Respect for Patients' Preferences and Beliefs Regarding CAM Use and Patient Education and Counseling on Safe and Effective Use of CAM
Respect for Patients' Preferences and Beliefs Regarding CAM Use and Patient Education and Counseling on Safe and Effective Use of CAM ( 3 Questions)
A nurse is counseling a client who wants to use meditation as a CAM practice to reduce stress and promote relaxation. Which of the following statements by the nurse is appropriate?
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.
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.
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.
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 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.