Edition
Chapter 01: Cultural Competency
Ball: Seidel’s Guide to Physical Examination, 10th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which statement is true regarding the relationship of physical characteristics and culture?
a. Physical characteristics should be used to identify members of cultural groups.
b. There is a difference between distinguishing cultural characteristics
and distinguishing physical characteristics.
c. To be a member of a specific culture, an individual must have certain identifiable
physical characteristics.
d. Gender and race are the two essential physical characteristics used to
identify cultural groups.
ANS: B
Physical characteristics are not used to identify cultural groups; there is a difference
between the two, and they are considered separately. Physical characteristics should not be
used to identify members of cultural groups. To be a member of a specific culture, an
individual does not need to have certain identifiable physical characteristics. You should not
confuse physical characteristics with cultural characteristics. Gender and race are physical
,Seidel’s Guide to Physical Examination, 10th
Edition
characteristics, not cultural characteristics, and are not used to identify cultural groups.
DIF:Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
OBJ:Nursing process—assessment MSC: Physiologic Integrity: Physiologic Adaptation
2. An image of any group that rejects its potential for originality or individuality is known
as a(n)
a. acculturation.
b. norm.
c. stereotype.
d. ethnos.
ANS: C
A fixed image of any group that rejects its potential for originality or individuality is the
definition of stereotype. Acculturation is the process of adopting another culture’s behaviors.
A norm is a standard of allowable behavior within a group. Ethnos implies the same race or
nationality.
DIF:Cognitive Level: Remembering (Knowledge)
OBJ:Nursing process—assessment MSC: Physiologic Integrity: Physiologic Adaptation
3. Mr. L presents to the clinic with severe groin pain and a history of kidney stones. Mr. L’s
son tells you that for religious reasons, his father wishes to keep any stone that is passed
into the
,Seidel’s Guide to Physical Examination, 10th
Edition
urine filter that he has been using. What is your most appropriate response?
a. ―With your father’s permission, we will examine the stone and request that it
be returned to him.‖
b. ―The stone must be sent to the lab for examination and therefore cannot be kept.‖
c. ―We cannot let him keep his stone because it violates our infection control policy.‖
d. ―We don’t know yet if your father has another kidney stone, so we must
analyze this one.‖
, Seidel’s Guide to Physical Examination, 10th
Edition
ANS: A
We should be willing to modify the delivery of health care in a manner that is respectful
and in keeping with the patient’s cultural background. ―With your father’s permission, we
will examine the stone and request that it be returned to him‖ is the most appropriate
response.
―The stone must be sent to the lab for examination and therefore cannot be kept‖ and ―We
don’t know yet if your father has another kidney stone, so we must analyze this one‖ do not
support the patient’s request. ―We cannot let him keep his stone because it violates our
infection control policy‖ does not provide a reason that it would violate an infection control
policy.
DIF:Cognitive Level: Analyzing (Analysis)
OBJ:Nursing process—assessment MSC: Physiologic Integrity: Physiologic Adaptation
4. The motivation of the healthcare professional to ―want to‖ engage in the process of
becoming culturally competent, not ―have to,‖ is called
a. cultural knowledge.
b. cultural awareness.
c. cultural desire.
d. cultural skill.
ANS: C
Cultural encounters are the continuous process of interacting with patients from culturally
diverse backgrounds to validate, refine, or modify existing values, beliefs, and practices
about a cultural group and to develop cultural desire, cultural awareness, cultural skill, and
cultural knowledge. Cultural awareness is deliberate self-examination and in-depth
exploration of one’s biases, stereotypes, prejudices, assumptions, and ―-isms‖ that one holds
about individuals and groups who are different from them. Cultural knowledge is the
process of seeking and obtaining a sound educational base about culturally and ethnically
diverse groups. Cultural skill is the ability to collect culturally relevant data regarding the
patient’s presenting problem, as well as accurately performing a culturally based physical
assessment in a culturally sensitive manner. Cultural desire is the motivation of the
healthcare professional to want to engage in the process of becoming culturally competent,
not have to.
DIF:Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
OBJ:Nursing process—assessment MSC: Physiologic Integrity: Physiologic Adaptation
5. Mr. Marks is a 66-year-old patient who presents for a physical examination to the clinic.
Which question has the most potential for exploring a patient’s cultural beliefs related to
a health problem?
a. ―How often do you have medical examinations?‖
b. ―What is your age, race, and educational level?‖
c. ―What types of symptoms have you been having?‖
d. ―Why do you think you are having these symptoms?‖