Given their cultural upbringing, what might a nurse consider as challenging when managing a Filipino American patient's end-of-life care?

When managing a Filipino American patient’s end-of-life care, the challenge of acceptance of bad news is particularly significant due to cultural values surrounding hope and familial bonds. In Filipino culture, there tends to be a strong emphasis on maintaining a positive outlook, particularly in the context of serious illness. The concept of 'kapwa,' which signifies a shared identity and interconnectedness, may lead patients and families to prefer uplifting narratives about health outcomes rather than confronting grim realities.

End-of-life discussions can evoke feelings of distress and could be seen as culturally inappropriate or counterproductive, as they might disrupt the sense of hope or cause emotional pain. Therefore, it is essential for nurses to approach such conversations with cultural sensitivity and an understanding of the family’s collective experience, involving family members in discussions and decisions to align with their values and beliefs.

Other aspects such as family involvement, decision-making autonomy, and preferences for invasive procedures, while important, are not as deeply challenging as the acceptance of bad news in this context. Filipino culture often values strong family support systems and collective decision-making, which can ease some concerns regarding autonomy.