The family of a patient requests permission to administer traditional herbs to the patient.

Verified Answer: B. Consult with the pharmacist on the effects of the specific herbs. Herbal therapy is a type of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) that uses plants or plant extracts to treat various health conditions. Many patients use herbal therapy for various reasons, such as cultural beliefs, personal preferences, or dissatisfaction with conventional medicine. However, herbal therapy is not without risks and challenges, especially in the hospital setting. Some of the potential problems include lack of standardization, quality control, and regulation of herbal products; adverse effects and interactions with other medications; and ethical and legal issues regarding informed consent, documentation, and liability12. Therefore, the nurse’s first action should be to consult with the pharmacist on the effects of the specific herbs that the family wants to administer to the patient. The pharmacist can provide information on the safety, efficacy, dosage, and compatibility of the herbs with the patient’s condition and current medications. The nurse should also inform the patient’s primary provider and obtain an order for the herbs before allowing the patient to take them. The nurse should document the use of herbal therapy in the patient’s medical record and monitor the patient for any adverse effects or changes in response to other treatments. Informing the family that herbal therapy is not appropriate in the hospital is not respectful of the patient’s autonomy and cultural values. Allowing the patient to take the herbs without consulting the pharmacist and obtaining an order is not safe and may violate the hospital’s policies and standards of care.