Nursing Supplements In Nursing

As a nurse it is important to step back and examine our own personal and family beliefs, and how they reflect on patient care. For example, my mother claims she can prevent the common cold by taking supplements. Based on our personal and family experiences, should we as nurses recommend supplements to our patients? This and many other professional and ethical challenges will arise throughout our professional career. The purpose of this paper is to explore strategies and resources to meet such challenges while fulfilling professional nursing obligations to patients, families, friends, and peers.
Health-Related Belief and Root of Belief
The use of supplements to thwart the common cold is a widespread wives’ tale in our mainstream American culture. My mother swears up-and-down she knows how to prevent the common cold. Her secret is simple, zinc and vitamin C supplements. My little brother and I vividly remember choking down those oversized pills that left a chalky white trail down the backs of our innocent throats. Worst of all, we still got sick. This is largely why I am skeptical of supplements being beneficial to health. Research has found that combination zinc and vitamin C therapy do not offer protective effects against catching the common cold (Takkouche et al., 2002). Other research suggested that zinc and vitamin C reduce the severity and duration of cold symptoms (Wintergerst, Maggini, & Hornig, 2006). As a future practicing nurse, I wish I could advise an over the counter sore throat lozenge containing vitamin C and zinc to patients with symptoms of the common cold. However, that borders on practicing medicine without a license, which is beyond the scope of registered nursing practice. Instead, I would recommend patie...

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...upport the dying and their loved with not just their physical needs, but also their spiritual, emotional, social needs, and any other potential needs that may come down the road.
Conclusion
Nurses will experience times where their own personal beliefs and values will be challenged by the law, professional standards, and even other nurses. It can be scary, frustrating, or heart breaking, but nurses must remain professional and act within their legal scope. There is no question that nursing is tough, deeply passionate work. Sometimes you have to realize that the most you are allowed to do is encourage all to prepare a health care directive or make a referral to the prescribing practitioner about drugs and supplement concerns. In the end, a good nurse negotiates legal, ethical, and interpersonal issues using knowledge, clear communication, and empathy for human life.