A nurse notes that a Vietnamese woman does not cuddle or interact with her newborn other than to feed him,change his diapers or soiled clothes,and put him to bed.In evaluating the woman's behavior with her infant,the nurse realizes that:
A)What appears to be a lack of interest in the newborn is in fact the Vietnamese way of demonstrating intense love by attempting to ward off evil spirits
B)The woman is inexperienced in caring for newborns
C)The woman needs a referral to a social worker for further evaluation of her parenting behaviors once she goes home with the newborn
D)Extra time needs to be planned for assisting the woman in bonding with her newborn

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse may observe a Vietnamese woman who gives minimal care to her infant and refuses to cuddle or interact with her infant.The apparent lack of interest in the newborn is this cultural group's attempt to ward off evil spirits and actually reflects an intense love and concern for the infant.Inexperience in caring for newborns is not an issue.Cultural beliefs are important determinates of parenting behaviors.The woman's "lack of interest" is a Vietnamese cultural behavior.Referring the woman to a social worker is not necessary in this situation.The lack of infant interaction is not a form of infant neglect,but rather a demonstration of love and concern for the infant.The nurse may observe the woman and may be concerned by the apparent lack of interest in the newborn when in fact this is a cultural display of love and concern for the infant.It is important to educate the woman in infant care,but it is equally important to acknowledge her cultural beliefs and practices.

A Nurse Notes That a Vietnamese Woman Does Not Cuddle