At a local hospital, the postpartum care policy requires that nurses observe the mother during infant care to assess the mother's ability to care for the new baby and to promote bonding. A new mother expresses concern that in her country, all infant care is provided by other family members so that the mother can rest and recover. Which of the following actions would be taken by a culturally competent nurse?

A. Explain that the process of postpartum recovery does not require this much rest and require that she provide infant care. This disregards cultural norms and imposes a Western view of postpartum care, which is not culturally competent.

B. Reinforce the importance of bonding and that all good mothers gladly assume these responsibilities. This is judgmental and does not acknowledge that bonding can occur in different ways, including through family support.

C. State that she must abide by hospital policy because documentation of the mother's ability to give the infant care is required for discharge. This approach is rigid and does not consider the patient's cultural background or alternative ways to assess knowledge.

D. Allow family members to provide the newborn's care and assess the mother's knowledge of child care through discussion. Cultural competence involves respecting diverse traditions and practices while ensuring safe patient care. In many cultures, postpartum care emphasizes maternal rest while family members care for the newborn. The nurse should assess the mother's knowledge without forcing her into an unfamiliar practice.