Deck 4: Culture, Ethnicity, and Aging

Question 1

The nurse prepares a female older adult, who is Polish, for discharge through an interpreter and notes that the older adult becomes tense during the instructions about elimination. Which of the following interventions should the nurse implement?

A) Move onto the discussion about medication.
B) Ask the older adult how she feels about this topic.
C) Instruct the interpreter to repeat the instructions.
D) Have the older adult repeat the instructions for clarity.

Answer 1

Ask the older adult how she feels about this topic.

Question 2

A resident in a nursing home insists that a priest hear his confession. The resident is very anxious, and the nursing home does not have a Roman Catholic chaplain. Which one of the following interventions should the nurse implement?

A) A rabbi is coming to visit the home this evening. Arrange an appointment for the resident.
B) Report the resident's change in behaviour in detail so that the attending physician can prescribe medication appropriately.
C) Refer the resident to the staff psychologist to address the underlying cause of the patient's anxiety.
D) Contact a Roman Catholic church, and request that the priest visit the resident.

Answer 2

Contact a Roman Catholic church, and request that the priest visit the resident.

Question 3

An older adult who is a Chinese man of traditional beliefs has a blood pressure of 80/54 mm Hg and refuses to remain in bed. Which intervention should the nurse use to promote and maintain his health?

A) Have the health care provider speak to him.
B) Use principles of the holistic health system.
C) Ask about his perceptions and treatment ideas.
D) Consult with a practitioner of Chinese medicine.

Answer 3

Ask about his perceptions and treatment ideas.

Question 4

The nurse uses knowledge about and experience with cultures to care for older adults within the context of a culture. Which one of the following is the best method of providing culturally competent nursing care?

A) Apply assessment and cultural data.
B) Support the older adult's cultural patterns.
C) Increase specific cultural knowledge.
D) Assess any strengths and weaknesses.

Question 5

Which health belief system uses treatments to repair a body part?

A) Holistic
B) Biomedical
C) Personalistic
D) Magicoreligious

Question 6

Which of the following statements is true about gerontological nursing for patients of different races and ethnic backgrounds?

A) The fact that a nurse is white has no bearing on the nurse's ability to care for patients who are members of a minority group.
B) An encyclopedic accumulation of details of a particular culture is the best preparation for caring for persons from that culture.
C) A nurse who works in Toronto does not need to be as concerned about sensitivity to multiple cultures as a nurse who works in Vancouver.
D) Facial expressions, body language, posture, and touch are important elements of communication between a nurse and a patient from different ethnicities.

Question 7

The nurse plans care for an older adult who follows the beliefs of the personalistic or magicoreligious system. Which of the following should the nurse consider when planning care?

A) The older adult may attribute his illness to voodoo or a hex.
B) Invite the hospital chaplain to speak with the older adult.
C) Maintain blood pressure below 120/70 mm Hg.
D) Review principles of the magicoreligious system.

Question 8

Which of the following statements is true about differing health belief systems?

A) Personalistic or magicoreligious beliefs have been replaced in Western minds by biomedical principles.
B) In most cultures, older adults are likely to treat themselves using traditional methods before turning to biomedical professionals.
C) Ayurvedic medicine is another name for traditional Aboriginal medicine.
D) The belief that health depends on maintaining a balance among opposite qualities is characteristic of a magicoreligious belief system.

Question 9

The health care provider discusses the need for surgery with an older adult and her family. Which information about the older adult's culture is important for the nurse to collect before this discussion to facilitate the process of informed consent?

A) Attitudes about caregiving
B) Process of decision making
C) Rituals for death and dying
D) Experience with discomfort

Question 10

The nurse is assessing an older adult from a culture different from the nurse's by asking questions from the Explanatory Model for Culturally Sensitive Assessment. In keeping with this model, which question should the nurse ask?

A) How can we negotiate to solve the problem?
B) What treatment can improve your condition?
C) Should we try my plan first to see if it helps?
D) Can we discuss differences in our plans now?

Question 11

When working with an interpreter, which of the following principles should the nurse understand?

A) If the nurse speaks the same language as the patient, then an interpreter is not required.
B) When working with interpreters, the nurse should use technical terms or metaphors in order to help the patient fully understand what is being communicated.
C) A patient's young granddaughter who speaks English fluently would make the best interpreter because she is familiar with and loves the patient.
D) The nurse should face the patient, rather than the interpreter.