Deck 9: Cultural Diversity in Health Care

Question 1

As a nurse manager,you notice that Maria,a Hispanic nurse aide,is visibly upset.When you ask her if something is wrong,she becomes tearful and says,"Why is it that when John and I work together in giving patients care,he jokes about my being "a little fat Mexican"? The nurse manager's best response is,"Do you think he:

A) Is sensitive to your culture?"
B) Wants to learn more about you?"
C) Has been hurt and wants to hurt others?"
D) Is stereotyping you without thinking?"

Answer 1

Is stereotyping you without thinking?"

Question 2

The nurse manager for a unit's culturally diverse staff creates a staff-development program so the professional nursing staff members can enhance their understanding of cultures on the basis of published literature.The literature reveals that the following characteristics are inherent in a culture.It:

A) Develops over time.
B) Maintains a strong work ethic.
C) Changes easily.
D) Develops quickly.

Answer 2

Develops over time.

Question 3

The nurse manager of a unit is asked by a family member of a dying Native American patient if it is possible to have the patient's eight-member family recite the rosary by the bedside.The manager responds affirmatively.The nurse manager is most likely exhibiting behavior related to:

A) Acculturation.
B) Ethnocentricity.
C) Cultural diversity.
D) Cultural sensitivity.

Answer 3

Cultural sensitivity.

Question 4

Cultural diversity is the term used to describe a vast range of cultural differences.Events have symbolic meanings for the nurse manager and the staff.The event that would be most likely to provide symbolic meaning to a nurse manager and staff is a:

A) Task force formed to commemorate a New Year's celebration in the Western tradition.
B) Project to provide Christmas gifts to the children in a daycare program.
C) Celebration of National Nurses' Week with the focus on cultural care.
D) Task force to develop a poster for the unit depicting religions of the world.

Question 5

During managers' meetings,Lindsay is surprised by the forthrightness of male managers.She finds that,during discussions,she would be more likely to say:

A) "I wonder if we should consider changing our policy on performance appraisals? What do you think?"
B) "Sean, your approach to appraisal is completely off track and does not reflect available evidence."
C) "The system that has been developed needs to be implemented. We have already spent enough time in discussion."
D) "Forget about change in this policy. It is fine as it is."

Question 6

Within the deaf culture,there is considerable disagreement about the use of SEE (Signed Exact English)and ASL (American Sign Language).This is indicative of:

A) Dominant versus nondominant behaviors.
B) The need to recognize diversity within groups.
C) The impact of cross-culturalism.
D) How language separates subgroups.

Question 7

In designing programs through your institution to address the health needs of Hispanics in your community,you most likely would develop programs related to:

A) Diabetes.
B) Cardiovascular disease.
C) Cancer.
D) Asthma.

Question 8

In Question 12,you are exhibiting:

A) Acculturation.
B) Cultural sensitivity.
C) Ethnocentrism.
D) Transculturalism.

Question 9

Rajib,RN,asks you,a senior staff member,about your mother,who is a patient on another unit.This question reflects:

A) Lack of concern for your cultural orientation.
B) Lack of understanding about his role.
C) Caring and concern for you.
D) How individuals in his culture relate to persons in authority.

Question 10

Because an increasing number of Hispanic patients are being admitted,a nurse manager designs a staff-development program for her staff to help them understand the Hispanic culture.A nurse should understand that culture is determined by which of the following?

A) Behavior
B) Love for people
C) Shared vision
D) Rapid time passage

Question 11

Mary joins 5W nursing unit.Mary is a new graduate who is anxious to fit in.She soon learns that some of her "book learning" is being criticized by her colleagues,so she adapts her practice to what others on the unit are doing.She is demonstrating:

A) Cultural awareness.
B) Cultural sensitivity.
C) Acculturation.
D) Cultural marginality.

Question 12

Individuals living with asthma,who also live in poverty,are much less likely to seek early care but go to emergency rooms for assistance.This example reflects:

A) Stereotyping.
B) Cultural diversity.
C) Ethnocentricity.
D) Transcultural care.

Question 13

One of the staff nurses on your unit makes the comment,"All this time I thought Mary was black.She says she is Jamaican." The best response would be to say:

A) "Who cares what she is?"
B) "What did you think when you learned she was Jamaican?"
C) "Why did you assume she was black?"
D) "We have never had a Jamaican on this unit."

Question 14

When interviewing a candidate for a nursing position who has an Aboriginal background,you recognize that the candidate's lack of eye contact reflects the candidate's:

A) Lack of confidence.
B) Professional behavior.
C) Cultural sensitivity.
D) Ethnicity.

Question 15

During performance appraisal,you praise Xia for her attention and care to nursing details.You suggest that her care would be further enhanced by greater acknowledgment of patients' feelings.Xia bursts into tears and leaves the office.Later,you learn that criticism is perceived as akin to failure in Xia's culture.You reflect on how you could modify your approach in the future to acknowledge different cultural interpretations of feedback.Your response is indicative of:

A) Bias.
B) Cultural awareness.
C) Cultural diversity.
D) Ethnocentricity.

Question 16

Maintaining a culturally diverse staff is an important function of a nurse manager who works in the hospital of a large medical center.Based on the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin 2307,which cultural group had the lowest percentage of employment as registered nurses in the United States?

A) Caucasians
B) Asians/Pacific Islanders
C) Blacks
D) Hispanics

Question 17

In discussions with another unit manager,you share your concern that staff on the unit try to take advantage of your understanding of their unique needs and ask for special treatment in scheduling and days off.Your concern is related to:

A) Cultural insensitivity.
B) Indistinguishable phenomena.
C) Social capital.
D) Stereotyping.

Question 18

At Health Center XYZ,staff members on the rehab unit have a head nurse who is intolerant of error and publicly chides anyone who makes a mistake.Over time,the rules on the unit dictate that mistakes are hidden and that areas of concern related to the functioning of the unit are discussed in tub rooms and are never openly discussed during periodic meetings.New staff members are quickly made to realize that silence is expected.The situation described is an example of:

A) Ethnicity.
B) Work environment.
C) Work culture.
D) Marginalization.

Question 19

According to Leininger,"cultural imposition" is a major concern in nursing because nurses have a tendency to impose their values,beliefs,and practices on those of other cultures.The discussion topic most likely to be without cultural imposition would be:

A) Abortion.
B) Wound management.
C) Blood transfusion.
D) Advance directives.

Question 20

A 66-year-old native Chinese patient,hospitalized for a myocardial infarction,asks the nurse manager about seeing his "acupuncture doctor" for treatment of his migraine headache.The best response to this patient would be:

A) "How long have you been using acupuncture treatment?"
B) "Do you think acupuncture relieves your pain satisfactorily?"
C) "What have you told your heart specialist about your migraines and treatment?"
D) "Have you tried nonprescription pain medication or been given a prescription drug for your headaches?"

Question 21

As a nurse manager,you have to be effective in managing a culturally diverse staff.Which of the following nurse manager attributes would assist you in addressing the cultural needs of your staff ?

A) Stereotyping of others
B) Respect for others
C) Positive reinforcement
D) Knowledge about your staff
E) Age bias

Question 22

Sarah,one of your RNs,tells you that she can't understand why Jim,an Aboriginal patient,wants to do a smudge.Sarah's response is based on her:

A) Cultural marginality.
B) Circle of familiarity.
C) Cultural understanding.
D) Acculturation.

Question 23

In caring for a patient from an East Indian culture,the staff expresses frustration that many people are in the room at any one time,which interferes with care.As the nurse manager,you provide leadership in understanding that this behavior of the family and friend network reflects:

A) Lack of understanding of the seriousness of the patient's illness.
B) Lack of communication between family members.
C) The social organization of friendships and family networks in East Indian culture.
D) Lack of caring about the hospital environment by the friends and family.

Question 24

Sarah,RN,complains to you that a male nurse from a different culture sits very close during charting and leans toward her when speaking.In responding to Sarah,you consider that differences across cultures that are relevant to this situation include:

A) Eye contact.
B) Personal space.
C) Harassment.
D) Expressions of feeling.

Question 25

In coaching Sarah (Question 24),you suggest which of the following?

A) "Explain to Jim that there is no smoking in the hospital."
B) "Inform Jim that fires are not allowed in the hospital."
C) "Insist that he give you his tobacco because it is unhealthy for him."
D) "Ask him what he means by a smudge and what meaning it has for him."

Question 26

A new graduate RN joins your unit.After a few weeks,she complains about some of her peers on the unit and compares their practices negatively to what she learned in her nursing program.She also is vocal about how she has learned so much here that she did not in her program.She is best described as:

A) Having cultural sensitivity.
B) Experiencing cultural diversity.
C) Experiencing cultural marginality.
D) Experiencing acculturation.