Ch. 2: Cultural Competence

The nurse is conducting a heritage assessment. Which questions is most appropriate for this assessment?

"Do you mostly participate in the religious traditions of your family?

After a class on culture and ethnicity, the new graduate nurse reflects a correct understanding of the concept of ethnicity with which statement?

"Ethnicity pertains to a social group within the social system that claims shared values and traditions"

When providing culturally competent care, nurses must incorporate cultural assessments into their health assessments. Which statement is most appropriate to use when initiating an assessment of cultural beliefs with an older American-Indian patient?

"What cultural or spiritual beliefs are important to you?"

Many Asians believe in the yin/yang theory, which is rooted in the ancient Chinese philosophy of Tao. Which statement most accurately reflects "health" in an Asian with this belief?

All aspects of the person are in perfect balance

During a class on religion and spirituality, the nurse is asked to define spirituality. Which answer is correct? "Spirituality:

Arises out of each person's unique life experience and his or her personal effort to find purpose in life."

During an assessment, the nurse notices that a patient is handling a small charm that is tied to leather strip around his neck. Which action by the nurse is appropriate?

Ask the patient about the item and its significance

A woman who has lived in the United States for a year after moving from Europe has learned to speak English and is almost finished with her college studies. She now dresses like her peers and says that her family in Europe would hardly recognize her. This nurse recognizes that this situation illustrates which concept?

Assimilation

Which of the following reflects the traditional health and illness beliefs and practices of those of African heritage? Health is:

Being in harmony with nature

The nurse is reviewing theories of illness. The germ theory, which states that microscopic organisms such as bacteria and viruses are responsible for specific disease conditions, is a basic belief of which theory of illness?

Biomedical

The nurse recognizes that working with children with a different cultural perspective may be especially difficult because:

Children have spiritual needs that are influenced by their stages of development

In the majority culture of America, coughing, sweating, and diarrhea are symptoms of an illness. For some individuals of Mexican-American origin, however, these symptoms are a normal part of living. The nurse recognizes that this difference is true, probably because Mexican-Americans:

Consider these symptoms part of normal living, not symptoms of ill health

During a seminar on cultural aspects of nursing, the nurse recognizes that the definition stating "the specific and distinct knowledge, beliefs, and skills, and customs acquired by members of a society reflects which term?

Culture

During a class on the aspects of culture, the nurse shares that culture has four basic characteristics. Which statement correctly reflects one of these characteristics?

Culture adapts to specific environmental factors and available natural resources

A 30-year-old woman has recently moved to the United States with her husband. They are living with the woman's sister until they can get a home of their own. When company arises to visit with the woman's sister, the woman feels suddenly shy and retreats back to the bedroom to hide until the company leaves. She explains that her reaction to guests is simply because she does not know how to speak "perfect English." This woman could be experiencing:

Culture shock

An Asian-American woman is experiencing diarrhea, which is believed to be a "cold" or "yin." The nurse expects that the woman is likely to try to treat it with:

Foods that are "hot" or "yang."

An older Mexican-American woman with traditional beliefs has been admitted to an inpatient care unit. A culturally sensitive nurse would:

Further assess the patient's cultural beliefs and offer the patient assistance in contacting a curandero or priest if she desires

When planning a cultural assessment, the nurse should include which component?

Health-related beliefs

When reviewing the demographics of ethnic groups in the United States, the nurse recalls that the larges and fastest growing population is:

Hispanics

When discussing the use of the term subculture, the nurse recognizes that it is best described as:

Identifying fairly large groups of people with shared characteristics that are not common to all members of a culture

After a symptom is recognized, the first effort at treatment is often self-care. Which of the following statements about self-care is true? "self-care is:

Influenced by the accessibility of over-the-counter medicines."

A 63-year-old Chinese-American man enters the hospital with complaints of chest pain, shortness of breath, and palpitations. Which statement most accurately reflects the nurse's best course of action?

It is unclear what is happening with this patient; consequently, the nurse should perform an assessment in both the physical and the psychosocial realms

The nurse is reviewing concepts of cultural aspects of pain. Which statement is true regarding pain?

Just as patient's very in their perceptions of pain, so will they vary in their expression of pain

The nurse is reviewing the development of culture. Which statement is correct regarding the development of one's culture? Culture is:

Learned through language acquisition and socialization

If an American Indian woman has come to the clinic to seek help with regulating her diabetes, than the nurse can expect that she:

May also be seeking the assistance of a shaman or medicine man

Illness is considered part of life's rhythmic course and is an outward sign of disharmony within. This statement most accurately reflects the views about illness from which theory?

Naturalistic

Symptoms, such as pain, are often influenced by a person's cultural heritage. Which of the following is a true statement regarding pain?

Nurses need to recognize that many cultures practice silent suffering as a response to pain

In the hot/cold theory, illnesses are believed to be caused by hot or cold entering the body. Which of these patients conditions is most consistent with a cold condition?

Older man with gastrointestinal discomfort

The nurse is comparing the concepts of religion and spirituality. Which of the following is an appropriate component of one's spirituality?

Personal effort made to find purpose and meaning in ife

During a class on cultural practices, the nurse hears the term cultural taboo. Which statement illustrates the concept of cultural taboo?

Refusing to accept blood products as part of treatment

The nurse is reviewing concepts relates to one's heritage and beliefs. The belief in divine or superhuman power(s) to be obeyed and worshipped as the creator(s) and ruler(s) of the universe is known as:

Religion

The nurse recognizes that categories such as ethnicity, gender, and religion illustrate the concept of:

Subcultures

An individual who takes the magicoreligious perspective of illness and disease is likely to believe that his or her illness was caused by the:

Supernatural forces

The nurse is reviewing the hot/cold theory of health and illness. Which statement best describes the basic tenets of this theory?

The treatment of disease consists of adding or subtracting cold, heat, dryness, or wetness to restore the balance of the humors of the body

The nurse manager is explaining culturally competent care during a staff meeting. Which statement accurately describes the concept of culturally competent care? "The caregiver:

Understands and attends to the total context of the patient's situation."

The nurse recognizes that an example of a person who is heritage consistent would be a:

Woman who follows the traditions that her mother followed regarding meals