Deck 4: Cultural Influences on Nursing Care

Question 1

The mother of a 6-year-old Vietnamese child admitted with pneumonia is rubbing a coin on the child's back. The coin leaves red marks. What should the nurse do about this observation?

A)Report the possibility of child abuse.
B)Do not allow the mother to be alone with her child.
C)Explain to the mother that she cannot do this in the hospital.
D)Add a statement to the care plan that the family practices coining.

Answer 1

Add a statement to the care plan that the family practices coining.

Question 2

The nurse is caring for a patient who values time. Which demonstrates respect for this cultural phenomenon?

A)Include the matriarch of the family in all decisions.
B)Avoid standing closely to the patient.
C)Maintain eye contact with the patient.
D)Ensure 9:00 medications are administered at 9:00, not 9:20.

Answer 2

Ensure 9:00 medications are administered at 9:00, not 9:20.

Question 3

A patient who is a Jehovah's Witness has severe gastrointestinal bleeding and a dangerously low hemoglobin level. The patient is fully alert and competent and refuses to accept the blood transfusion ordered by the physician. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate?

A)Obtain a court order to give the blood.
B)Administer the blood while the patient is sleeping.
C)Have the patient's spouse sign the consent to have the blood administered.
D)Ensure the patient understands possible consequences and then respect the patient's wishes.

Answer 3

Ensure the patient understands possible consequences and then respect the patient's wishes.

Question 4

A female nurse is providing smoking cessation counseling and education during a community health fair. The nurse should avoid physical closeness, shaking hands, or touching during instruction with which of the following? (Select all that apply.)

A)A 35-year-old man of Asian descent
B)A 45-year-old woman of Arab descent
C)A 28-year-old man of Hispanic descent
D)A 52-year-old woman of African American descent
E)A 41-year-old woman of American Indian descent

Question 5

Which topic should the nurse include in a health promotion course for a Pacific Islander?

A)Genetic testing for sickle cell anemia
B)Methods of preventing HIV
C)Home blood pressure monitoring
D)Dietary alternatives for lactose products

Question 6

The nurse is caring for a patient who states she has been consuming therapies and herbal remedies recommended by her healer. Which statement by the nurse is most appropriate?

A)"You cannot take any herbal remedies or therapies while you are receiving treatment here."
B)"The physician knows what he is doing; I would follow his treatment instead of your healer."
C)"Please tell me exactly what you are taking so I can make sure they don't interact with your medications."
D)"If you would prefer, you can continue to take your herbal remedies and therapies instead of the prescribed treatment."

Question 7

The nurse is caring for a patient who moved to the United States from the Philippines 4 years ago. Which action indicates acculturation?

A)The patient only cooks food from his home country.
B)The patient joins a church whose members are predominately from the Philippines.
C)The patient speaks English instead of Tagalog.
D)The patient wears clothing common to the Philippines.

Question 8

The nurse is caring for a patient who practices Buddhism. Which is true regarding Buddhist beliefs of death?

A)Do not touch the body for 3 to 8 hours after death.
B)The body must not be cremated.
C)Organ donation is not acceptable.
D)The family sits with the deceased for 48 hours after death.

Question 9

The nurse is caring for a Hispanic patient and calls a local Catholic priest to come visit with the patient without asking religious preference. Which has the nurse demonstrated?

A)Cultural awareness
B)Ethnocentrism
C)Acculturation
D)Stereotyping

Question 10

Which question should the nurse ask when assessing spirituality?

A)"What religion are you affiliated with?"
B)"Do you believe in God?"
C)"Do you have any spiritual practices of which I need to be aware?"
D)"Is there a priest or pastor you would like for me to contact?

Question 11

The nurse is caring for a European American patient who is Jewish. For which illness should the nurse suggest screening for before becoming pregnant?

A)Sickle cell anemia
B)Tay-Sachs disease
C)Thalassemia
D)Diabetes mellitus

Question 12

The nurse is caring for a Chinese patient who refuses antibiotics for pneumonia. Which can the nurse infer as the reason?

A)The patient has many allergies and is afraid to have a reaction.
B)The patient cannot afford antibiotics.
C)Western medicine is prohibited among the Chinese culture.
D)The patient believes the illness is caused by an imbalance of Yin.

Question 13

The nurse is caring for a patient from Korea who does not speak or understand English. The patient's 8-year-old son offers to interpret medical information. Which are reasons to be cautious of allowing him to interpret? (Select all that apply.)

A)He may be proficient in medical terminology and understand what is being said.
B)He may not be mature enough to handle information being conveyed.
C)Using the son to interpret violates the patient's right to privacy.
D)The son may intentionally omit information being conveyed.
E)The son is readily available compared to an interpreter.

Question 14

The nurse is preparing to teach a patient of the Asian culture to perform postoperative dressing changes at home after discharge. Which statement made by the nurse indicates cultural competence?

A)"Tell me how you feel about your surgery."
B)"Asian people are smart, so this should be easy for you to understand."
C)"American surgeons are highly qualified; I'm sure you will heal quickly."
D)"Will you tell me about any traditional healing practices that you would like to use?"

Question 15

The nurse is assessing a group of patients. Which patient does the nurse identify at highest risk for stroke?

A)A European American female
B)A Hispanic female
C)An African American male
D)An Asian American male

Question 16

A male nurse is receiving a new admission who is a female Muslim patient. Which action should the nurse take?

A)Tell the patient the unit is short-staffed and she has no choice but to have a male nurse.
B)Ask the female nurse to perform the assessment but continue to care for this patient.
C)The nurse should do nothing. Female Muslim patients may be cared for by men.
D)Ask a female colleague to take the patient.

Question 17

Which of the following are examples of secondary characteristics of cultural diversity? (Select all that apply.)

A)Race
B)Gender
C)Socioeconomic status
D)Political beliefs
E)Spirituality

Question 18

A patient of northern European descent recovering from surgery denies postoperative pain; however, vital signs indicate an elevated pulse and blood pressure. The patient refuses to move in bed. Which nursing action would best ensure comfort and timely discharge?

A)Give the pain medicine as prescribed.
B)Ask the physician to prescribe the analgesics around the clock.
C)Explain that the pain medicine will help prevent complications.
D)Respect the patient's denial of pain and do not encourage the pain medicine.

Question 19

The nurse is caring for a patient who is Jewish and follows a kosher diet. Which food choices will the nurse identify as appropriate for this patient? (Select all that apply.)

A)Cheese
B)Shrimp
C)Salmon
D)Tuna
E)Pork

Question 20

The nurse is caring for a patient from Germany who does not speak or understand English. Which action best facilitates communication?

A)Ask the patient's daughter to interpret.
B)Speak clearly, facing the patient.
C)Use an interpreter to translate.
D)Use hand signs to communicate.