A patient from an unfamiliar culture appears disinterested when ...

[sheilaspns]

A patient from an unfamiliar culture appears disinterested when the physician is telling her about options for treatment of a new diagnosis. After the physician leaves, the nurse attempts to talk to the patient and notices the same behavior.
 
  What action by the nurse is best?
  a.
  Give the patient the information in writing to read later.
  b.
  Ask the patient about the meaning of the patient's behavior.
  c.
  Investigate nonverbal communication patterns of this group.
  d.
  Leave the patient alone to come to terms with the diagnosis.

Question 2

The nurse is working with a patient from an unfamiliar culture. After assessing the patient and the patient's cultural beliefs related to health care, what action by the nurse is best?
 
  a. Create a nursing plan of care for the patient.
  b. Recheck cultural beliefs with the patient.
  c. Use a standard plan of care for consistency.
  d. Have an interpreter validate the information.

[juiceman1987]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
Communication differences can lead to misunderstandings and possible medical errors. Many cultural groups have verbal and nonverbal communication patterns that differ from other groups. Variations can occur due to personal or social situations. The nurse should attempt to learn about the cultural group's communication patterns. Giving the patient written material and leaving the patient alone do not help solve this dilemma, and the patient may not have the literacy skills to understand the material. Asking the patient the meaning of behavior is unlikely to elicit useful information because the patient herself may not totally understand it or be able to articulate it. This may be a deeply seated cultural custom that is simply part of who the patient is.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
According to Leininger and McFarland, the nurse should recheck assumptions and findings related to culture with the patient. This is an important step prior to creating a care plan. A standard plan will not be culturally congruent. The stem does not indicate that the patient has limited English, but if he did, using an interpreter would be important.

[sheilaspns]

Excellent

[nothere]

TYSM