The nurse is caring for a Chinese patient who is reluctant to ...

[joe]

The nurse is caring for a Chinese patient who is reluctant to answer questions about her health background. The nurse asks the patient if she would like her husband present when health questions are asked.
 
  The nurse does this knowing that the Chinese culture is a collectivistic and patrilineal culture. What does this mean?
  a. Kinship extends to both the father's side and the mother's side of the family.
  b. Kinship is limited to the side of the father.
  c. Kinship is limited to the side of the mother.
  d. The husband becomes part of the wife's clan after marriage.

Question 2

The nurse is caring for a patient who has been sullen and quiet for the past three days. Suddenly, he says, I'm really nervous about surgery tomorrow, but I'm more worried about how it will affect my family. What should the nurse do?
 
  a. Assure the patient that everything will be all right and continue what she/he is doing.
  b. Tell the patient that whatever happens is out of his control, so he shouldn't worry.
  c. Stop what he/she is doing (if possible) and ask the patient to expand on his statement.
  d. Contact hospital clergy to come and talk with the patient.

[Viet Thy]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
In collectivistic cultures, families are made up of distant blood relatives across three generations and fictive or nonblood kin. Kinship extends to both the father's and the mother's side of the family (bilineal) or is limited to the side of either father (patrilineal) or mother (matrilineal). Patrilineally extended families exist among Chinese and Hindus, where a woman moves into her husband's clan after marriage and minimizes ties with her own parents and siblings.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
A nurse needs to be able to give patients full, focused attention as they tell their stories. It is easy to become distracted by tasks at hand, colleagues shouting instructions, or other patients waiting to have their needs met. However, the time taken to listen effectively is worthwhile both in the information gained and in strengthening of the nurse-patient relationship. Although contacting clergy could be an appropriate measure for this patient, the nurse should first listen to what the patient is saying. By observing expressions and body language of the patient, the nurse will find cues to assist the patient in exploring ways to achieve greater peace.