Question 1

A nurse can improve cultural awareness with which behavior?

Accepted Answer

Being sensitive to differences between the cultures of the nurse and patient. This allows the nurse to be open and to collect data about each unique patient. Making generalizations about various ethnic and cultural groups leads to stereotyping. Learning everything about the various cultural groups in the nurse's city provides useful information about a specific city, but does not necessarily improve cultural awareness of cultures in other cities. Learning a foreign language may help a nurse learn information about one culture, but does not improve cultural awareness of other cultures.

Question 2

An Asian woman comes to the clinic with a complaint of back pain. During the history, she tells the nurse that she usually uses acupuncture for her pain. What is the nurse's best response?

Accepted Answer

Asking about the use and effectiveness of acupuncture acknowledges the patient's choice of treatment and allows the nurse to gather more data about its effectiveness for this patient. Asking "Why did you use acupuncture?" is a nontherapeutic response and questions the patient's reason for her health care decisions. Asking "Why did you use acupuncture?" is a nontherapeutic response and questions the patient's reason for her health care decisions. Commenting that, "I have heard that many Asian people use acupuncture" is an example of stereotyping.

Question 3

What are the characteristics of one's culture?

Accepted Answer

System of beliefs and practices is part of the definition of culture. Skin and hair color are examples of racial characteristics based on genetics. Food preferences are an example of ethnicity. Language and religion are examples of ethnicity.

Question 4

Which of the components described below represent the Filipino culture? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

Respect for elders is an example of values and beliefs, a part of culture. Value of family represents beliefs and customs of culture. Interdependence is a value of Filipinos. Language, religion, and food preferences are part of ethnicity, rather than culture.

Question 5

A nurse is caring for a woman who has given birth to a healthy baby. The woman's husband and mother are in the room, and more family members are in the lobby. Which comment by the nurse demonstrates culturally competent care?

Accepted Answer

Asking about ceremonies or other practices collects data about culturally based behaviors of this patient and family surrounding childbirth. Although a physical examination is important, it is not necessary for culturally competent care and can be performed at another time. Limiting visitors based on an arbitrary or subjective definition of "immediate family" may interfere with culturally competent care. Breastfeeding is a choice the mother makes, not the nurse.

Question 6

Which nursing behaviors indicate culturally competent care?

Accepted Answer

Understanding that there is diversity even among people of the same cultural group prevents assumptions and stereotypes that inhibit culturally competent care. Recognizing that there are many different definitions of health and illness is not sufficient for culturally competent care. Complying with the stated plan of treatment despite the patient's differing opinion is not a culturally competent behavior. The patient needs to understand, support, and participate in the plan of care. Helping patients of different cultures adopt the beliefs and behaviors of the dominant culture is an example of the opposite of cultural competence; it assumes that all persons should adopt certain beliefs and behaviors.

Question 7

A patient tells the nurse that her religion prohibits her from eating food prepared outside of a special kitchen. What is the nurse's appropriate action to meet this patient's needs?

Accepted Answer

Asking the patient to describe the requirements for the special kitchen allows the nurse to collect more data about the needs of the patient. Canceling the patient's food tray does not meet the patient's needs. Telling the patient that her diet must be carefully monitored and prepared at the hospital is inappropriate because it does not consider the ethnicity of the patient and is not culturally competent care. Asking the patient to change her religious requirements does not respect her ethnicity and is not culturally competent care.

Question 8

Which example below best characterizes a patient's race?

Accepted Answer

Blonde hair and fair skin indicate genetics and race. The language spoken at home refers to ethnicity. A kosher diet refers to ethnicity. Although the patient and grandparents may share the same race, that the grandparents came to the United States from Germany does not relate to race.

Question 9

A Hispanic patient tells an African-American nurse, "You are African-American and can't possibly understand how a person like me feels." What is an appropriate response by the nurse at this time?

Accepted Answer

By encouraging the patient to describe what he means by his statement, the nurse is demonstrating cultural awareness and sensitivity by gathering more data about the unique beliefs and value systems of this patient. Finding a nurse who is not African-American to interview the patient is neither necessary nor practical. Asking the patient "Why do you think that, since we just met?" sounds defensive and may not facilitate further communication. Making an assumption "that the patient is very defensive about being racially different" is not based on any data.

Question 10

A male nurse is assigned to the care of a gay male with alcoholism. This sexual orientation is inconsistent with the beliefs of the nurse. What actions, if any, can the nurse take to provide patient-centered care to this patient?

Accepted Answer

Examining one's own feelings about alcoholism and gay men specifically and identifying one's own beliefs and values generally is part of the process for developing cultural competence, which should allow one to recognize the uniqueness of patients and to demonstrate respect for individuals. Not acting will not facilitate patient-centered care. The nurse needs to reflect on his feelings about this patient. Determining the patient's degree of risk for contracting the human immunodeficiency virus is based on an assumption that because the patient is gay, he has or will have the human immunodeficiency virus. A discussion with the patient may help the nurse understand him, but will not necessarily provide insight into the nurse's beliefs and feelings.

Question 11

During the first prenatal visit for a 20-year-old Hispanic woman, the nurse assesses the patient's health beliefs and practices. Which questions are appropriate as part of this assessment? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

What is the language that is usually spoken in your home? How do you define health and illness? Do you have specific beliefs or preferences concerning food or food preparation? Do you or the members of your family have certain beliefs and practices surrounding pregnancy and childbirth? These four questions support culturally sensitive nursing care. You are Hispanic, do you need me to find an interpreter? assumes that all Hispanic persons speak Spanish only and is an example of stereotyping. Which Catholic church do you attend? assumes that all Hispanics are Catholics and is an example of stereotyping.

Question 12

A nurse is conducting an assessment of an American Indian woman who has come to the clinic complaining of persistent headaches. The patient tells the nurse that the medicines prescribed by the tribal healer have done "some good." What is the appropriate response of the nurse at this time?

Accepted Answer

Asking the patient about the nature of these medicines and how often the patient uses them allows the nurse to collect data about the medicines and their uses, to learn more about the practices used by this patient to improve her health, and to check for potential drug interaction before prescribing other medications or treatment. Advising the patient to stop taking any nonprescription medicines is inappropriate until the nurse knows the details about all medicines used by the patient. Telling the patient to increase the frequency of the healer's medicines is inappropriate until the nurse knows details about the medicines. Suggesting the patient's headaches are caused by the healer's medicines is inappropriate until the nurse knows details about the medicines.

Question 13

Which question is most effective in assessing a patient's personal beliefs about health and illness?

Accepted Answer

"What or who do you believe controls your health?" is a broad question that allows the patient to describe his or her beliefs. Asking if the patient visits his or her health care provider annually assumes the patient has a health care provider, and it is a closed-ended question that yields little data. "Do you have specific beliefs about health and illness?" will yield a "yes" or "no" answer, but does not provide information needed. "Who makes the health decisions in your family?" does not provide information about the beliefs of the patient.

Question 14

Which question is the most appropriate to learn about a patient's religious practices?

Accepted Answer

"Do you have any specific religious or spiritual practices or beliefs?" is a broad, open-ended question that allows the patient to describe his or her religious beliefs. The question makes no reference to any particular faith. Asking the patient about his or her church makes the assumption that the patient worships in a church, which may not be correct. Asking the patient about the location of his or her church makes the assumption that the patient worships in a church, which may not be correct. The question is not an efficient way to learn about religious or spiritual practices.

Quiz 5: Cultural Assessment