Chapter 5, Cultural Diversity

The nurse is admitting a client from China to the medical-surgical unit with a diagnosis of cancer. While doing the client's assessments, the client speaks of her naturalistic beliefs related to health care and the importance of the yin/yang theory. Based on her cancer diagnoses, the idea that cancer is considered a cold illness in the culture, and her yin/yang beliefs, which meal will the patient most likely order for lunch? A) Chicken noodle soup with crackers, fruit crisp, and hot tea B) Turkey sandwich, small tossed salad, and iced tea C) Chef's salad, bread, and water D) Fruit smoothie and granola bar

A) Chicken noodle soup with crackers, fruit crisp, and hot tea

Despite the presence of a large number of elderly residents of Asian heritage, a long-term care facility has not integrated the Asian concepts of hot and cold into meal planning. Which of the following should the nurses at the facility recognize this as an example of? A) Cultural blindness B) Stereotyping C) Cultural assimilation D) Cultural imposition

A) Cultural blindness

A nurse walks by a client's room and observes a Shaman performing a healing ritual for the client. The nurse then remarks to a coworker that the ritual is a waste of time and disruptive to the other clients on the floor. What feelings is this nurse displaying? A) Culture conflict B) Cultural blindness C) Stereotyping D) Cultural shock

A) Culture conflict

Personal space and distance is a cultural perspective that can impact nurse-client interactions. What is the best way for the nurse to interact physically with a client who has a different cultural perspective on space and distance? A) Know the client's cultural personal space preferences. B) Realize that sitting close to the client is an indication of warmth and caring. C) Sit three to six feet away from the patient in an attempt to not offend. D) Remember not to intrude into the personal space of the elderly.

A) Know the client's cultural personal space preferences.

A) People of Asian descent prefer some distance between themselves and others. B) People of Asian descent commonly stand close to one another when talking. C) People of Asian descent touch one another when sitting next to a familiar person. D) People of Asian descent prefer direct eye contact when communicating. Ans: A

A) People of Asian descent prefer some distance between themselves and others

When providing care on an Indian reservation, the nurse has prioritized assessments for diabetes and fetal alcohol syndrome when working with residents of the reservation. How should this nurse's practice be best understood? A) The nurse is correct in assessing for health problems that have a higher incidence and prevalence among this population. B) The nurse is stereotyping American Indians as leading unhealthy lifestyles and abusing alcohol. C) The nurse is performing cultural imposition of the majority American culture, and the accompanying beliefs around diabetes and alcohol use. D) The nurse should seek specific permission from each client before proceeding with these assessments.

A) The nurse is correct in assessing for health problems that have a higher incidence and prevalence among this population

When providing nursing care to an African American individual, which of the following cultural factors should the nurse consider? A) Values and beliefs are often present oriented. B) Families are usually patriarchal. C) They possess weak religious affiliations. D) Families are highly competitive.

A) Values and beliefs are often present oriented

A male nurse is preparing to take the vital signs of a female patient. Which ethnic group would consider this improper? A) Native American B) Arab Muslim C) White D) African American

B) Arab Muslim

An Asian American male client is operated on for gallstones. On the postoperative night, the nurse finds that the client is not sleeping and is tossing and turning. When asked about analgesics, the client expresses that he does not have pain. What nursing action is most appropriate? A) Believing that the client has no pain B) Assessing for non-verbal expressions of pain C) Inspecting the incision site for any abnormality D) Asking the client if he is feeling hungry

B) Assessing for non-verbal expressions of pain

What is the term that describes the inability of a person to recognize his or her own values, beliefs, and practices as well as those of others, because of strong ethnocentric tendencies? A) Acculturation B) Cultural blindness C) Cultural imposition D) Stereotyping

B) Cultural blindness

A Mexican immigrant who migrated to the United States and lives in a Spanish-speaking community with other relatives is taken to the ER following a fall at work. He is admitted to the hospital for observation. The nurse is aware that this client is at risk for: A) Cultural assimilation B) Cultural shock C) Cultural imposition D) Cultural blindness

B) Cultural shock

A client who has difficulty sleeping expresses to the nurse that watching television may help him relax and get sleep. The nurse disregards the client's concern and suggests drinking warm milk before going to bed. Which cultural characteristic is the nurse demonstrating? A) Stereotype B) Ethnocentrism C) Racism D) Relativity

B) Ethnocentrism

The nurse caring for a Native American client plans care understanding that one belief of Native American healing practices is which of the following? A) Modern life facilitates healing agents. B) Healing takes time. C) Balancing yin and yang is important. D) Energy flows through meridians throughout the body.

B) Healing takes time.

A nurse is caring for a client after internal fixation of a compound fracture in the tibia. The nurse finds that the client has not had his dinner, seems restless, and is tossing on the bed. Keeping in mind that the client is Latino, what is the most appropriate response by the nurse? A) Are you having pain in your leg? B) Tell me what you are feeling. C) Do you need pain medication? D) Are you feeling all right?

B) Tell me what you are feeling.

A nurse in a large metropolitan city enjoys working in a health clinic that primarily serves Hispanic clients. What does this statement imply about the nurse? A) The nurse's knowledge and skills are not adequate to care for clients with acute illnesses. B) The nurse respects and values providing culturally competent care. C) The nurse is attempting to overcome cultural blindness. D) This employment makes the nurse feel superior to a minority group of people.

B) The nurse respects and values providing culturally competent care

A nurse is providing care for a Cambodian client. The nurse says, "You have to get up and walk whether you want to or not." What is this statement an example of? A) Culture shock B) Stereotyping C) Cultural imposition D) Cultural competence

C) Cultural imposition

The nurse is providing home care for a client who traditionally drinks herbal tea to treat an illness. How should the nurse respond to a request for the herbal tea? A) We do not allow our clients to drink herbal tea. B) Why in the world would you want to drink that stuff? C) Let me check with the doctor to make sure it is okay to drink the tea with your medicines. D) I have to fill out a lot of forms that you will have to sign before I can do that.

C) Let me check with the doctor to make sure it is okay to drink the tea with your medicines.

The nurse is admitting a new client to the unit. The nurse notes that this client would need an alternate meal choice when the menu specified pork for a meal. What cultural group would require an alternative meal choice? A) Christian B) Protestant C) Muslim D) Mormon

C) Muslim

When the South Asian client arrives 25 minutes late to her appointment at the clinic, the nurse recognizes this as a sign of which of the following? A) Disrespect B) Laziness C) Respect D) Superiority

C) Respect

An older adult woman of Chinese ancestry refuses to eat at the nursing home, stating, "I'm just not hungry." What factors should the staff assess for this problem? A) The woman does not like to eat with other residents of the home. B) The woman is using this as a means of going home. C) The food served may not be culturally appropriate. D) The food served may violate religious beliefs.

C) The food served may not be culturally appropriate.

A nurse in the hospital is caring for a Native American male. What person is most important to include in the care of the client? A) Family B) Physician C) Tribal medicine man D) Physical therapy aide

C) Tribal medicine man

A father, mother, grandmother, and three school-aged children have immigrated to the United States from Thailand. Which member(s) of the family are likely to learn to speak English more rapidly? A) Unemployed father B) Stay-at-home mother C) Grandmother D) Children

D) Children

A nurse is caring for an elderly woman from a far eastern culture. How does the nurse demonstrate awareness of culturally competent care? A) Maintaining eye contact at all times. B) Trying to speak louder than usual. C) Using touch when communicating. D) Establishing effective communication.

D) Establishing effective communication

An Anglo American client reports to the primary health care facility with symptoms of fever, cough, and running nose. While interviewing the client, which of the following points should the nurse keep in mind? A) Do not probe into emotional issues. B) Do not ask very personal questions. C) Sit at the other corner of the room. D) Maintain eye contact while talking.

D) Maintain eye contact while talking.

A nurse is caring for a client from Taiwan who constantly requests pain medication. What should the nurse consider when assessing the client's pain? A) Most people react to pain in the same way. B) Pain in adults in less intense than pain in children. C) The client has a low pain tolerance. D) Pain is what the client says it is.

D) Pain is what the client says it is

The client in a rehabilitation unit is having a difficult time adjusting to the scheduled activities on the unit, as well as being dependent on others for meals and medications. Which word best describes what the patient is experiencing? A) Anxiety B) Disparity C) Resolution D) Shock

D) Shock

When a labor and delivery nurse tells a coworker that an Asian client probably did not want any pain medication because "Asian women typically are stoic," the nurse is expressing a belief known as what? A) Stigma B) Ethnic slur C) Bias D) Stereotype

D) Stereotype

A home health nurse is visiting a client 60 years of age. During the initial visit, the client's husband answers all of the questions. What would the nurse assess based on this behavior? A) The client does not want the nurse to visit. B) The husband does not trust his wife to answer questions. C) The cltient is not able to answer the questions. D) The husband is the dominant member of the family.

D) The husband is the dominant member of the family

The focal point of nursing is the nurse-client interaction. What must nurses consider when conducting the necessary assessment of their clients and significant others? A) Their health disparities B) Their societal beliefs C) The subgroup they belong to D) Their own cultural orientation.

D) Their own cultural orientation.

All of the following are factors to consider when caring for clients with limited income. Which one is the most important? A) Basic human needs may go unmet B) Limited access to reliable transportation C) Decreased access to health care services D) Risk for increased incidence of disease

A) Basic human needs may go unmet

The nurse is obtaining a health history from a patient of Puerto Rican descent. Which of the following is most likely to be a health problem that has a cultural connection for this patient? A) Lactose enzyme deficiency B) Tuberculosis C) Sickle cell anemia D) Suicide

A) Lactose enzyme deficiency

A 40-year-old nurse is taking a health history from a Hispanic man aged 20 years. The nurse notes that he looks down at the floor when he answers questions. What should the nurse understand about this behavior? A) The client is embarrassed by the questions. B) This is culturally appropriate behavior. C) The client dislikes the nurse. D) The client does not understand what is being asked.

B) This is culturally appropriate behavior.

The nurse is caring for a Mexican American who is Catholic. The nurse wishes to learn more about the culture by consulting a key informant. Which of the following religious practitioners would be most knowledgeable about the beliefs held by individuals of Mexican ethnicity? A) A church mother B) A voodoo priest C) A curandera D) A peyote leader

C) A curandera

A nurse engages in professional rituals as a means to standardize practice and ensure efficiency. In doing so, the nurse integrates understanding of which of the following as a characteristic? A) Preconceived and untested belief about people B) Viewing one's own culture as the only correct standard C) Common and observable expressions of culture D) Belief system held to varying degrees as absolute truth

C) Common and observable expressions of culture

Most nurses have been taught to maintain direct eye contact when communicating with clients. Some cultural groups would not value direct eye contact with the nurse. Which cultural group would consider the direct eye contact impolite? A) Americans B) British C) Canadians D) Native Americans

D) Native Americans