Question

A military vet who recently returned from active duty in a Middle Eastern country and suffers from PTSD states he will not allow the lab tech, who is Iranian, to draw his blood. The patient states 'He'll probably use a contaminated needle on me'. Which of these is the most appropriate response by the nurse?

1) Let me see if I can arrange for a different technician to draw your blood.
2) Let me help you overcome your cultural bias by letting him draw your blood.
3) There is no other technician, so you're just going to have to let him draw your blood.
4) I don't think the technician is really Middle Eastern.

Answer 1

The nurse should respect the patient's concern due to his PTSD by attempting to arrange for a different technician while not reinforcing any cultural biases.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most appropriate response by the nurse in this situation, considering the patient's PTSD and concerns, would be option 1) Let me see if I can arrange for a different technician to draw your blood. This response is respectful of the patient's current psychological state and attempts to accommodate his needs without endorsing his biased assumption. The nurse's priority is to provide care that is sensitive to the patient's mental health while maintaining professional integrity and avoiding the reinforcement of cultural bias.