A home health care nurse is visiting the home of a patient whose ...

[moongchi]

A home health care nurse is visiting the home of a patient whose culture is totally unfamiliar to the nurse. What action by the nurse is best?
 
  a. Perform nursing care with a high degree of professionalism.
  b. Watch family interaction patterns closely and try to copy them.
  c. Tell the family you need to learn about their culture.
  d. Apologize after performing tasks that make the patient uncomfortable.

Question 2

A patient in the emergency department needs an emergency operation. The patient refuses to consent and wants the nurse to call a respected elder in the community for consent. What action by the nurse is best?
 
  a. Explain that this violates privacy laws.
  b. Call the elder to get consent for the operation.
  c. Tell the woman she has the right to consent.
  d. Arrange for admission without the operation.

[nixon_s]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
Nurses should observe family dynamics carefully, including communication, and try to copy them as much as possible. For instance, if the family does not make eye contact with the nurse, he/she should avoid trying to make direct eye contact with the family. The other options are reasonable, although telling the family you need to learn about their culture may place the burden of educating the nurse on them.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
In some cultures, decisions are made by men or community leaders. Although the patient may have the legal right to consent, if she comes from a culture in which gender and/or social roles do not permit decision making, she will likely refuse to consent. The best action is for the nurse to contact the elder and have him participate in the decision-making process per the patient's wishes. If the patient has given permission to share the information, doing so does not violate privacy laws. Admitting the patient without the operation does not help her medically.

[moongchi]

Excellent

[brbarasa]

TYSM