Cultural competence in nursing-
questions and answers.
The nurse is caring for an older Chinese adult male who is grimacing and appears
restless after abdominal surgery. What is the nurse's best action?
a. Ask the patient if he is anxious about his hospital stay.
b. Ask a translator to conduct a FACES pain scale assessment.
c. Ask the patient about pain and assess vital signs.
d. Ask the patient about any history of depression or anxiety. - ANS>>ANS: C
In the Chinese culture, elderly Chinese people believe that they must be stoic about
pain and there is a stigma about talking about any mental health problems. The nurse
should ask the patient about pain and also assess vital signs for physiological signs of
pain, since the patient may not admit to any pain. Assuming the patient is depressed or
anxious is not the best action when considering individual cultural differences and the
risk of pain after major surgery. The registered nurse should never delegate
assessment to any unlicensed member of the healthcare team such as a translator. The
translator may assist with communication, but the nurse is responsible for the pain
assessment.
Understanding cultural differences in health care is important because it will help the
nurse to understand the manner in which people decide on obtaining treatments and
medical care. In independent cultures an individual will
a. put himself first.
b. consult family members for advice.
c. ask for a second opinion.
d. travel great distances to receive the best care. - ANS>>ANS: A
In independent cultures, an individual will put himself first in the case of a life-
threatening illness, whereas even in dire circumstances, members of collectivist cultures
may still consult other family members for the best course of action. In independent
cultures, an individual will not consult with other family members, ask for a second
opinion, or travel great distances to receive the best care.
When teaching an Asian patient with newly diagnosed diabetes, the nurse notes the
patient nodding yes to everything that is being said. With a better understanding of
cultural interdependence in self-concept, a nurse should immediately
a. write everything down for the patient to refer to later.
b. prompt further to elicit additional questions or concerns.
c. call the recognized elder for this patient.
d. call the oldest male relative for help with decision making. - ANS>>ANS: B
When a nurse provides nutritional education to a patient who is from a culture that
values greater power distance, it might appear that the patient is willing to accept all that
the nurse suggests, when further prompting would elicit additional questions or
concerns. The patient from a collectivist culture will usually consult family members for a
questions and answers.
The nurse is caring for an older Chinese adult male who is grimacing and appears
restless after abdominal surgery. What is the nurse's best action?
a. Ask the patient if he is anxious about his hospital stay.
b. Ask a translator to conduct a FACES pain scale assessment.
c. Ask the patient about pain and assess vital signs.
d. Ask the patient about any history of depression or anxiety. - ANS>>ANS: C
In the Chinese culture, elderly Chinese people believe that they must be stoic about
pain and there is a stigma about talking about any mental health problems. The nurse
should ask the patient about pain and also assess vital signs for physiological signs of
pain, since the patient may not admit to any pain. Assuming the patient is depressed or
anxious is not the best action when considering individual cultural differences and the
risk of pain after major surgery. The registered nurse should never delegate
assessment to any unlicensed member of the healthcare team such as a translator. The
translator may assist with communication, but the nurse is responsible for the pain
assessment.
Understanding cultural differences in health care is important because it will help the
nurse to understand the manner in which people decide on obtaining treatments and
medical care. In independent cultures an individual will
a. put himself first.
b. consult family members for advice.
c. ask for a second opinion.
d. travel great distances to receive the best care. - ANS>>ANS: A
In independent cultures, an individual will put himself first in the case of a life-
threatening illness, whereas even in dire circumstances, members of collectivist cultures
may still consult other family members for the best course of action. In independent
cultures, an individual will not consult with other family members, ask for a second
opinion, or travel great distances to receive the best care.
When teaching an Asian patient with newly diagnosed diabetes, the nurse notes the
patient nodding yes to everything that is being said. With a better understanding of
cultural interdependence in self-concept, a nurse should immediately
a. write everything down for the patient to refer to later.
b. prompt further to elicit additional questions or concerns.
c. call the recognized elder for this patient.
d. call the oldest male relative for help with decision making. - ANS>>ANS: B
When a nurse provides nutritional education to a patient who is from a culture that
values greater power distance, it might appear that the patient is willing to accept all that
the nurse suggests, when further prompting would elicit additional questions or
concerns. The patient from a collectivist culture will usually consult family members for a
