Chapter 05: Cultural Implications Halter:
Varcarolis' Foundations of
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing: A
Clinical Approach
Which Western cultural feature may result in establishing unrealistic outcomes for clients of
other cultural groups?
a. Interdependence
b. Present orientation
c. Flexible perception of time
d. Direct confrontation to solve problems
d. Direct confrontation to solve problems
Directly confronting problems is a highly valued approach in the American culture but not
part of many other cultures in which harmony and restraint are valued. American nurses
sometimes mistakenly think that all clients should take direct action. Clients with other
values will be unable to meet this culturally inappropriate outcome. Present orientation,
interdependence, and a flexible perception of time are not valued in Western culture. These
views are more predominant in other cultures. See relationship to audience response
question.
A psychiatric nurse leads a medication education group for Hispanic clients. This nurse holds
a Western worldview and uses pamphlets as teaching tools. Groups are short and concise.
After the group, the clients are most likely to believe
a. the nurse was uncaring.
b. the session was effective.
c. the teaching was efficient.
d. they were treated respectfully.
a. the nurse was uncaring.
Hispanic individuals usually value relationship behaviors. Their needs are for learning through
verbal communication rather than reading and for having time to chat before approaching
the task.
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To provide culturally competent care, the nurse should focus on what action?
a. accurately interpreting the thinking of individual clients.
b. predicting how a client may perceive treatment interventions.
c. formulating interventions to reduce the client's ethnocentrism.
d. identifying strategies that fit within the cultural context of the client.
d. identifying strategies that fit within the cultural context of the client.
The correct answer is the most global response. Cultural competence requires ongoing effort.
Culture is dynamic, diversified, and changing. The nurse must be prepared to gain cultural
knowledge and determine nursing care measures that clients find acceptable and helpful.
Interpreting the thinking of individual clients does not ensure culturally competent care.
Reducing a client's ethnocentrism may not be a desired outcome.
A black client, originally from Haiti, has a diagnosis of major depressive disorder. A colleague
tells the nurse, "This client often looks down and is reluctant to share feelings. However, I've
observed the client spontaneously interacting with other clients of color." Select the nurse's
best response.
a. "Clients of color depend on the church for support. Have you consulted the client's
pastor?"
b. "Encourage the client to talk in a group setting. It will be less intimidating than one-
to-one interaction."
c. "Don't take it personally. Clients of color often have a resentful attitude that takes
a long time to overcome."
d. "The client may have difficulty communicating in English. Have you considered using a
cultural broker?"
d. "The client may have difficulty communicating in English. Have you considered
using a cultural broker?"
Society expects a culturally diverse client to accommodate and use English. Feelings are
abstract, which requires a greater command of the language. This may be especially difficult
during episodes of high stress or mental illness. Cultural brokers can be helpful with language
Varcarolis' Foundations of
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing: A
Clinical Approach
Which Western cultural feature may result in establishing unrealistic outcomes for clients of
other cultural groups?
a. Interdependence
b. Present orientation
c. Flexible perception of time
d. Direct confrontation to solve problems
d. Direct confrontation to solve problems
Directly confronting problems is a highly valued approach in the American culture but not
part of many other cultures in which harmony and restraint are valued. American nurses
sometimes mistakenly think that all clients should take direct action. Clients with other
values will be unable to meet this culturally inappropriate outcome. Present orientation,
interdependence, and a flexible perception of time are not valued in Western culture. These
views are more predominant in other cultures. See relationship to audience response
question.
A psychiatric nurse leads a medication education group for Hispanic clients. This nurse holds
a Western worldview and uses pamphlets as teaching tools. Groups are short and concise.
After the group, the clients are most likely to believe
a. the nurse was uncaring.
b. the session was effective.
c. the teaching was efficient.
d. they were treated respectfully.
a. the nurse was uncaring.
Hispanic individuals usually value relationship behaviors. Their needs are for learning through
verbal communication rather than reading and for having time to chat before approaching
the task.
, Brainpower
Read More
Previous
Play
Next
Rewind 10 seconds
Move forward 10 seconds
Unmute
0:00
/
0:00
Full screen
To provide culturally competent care, the nurse should focus on what action?
a. accurately interpreting the thinking of individual clients.
b. predicting how a client may perceive treatment interventions.
c. formulating interventions to reduce the client's ethnocentrism.
d. identifying strategies that fit within the cultural context of the client.
d. identifying strategies that fit within the cultural context of the client.
The correct answer is the most global response. Cultural competence requires ongoing effort.
Culture is dynamic, diversified, and changing. The nurse must be prepared to gain cultural
knowledge and determine nursing care measures that clients find acceptable and helpful.
Interpreting the thinking of individual clients does not ensure culturally competent care.
Reducing a client's ethnocentrism may not be a desired outcome.
A black client, originally from Haiti, has a diagnosis of major depressive disorder. A colleague
tells the nurse, "This client often looks down and is reluctant to share feelings. However, I've
observed the client spontaneously interacting with other clients of color." Select the nurse's
best response.
a. "Clients of color depend on the church for support. Have you consulted the client's
pastor?"
b. "Encourage the client to talk in a group setting. It will be less intimidating than one-
to-one interaction."
c. "Don't take it personally. Clients of color often have a resentful attitude that takes
a long time to overcome."
d. "The client may have difficulty communicating in English. Have you considered using a
cultural broker?"
d. "The client may have difficulty communicating in English. Have you considered
using a cultural broker?"
Society expects a culturally diverse client to accommodate and use English. Feelings are
abstract, which requires a greater command of the language. This may be especially difficult
during episodes of high stress or mental illness. Cultural brokers can be helpful with language
