Deck 7: Intercultural Communication

Question 1

When caring for a patient from a different culture, which of the following is the best assessment approach by the nurse?

A) "Are there any special cultural beliefs about your illness that might help me give you better care?"
B) "Describe to me your position of greatest relief from pain and discomfort."
C) "I will return shortly to give you a pain medication. Is there anything else that you need?"
D) "I will roll your bed down and place a pillow between your legs."

Answer 1

"Are there any special cultural beliefs about your illness that might help me give you better care?"

Question 2

When performing a newborn bath demonstration for the mother of a Native American infant, the nurse should

A) maintain constant eye contact with the mother.
B) anticipate answering many of the mother's questions.
C) ask the mother to stand next to the nurse.
D) deliver verbal instructions in a story-telling format.

Answer 2

deliver verbal instructions in a story-telling format.

Question 3

The nurse is assigned to provide a bed bath to a patient who cannot speak English. Which of the following communication tools or strategies should the nurse use?

A) Nonverbal communication
B) Trained interpreter
C) Family member as interpreter
D) Other staff member who speaks the same language

Answer 3

Trained interpreter

Question 4

The nurse is performing an admission assessment on an Asian patient. The intake includes a cultural assessment. The nurse should ask the patient,

A) "Does a minister, priest, or rabbi visit you?"
B) "Do you feel understood and loved?"
C) "What language do you prefer to speak?"
D) "Does life have meaning and value for you?"

Question 5

The nurse is caring for a postpartum patient who is African American. The nurse recognizes that an essential component for successful communication when interacting with this patient is the use of

A) clergy in treatment plans.
B) only simple language strategies.
C) folk-healing strategies.
D) trust development.

Question 6

When communicating with a patient from Thailand who speaks limited English, the nurse should

A) use technical jargon and complex sentences.
B) recognize nodding as an indicator the patient agrees with what the nurse is saying.
C) speak quickly and concisely, using complex words.
D) provide advice in a matter-of-fact, concise manner.

Question 7

Which of the following statements is true?

A) A Muslim patient may refuse to take insulin if it contains beef.
B) African American males have a lower chance of developing cancer.
C) Hispanic patients make small talk before discussing their health problems.
D) Asian patients frequently challenge health care workers.

Question 8

When caring for the poor patient, a major component of care is

A) ignoring personal biases.
B) allowing stereotypes to distort nursing interventions.
C) maintaining respect for human dignity.
D) treating all patients exactly the same.

Question 9

Which of the following best describes cultural diversity?

A) Encompasses variations between cultural groups.
B) A smaller group of people living within the dominant culture who have adopted a cultural lifestyle distinct from that of the mainstream population.
C) Groups in which members share a cultural heritage from one generation to another.
D) Heterogeneous society in which diverse cultural worldviews can coexist.

Question 10

The nurse is caring for a Hispanic patient. When communicating with the patient's family about the patient's illness, which family member should the nurse contact?

A) Oldest female family member
B) Oldest male family member
C) Oldest daughter of patient
D) Oldest son of patient

Question 11

A nursing instructor is teaching a group of student nurses about culture. When teaching the students nurses about the concept of ethnocentrism, the student nurses demonstrate cultural sensitivity when they state that their culture

A) is superior to others.
B) has the right to impose its standards of "correct" behavior and values on another.
C) is a culture that warrants a sense of pride.
D) should be the norm because it is considered better or more enlightened than others.

Question 12

Cultural competence

A) involves a lack of acceptance of cultural differences in others.
B) requires self-awareness of one's own cultural values.
C) is a nonessential skill set required for health care providers.
D) begins with developing knowledge and acceptance of cultural differences in others.

Question 13

When practicing cultural awareness, the nurse recognizes that cultural patterns

A) are socially transmitted through ethnic groups.
B) are nonessential parts of personal identity.
C) are minor determinants of health-related attitudes.
D) are important determinants of health-related beliefs.

Question 14

Which of the following is a true statement in relation to the concept of poverty?

A) Poverty affects only a small segment of the population.
B) Poor people expect others to work with them in making things better.
C) Communication strategies that empower the poor to take small steps toward dependence are most effective.
D) Lack of essential resources is associated with political and personal powerlessness.

Question 15

When assessing a 5-year-old Asian patient in the emergency department, the nurse observes welts on the patient's body. The nurse's first course of action should be to

A) report child abuse to the authorities.
B) consult a traditional healer.
C) question the family about cultural practices.
D) ignore it because it is an imbalance between "yin and yang."