A nurse is describing and demonstrating the technique for emptying a Vietnamese patients surgical drain, knowing that the patient will soon be discharged home with the drain in place. As the nurse is explaining, the patient laughs at times that appear unrelated to what the nurse is saying or doing. How should the nurse best understand the patients behavior?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Inappropriate laughter can signal a lack of understanding. This is more likely than the presence of a culture-specific sense of humor in this particular context. It is unlikely that there is a prohibition against simultaneous explaining and demonstrating. Laughing is unlikely to suggest that teaching and learning are unnecessary.

A Nurse Is Describing and Demonstrating the Technique for Emptying