use meditation as a CAM practice to reduce stress and promote relaxation. The nurse should not tell the client that he or she should consult his or her health care provider before starting meditation practice. Meditation is generally considered a safe and low-risk CAM practice that can be practiced by most people without any adverse effects or contraindications¹². The nurse should inform the client that meditation is not a substitute for conventional medical care, and that he or she should continue to follow his or her health care provider's advice and treatment plan¹². The nurse should also advise the client to inform his or her health care provider about his or her meditation practice, and to report any changes in his or her health status or symptoms¹².

Choice C reason: This statement is correct and appropriate for counseling a client who wants to use meditation as a CAM practice to reduce stress and promote relaxation. The nurse should tell the client that he or she should use meditation as a complementary therapy along with his or her conventional treatments. Meditation is a mind-body technique that involves focusing attention on a word, object, breath, sensation, or emotion, and letting go of distracting thoughts and feelings¹². Meditation can help reduce stress, anxiety, depression, pain, blood pressure, and inflammation, and improve mood, sleep, immune function, cognitive performance, and quality of life¹². However, meditation is not a cure for any disease or condition, and it does not replace the need for conventional medical care¹². The nurse should advise the client to use meditation as an adjunctive therapy that can enhance the effects of his or her conventional treatments, and not as an alternative therapy that can replace them¹².

Choice D reason: This statement is incorrect and inappropriate for counseling a client who wants to use meditation as a CAM practice to reduce stress and promote relaxation. The nurse should not tell the client that he or she should stop his or her conventional treatments if he or she feels better with meditation. As mentioned above, meditation is not a cure for any disease or condition, and it does not replace the need for conventional medical care¹². The nurse should warn the client that stopping his or her conventional treatments without consulting his or her health care provider may worsen his or her health condition or symptoms, or cause serious complications or side effects¹². The nurse should also remind the client that feeling better with meditation does not necessarily mean that his or her underlying disease or condition has improved or resolved, and that he or she should continue to monitor his or her health status and symptoms with regular check-ups and tests¹².

Choice A reason: This statement is correct and reflects one of the outcomes that may indicate the effectiveness of patient education and counseling on safe and effective use of CAM. The nurse should assess whether the client has made informed and shared decisions about his or her health care, based on accurate, evidence-based, and unbiased information about the benefits and risks of CAM products and practices, as well as conventional treatments¹². The nurse should also assess whether the client has involved his or her health care provider and other relevant stakeholders in the decision-making process, and whether the client is satisfied and confident with his or her chosen health care plan¹². By doing so, the nurse can evaluate the impact of patient education and counseling on safe and effective use of CAM on the client's knowledge, autonomy, and empowerment¹².

Choice B reason: This statement is also correct and reflects another outcome that may indicate the effectiveness of patient education and counseling on safe and effective use of CAM. The nurse should assess whether the client has used CAM products and practices appropriately, safely, and effectively, based on guidance on the type, dose, duration, frequency, timing, quality, and combination of CAM products and practices that are suitable for his or her health situation¹². The nurse should also assess whether the client has monitored for any adverse effects or interactions with conventional treatments that may occur with CAM use, and whether the client has prevented or managed them accordingly¹². By doing so, the nurse can evaluate the impact of patient education and counseling on safe and effective use of CAM on the client's health outcomes, safety, and quality of care¹².

Choice C reason: This statement is also correct and reflects another outcome that may indicate the effectiveness of patient education and counseling on safe and effective use of CAM. The nurse should assess whether the client has taken responsibility and ownership of his or her health and well-being, based on support for his or her autonomy and self-determination regarding CAM use, as well as conventional treatments¹². The nurse should also assess whether the client has actively participated in his or her health care plan, self-monitored his or her health status and progress, sought help when needed, and communicated openly with other health care providers about CAM use¹². By doing so, the nurse can evaluate the impact of patient education and counseling on safe and effective use of CAM on the client's self-care abilities, empowerment, and satisfaction¹².

Choice D reason: This statement is correct because it includes all of the above statements. Patient education and counseling on safe and effective use of CAM can have various outcomes that may indicate its effectiveness for different aspects of health care¹². Therefore, choice D is the best answer for assessing the outcomes that may indicate the effectiveness of patient education and counseling on safe and effective use of CAM.