A nurse once shared a situation from her workplace involving in-vitro fertilization (IVF). In this case, a treating physician did not want to be involved in the patient’s delivery because five embryos had been terminated and three remained. This raised important questions: Could all eight embryos have survived? Could some have been frozen for future use? Beyond the medical decisions, this opened a deeper discussion about cultural sensitivity and religious beliefs in healthcare.
For some, an embryo may not be considered “alive” or “a baby” yet, while for others it represents life from the very beginning. These different perspectives make patient care more complex, particularly when personal and professional values conflict.
Consider another scenario: a nurse working on a GYN floor encounters a woman experiencing complications after an abortion. The nurse is a Christian who does not believe in abortion. The patient is not there for the procedure itself but for treatment of her complications. Should the nurse refuse care based on personal beliefs, or provide care because the patient is in need?
These are difficult but necessary questions. As managers, we also face the challenge of balancing employee requests for religious accommodations with the responsibility to ensure safe, compassionate care for every patient. Partnering with human resources and taking a holistic approach helps to respect both the nurse’s values and the patient’s needs.
Cultural sensitivity is not about everyone holding the same beliefs—it is about acknowledging differences and working through them with respect. When we do this, we strengthen trust, improve collaboration, and move closer to providing excellent care for all.
Reference
DeNisco, S. M., & Barker, A. M. (Eds.). (2013). The slow march to professional practice. Advanced Practice Nursing (2nd ed., pp. 6-17). [Vital Source Bookshelf].