Working With a Vietnamese Adolescent

Abstract

Every day nurses make practice decisions that are based on knowledge drawn from personal, cultural, and scientific sources. Nurses therefore practice from a particular perspective that involves culturally based personal, professional, and societal beliefs and values. Their practice, however, may involve clients whose beliefs and values are culturally different from their own and that of mainstream society. To deal effectively with competing demands in a multicultural society, nurses need to be aware of transcultural nursing concepts and how they influence ethical decision making. Using a problem-solving approach, this article analyzes the practice decisions made by a school nurse when working with a Vietnamese adolescent girl and her family. A case study is presented with background information about the Vietnamese culture, the refugee-immigrant experience, and nursing ethics. Suggestions are offered for future ethical problem solving.