Chapter 11: Assessing Culture

During a patient interview, the nurse is focusing on cultural influences particularly when assessing: (Select all that apply.) A. Health care beliefs and practices B. Employment history C. Nutrition D. Cardiovascular status E. High-risk behaviors

A, C, E

A nursing instructor is teaching students about communication in different cultures. When discussing the meaning of hand gestures and body language in different cultures, the nurse realizes that further instruction is necessary when a student makes which statement? A. "I can make a circle with my thumb and forefinger and people of all cultures know it means OK." B. "There are many different elements of body language and hand gestures." C. "A major hand gesture is one for indicating height." D. "If any hand gesture is used, always clarify if there seems to be a strange reaction on the other's part."

A. "I can make a circle with my thumb and forefinger and people of all cultures know it means OK."

The client states his pain is "intolerable" and requests pain medication. The nurse observes the client to be talking and laughing with visitors as they help to provide care to him. How should the nurse best respond? A. "I will be back with your pain medication." B. "You do not look like you are in pain." C. "If we can get some visitors our of your room, you might rest better." D. "I cannot imaging you are having pain the way you are laughing in here."

A. "I will be back with your pain medication."

Skin color is A. A valid characteristic that differentiates racial groups. B. A genetic variation associated with distance from the equator. C. A valid predictor of intelligence. D. Darker in persons with tightly curled hair.

A. A valid characteristic that differentiates racial groups.

A client comes to the ED with lower abdominal pain. She is extremely emotional and moving wildly on the gurney. A nurse says to another nurse that the client is "way overdoing it." What action should the nurse take to best provide care for this client? A. Conduct a cultural assessment to better understand the client's perception of pain and illness. B. Talk to the client's family to find out if this is the normal behavior for this client C. Move the client so she will not bother other clients in the department D. Tell the physician the client is not hurting as much as she lets on

A. Conduct a cultural assessment to better understand the client's perception of pain and illness.

When the nurse tells the patient that she will return in 1 hour to administer an intravenous antibiotic, the nurse is showing that she values time in which of the following orientations? A. Future B. Past C. Present D. None of the above

A. Future

The nurse and a client are developing a transcultural nursing care plan related to hypertension. The nurse will include in the plan A. Nutritional information specifically for the client's culture. B. Contact number for the cardiac rehabilitation program at the medical center. C. Educational materials given to all clients with hypertension. D. Referral to a cardiac specialist.

A. Nutritional information specifically for the client's culture.

As a novice nurse caring for a patient from a different culture, what may the nurse find confusing or upsetting? A. Patient's nonverbal communication B. Patient's family members C. Patient's level of motivation D. Patient's ethnicity

A. Patient's nonverbal communication

A nursing instructor asks students to list culturally based characteristics. The students should include which of the following? (Select all that apply.) A. Age B. Touch C. Eye contact D. Diet E. Time

B, C, D, E

The "evil eye" is an example of what? A. A psychosocial condition B. A cultural-bound syndrome C. A spiritually defined illness D. An ethnic belief

B. A cultural-bound syndrome

The nurse is caring for a married female client who defers to her husband to answer all assessment questions. The nurse understands that it is common in some cultures for the male to hold a dominant role in the relationship. What stage of cultural awareness does the nurse display? A. Conscious incompetence B. Conscious competence C. Unconscious incompetence D. Unconscious competence

B. Conscious competence

A male nurse is caring for an elderly woman from Iran who has become withdrawn and somewhat confused since the nurse has come on duty. When the nurse goes into the room to bathe the patient, she refuses to allow it. The best explanation for her actions would be which of the following? A. Fear in strange surroundings B. Cultural differences C. Depression D. Confusion

B. Cultural differences

A nurse provides care for a client who experiences anxiety, gastrointestinal complaints, and a fear of being poisoned or killed.The nurse recognizes this as which culture-bound syndrome? A. Susto B. Rootwork C. Empacho D. Mal de ojo

B. Rootwork

The nurse is caring for a first-time mother and newborn in the postpartum unit. The nurse overhears the new mother ask family members to prepare the nursery and purchase clothing for the baby. What would the culturally sensitive nurse suspect? A. The new mother is young, and the pregnancy was unexpected and the baby is unwanted. B. The new mother may believe buying infant clothing before the delivery is bad luck. C. The new mother and requires education about how to prepare for the new baby. D. The mother is from a lower socioeconomic level and is not able to buy what is needed for the baby.

B. The new mother may believe buying infant clothing before the delivery is bad luck.

A nurse provides care for an African-American client who experiences tremors, muscle weakness, and nausea. The client's family believes that the client is affected by some kind of black magic. The nurse recognizes this as which culturally bound syndrome? A. Empacho B. Voodoo C. Mal ojo D. Susto

B. Voodoo

A nurse has a regular client who is an immigrant from China and who follows the traditional medical system of that culture. To improve the ability to understand and work with this client, the nurse researches this client's cultural view of health. Which of the following would the nurse most likely discover? A. Use of herbs, roots, talismans, and amulets B. Respect for nature and use of masks and sand paintings C. A focus on maintaining balance between yin and yang D. Prayers to God and saints for spiritual reparations for sins

C. A focus on maintaining balance between yin and yang

The client comes to the health care provider stating he has a sore throat and believes he needs an antibiotic. This is an example of of what type of model for health? A. Alternative B. Spiritual C. Biomedical D. Complementary

C. Biomedical

Which of the following statements is true about biologic variation? A. Drug metabolism differences are not culture based. B. Race is based on physical variations. C. Both genetics and environment produce biologic variation. D. Cultural practices produce biologic variation.

C. Both genetics and environment produce biologic variation.

A new graduate nurse from a small community college is going to work in an urban setting. She embraces the thought of working in a more diverse setting and wants to learn about different cultures. What behavior is this nurse exhibiting? A. Cultural skill B. Conscious incompetence C. Cultural desire D. Cultural knowledge

C. Cultural desire

Sickle cell disease and other hemoglobinopathies such as thalassemia are often found in persons originating from which geographical regions? A. Northern and Central Europe. B. Australia and New Zealand. C. Mediterranean and Africa D. Central and South America.

C. Mediterranean and Africa

A nurse is caring for a patient who is an American Indian. When working with this patient, the nurse consider that the patient believes which of the following as true about eye contact? A. Demonstrates self-confidence B. Portrays a sign of motivation C. Shows disrespect D. Demonstrates interest

C. Shows disrespect

A nursing student realizes that which of the following is an important variation of communication? A. Spirituality B. Death rituals C. Silence D. Beliefs

C. Silence

A nursing student is caring for an older adult from a culture different from her own. The nurse's preceptor asks the student what would be an important assessment to make to provide quality nursing care for this client. What would be the student's most appropriate response? A. Respiratory assessment B. Family assessment C. Transcultural assessment D. Mobility assessment

C. Transcultural assessment

A woman from a foreign country is admitted to the obstetric unit. While doing a transcultural assessment, what would the nurse do first to individualize questions for this client? A. Get a translator B. Speak only with the client's husband C. Remember that some women are not allowed an education in their home country D. Assess if the client speaks and understands English

D. Assess if the client speaks and understands English

A nurse assesses a 4-year-old boy who experiences gas, a stomachache, and diarrhea after consuming lactose products. The nurse recognizes the data as what type of biological variation? A. Body surface B. Developmental C. Anatomic D. Biochemical

D. Biochemical

A culture-based syndrome in North American and Western European countries involves an intense fear of obesity, eating binges, and self-induced vomiting is called what? A. Anorexia Nervosa B. Shen Kui C. Taijin D. Bulimia Nervosa

D. Bulimia Nervosa

The nurse is caring for a patient who is from another country, and states to the charge nurse, "I just don't know if the patient really understands what I am saying, and I am not understanding the patient either, even though he speaks English." What stage of cultural awareness is the nurse experiencing? A. Conscious competence B. Unconscious competence C. Unconscious incompetence D. Conscious incompetence

D. Conscious incompetence

A nurse is assessing a client before administration of an antibiotic. The nurse should be aware that which of the following represents a biochemical variation that may exist between clients of different cultures? A. Risk for osteoporosis B. Motor development C. Skin cancer D. Drug metabolism

D. Drug metabolism

When performing a cultural assessment on a client from another country, what can a nurse do to ensure the client receives culturally sensitive care? A. Develop a plan of care after talking to the client's family. B. Develop a plan of care based on the nurse's own knowledge of a client's culture. C. After the focused assessment, decide if a cultural assessment is necessary. D. Show genuine interest in the client's culture and personal life experiences.

D. Show genuine interest in the client's culture and personal life experiences.

To determine the sources of strength for a patient, the nurse could ask, "In what ways do they help?" True or False

True