Assessments and Communication in Nursing | Exam 3 Questions & Verified Answers
CULTURE Group Oriented:
*Set of beliefs, values and customs passed down from generation to another
*Shared experiences provide a sense of identification and belongingness to the
members of the group
*Cultural practices and beliefs may evolve over time, but they mainly remain
constant as long as they satisfy a group's needs
*Culture influences the way people of a group view themselves, have expectations,
and behave in response to certain situations
Characteristics of Culture: Learned sustained contact between groups & repeated observations of and participation in
groups
Characteristics of Culture: Dynamic changes as people come into contact with new beliefs or ideas
Characteristics of Culture: Diverse 11% population born abroad in the U.S.
Characteristics of Culture: Ethnocentric/Ethnocentrism viewing one's own culture as the only correct standard by which to view people of
other cultures.
Characteristics of Culture: Observable Rituals: observable expressions of culture
Cultural Concepts: Ethnicity refers to a self- Conscious, past oriented form of identity based on a notion of
shared cultural and perhaps ancestral heritage and current position within the larger
society (ie. Arab or Indian)
Cultural Concepts: Minority a group of people who are different from the larger group in a country or area in
some way (ie race or religion)
Cultural Concepts: Race dividing people into population or groups of various sets of physical characteristics
* Racism: belief that some races are inherently superior (physically, intellectually, or
culturally to others and therefore have a right to dominate.
Cultural Concepts: Subculture -a group of people within a culture that differentiates itself from the larger culture
where it belongs.
-Examples in the U.S: Hippies, bikers, deaf culture, truck drivers
Cultural Concepts: Generalization A principle statement or idea having general application
Ex. Many people from country XYZ tend to keep their feeling to themselves
Cultural Concepts: Stereotyping to stereotype is to develop a fixed idea about a person or group
Ex. People from country XYZ are lazy
Stuvia 2026-2027
, Assessments and Communication in Nursing | Exam 3 Questions & Verified Answers
Culturally Competent Nursing Care -Self reflection is required to identify personal:
* Beliefs
* Biases
* Prejudices
-Research to better understand patient beliefs
* Transcultural Nursing= A humanistic and scientific area of nursing study and
practice that focuses on how patterns of behavior in health, illness and caring are
influenced by the values and beliefs of a specific population.
-Experiential Learning
Process through which the student develops skills, values and knowledge from
direct learning experiences outside a traditional academic setting.
Ethnicity -a sense of identification with a collective cultural group, largely based on the
group's common heritage
-One belongs to a specific ethnic group or groups either through birth or through
adoption of characteristics of that group.
-People within an ethnic group share:
-Behavior patterns
-Language
-Food preferences
-Religious practices
-Political interests
Cultural Concerns Impacting Patient Care -Group Dynamics-Gender Roles
* Norms (Elders)
-Disease susceptibility
* Incidence (Africa - AIDS)
-Food and Nutrition
* Food preferences and preparation are culturally influenced
* Muslims - Ramadan (a period of fasting - restrain from food and drink from dawn
until dusk
-Spiritual & religious need
*items
*maintain flexibility for nursing activities and procedures.
-Reactions to Pain
Some cultures allow or even encourage the open expression of emotions related to
pain, whereas other cultures encourage suppression of such emotions
Cultural Concerns Impacting Patient Care (Continued) -Orientation to space and time
-Personal Space: Area around a person regraded as part of the person.
Individualized for each person and for each culture
Example: People of Arabic and African origin commonly sit and stand close to each
other when talking, whereas people of Asian and European descent are more
comfortable with some distance between themselves and others.
-Socioeconomic Factors
Low income is major problem of the US and has a created a culture of poverty. The
2012 US Census Bureau noted an estimated 15% of the US population has an
income below the poverty threshold.
Lowest incomes found in African Americans, Native Americans and Alaska Natives.
-Personal Care Patterns: Bathing, perfumes and deodorant use
-Folk and Traditional Healthcare.
Many cultures use herb, spiritualists, voodoo or faith healing.
If a patient is taking herbal remedies with their prescription, find out what is being
used and its effectiveness.
Convey Cultural Sensitivity -Spend time with your patient and convey a genuine desire to learn about their
culture, values and beliefs.
-Ask about anything you don't understand
-Show respect for your patient and their support system
-Assess need for interpreter
-Assess dietary needs/restrictions - consult dietician if needed.
Stuvia 2026-2027
, Assessments and Communication in Nursing | Exam 3 Questions & Verified Answers
How will you communicate? -Assess the need of an interpreter
-Through professional interpreters
-Never use gestures
-Universal phones
-Technology apps (MediBabble, Canopy)
-To avoid misinterpretation of questions and answers, it is important to use an
interpreter who understands the healthcare system. Guidelines often discourage
using family members or friends as translators.
Spirituality -Spirituality provides a sense of wholeness and harmony
-Anything that pertains to a person's relationship with a nonmaterial life or higher
power
-Individual: Awareness about spirituality starts with looking at your own spiritual
beliefs
-Explores meaning in life
-Promotes nurturing relationships with others
-Recognizes connectedness to something larger than self
-Encourages a broad, hopeful perspective
Religion -Religion is a subcategory of spirituality
* Organized way of demonstrating spirituality
* Faith oriented
* Beliefs, rituals, practices
Faith -Faith generally refers to a confident belief in something for which there is no proof
or material evidence.
-It can involve a person, idea, or thing, and is usually followed by action related to
ideals or values of that belief.
Atheist A person who denies the existence of a higher power. Belief there is no God
Agnostic One who holds that nothing can be known about the existence of a higher power.
They cant prove or disprove that there is a god
Spirituality Lifespan Considerations -Newborn/Infant
*trust becomes basis for faith development
-Toddler/preschooler
*Differentiation of self from others
*Development of consciousness and memory
*Intuitively have a deeper sense of existence
-School Age/Adolescent Child
*Value group belonging and acceptance
*Sensitive to good and bad
*Continual ability for abstract thinking
Spirituality Lifespan Considerations (Continued) -Young Adults
* Separate from peer group
* Clarify personal boundaries
* Make commitments
-Adults and Middle Adults
* Spiritual growth
* Broader world view
-Older Adults
* Concern regarding extremes
- may have a smaller world view due to physical and environmental limitations
Stuvia 2026-2027
CULTURE Group Oriented:
*Set of beliefs, values and customs passed down from generation to another
*Shared experiences provide a sense of identification and belongingness to the
members of the group
*Cultural practices and beliefs may evolve over time, but they mainly remain
constant as long as they satisfy a group's needs
*Culture influences the way people of a group view themselves, have expectations,
and behave in response to certain situations
Characteristics of Culture: Learned sustained contact between groups & repeated observations of and participation in
groups
Characteristics of Culture: Dynamic changes as people come into contact with new beliefs or ideas
Characteristics of Culture: Diverse 11% population born abroad in the U.S.
Characteristics of Culture: Ethnocentric/Ethnocentrism viewing one's own culture as the only correct standard by which to view people of
other cultures.
Characteristics of Culture: Observable Rituals: observable expressions of culture
Cultural Concepts: Ethnicity refers to a self- Conscious, past oriented form of identity based on a notion of
shared cultural and perhaps ancestral heritage and current position within the larger
society (ie. Arab or Indian)
Cultural Concepts: Minority a group of people who are different from the larger group in a country or area in
some way (ie race or religion)
Cultural Concepts: Race dividing people into population or groups of various sets of physical characteristics
* Racism: belief that some races are inherently superior (physically, intellectually, or
culturally to others and therefore have a right to dominate.
Cultural Concepts: Subculture -a group of people within a culture that differentiates itself from the larger culture
where it belongs.
-Examples in the U.S: Hippies, bikers, deaf culture, truck drivers
Cultural Concepts: Generalization A principle statement or idea having general application
Ex. Many people from country XYZ tend to keep their feeling to themselves
Cultural Concepts: Stereotyping to stereotype is to develop a fixed idea about a person or group
Ex. People from country XYZ are lazy
Stuvia 2026-2027
, Assessments and Communication in Nursing | Exam 3 Questions & Verified Answers
Culturally Competent Nursing Care -Self reflection is required to identify personal:
* Beliefs
* Biases
* Prejudices
-Research to better understand patient beliefs
* Transcultural Nursing= A humanistic and scientific area of nursing study and
practice that focuses on how patterns of behavior in health, illness and caring are
influenced by the values and beliefs of a specific population.
-Experiential Learning
Process through which the student develops skills, values and knowledge from
direct learning experiences outside a traditional academic setting.
Ethnicity -a sense of identification with a collective cultural group, largely based on the
group's common heritage
-One belongs to a specific ethnic group or groups either through birth or through
adoption of characteristics of that group.
-People within an ethnic group share:
-Behavior patterns
-Language
-Food preferences
-Religious practices
-Political interests
Cultural Concerns Impacting Patient Care -Group Dynamics-Gender Roles
* Norms (Elders)
-Disease susceptibility
* Incidence (Africa - AIDS)
-Food and Nutrition
* Food preferences and preparation are culturally influenced
* Muslims - Ramadan (a period of fasting - restrain from food and drink from dawn
until dusk
-Spiritual & religious need
*items
*maintain flexibility for nursing activities and procedures.
-Reactions to Pain
Some cultures allow or even encourage the open expression of emotions related to
pain, whereas other cultures encourage suppression of such emotions
Cultural Concerns Impacting Patient Care (Continued) -Orientation to space and time
-Personal Space: Area around a person regraded as part of the person.
Individualized for each person and for each culture
Example: People of Arabic and African origin commonly sit and stand close to each
other when talking, whereas people of Asian and European descent are more
comfortable with some distance between themselves and others.
-Socioeconomic Factors
Low income is major problem of the US and has a created a culture of poverty. The
2012 US Census Bureau noted an estimated 15% of the US population has an
income below the poverty threshold.
Lowest incomes found in African Americans, Native Americans and Alaska Natives.
-Personal Care Patterns: Bathing, perfumes and deodorant use
-Folk and Traditional Healthcare.
Many cultures use herb, spiritualists, voodoo or faith healing.
If a patient is taking herbal remedies with their prescription, find out what is being
used and its effectiveness.
Convey Cultural Sensitivity -Spend time with your patient and convey a genuine desire to learn about their
culture, values and beliefs.
-Ask about anything you don't understand
-Show respect for your patient and their support system
-Assess need for interpreter
-Assess dietary needs/restrictions - consult dietician if needed.
Stuvia 2026-2027
, Assessments and Communication in Nursing | Exam 3 Questions & Verified Answers
How will you communicate? -Assess the need of an interpreter
-Through professional interpreters
-Never use gestures
-Universal phones
-Technology apps (MediBabble, Canopy)
-To avoid misinterpretation of questions and answers, it is important to use an
interpreter who understands the healthcare system. Guidelines often discourage
using family members or friends as translators.
Spirituality -Spirituality provides a sense of wholeness and harmony
-Anything that pertains to a person's relationship with a nonmaterial life or higher
power
-Individual: Awareness about spirituality starts with looking at your own spiritual
beliefs
-Explores meaning in life
-Promotes nurturing relationships with others
-Recognizes connectedness to something larger than self
-Encourages a broad, hopeful perspective
Religion -Religion is a subcategory of spirituality
* Organized way of demonstrating spirituality
* Faith oriented
* Beliefs, rituals, practices
Faith -Faith generally refers to a confident belief in something for which there is no proof
or material evidence.
-It can involve a person, idea, or thing, and is usually followed by action related to
ideals or values of that belief.
Atheist A person who denies the existence of a higher power. Belief there is no God
Agnostic One who holds that nothing can be known about the existence of a higher power.
They cant prove or disprove that there is a god
Spirituality Lifespan Considerations -Newborn/Infant
*trust becomes basis for faith development
-Toddler/preschooler
*Differentiation of self from others
*Development of consciousness and memory
*Intuitively have a deeper sense of existence
-School Age/Adolescent Child
*Value group belonging and acceptance
*Sensitive to good and bad
*Continual ability for abstract thinking
Spirituality Lifespan Considerations (Continued) -Young Adults
* Separate from peer group
* Clarify personal boundaries
* Make commitments
-Adults and Middle Adults
* Spiritual growth
* Broader world view
-Older Adults
* Concern regarding extremes
- may have a smaller world view due to physical and environmental limitations
Stuvia 2026-2027
