Nursing Elites

1. An elderly Mexican-American woman with traditional beliefs has been admitted to an inpatient care unit. A culturally-sensitive nurse would:

• A. contact the hospital administrator about the best course of action.
• B. automatically get a curandero for her because it is not culturally appropriate for her to request one.
• C. further assess the patient's cultural beliefs and offer the patient assistance in contacting a curandero or priest if she desires.
• D. ask the family what they would like to do because Mexican-Americans traditionally give control of decisions to their families.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: When caring for a patient with traditional beliefs, especially one belonging to a culture like Mexican-American where folk or religious healers are important, a culturally-sensitive nurse should assess the patient's beliefs and preferences. By offering assistance in contacting a curandero or priest, the nurse acknowledges and respects the patient's cultural practices and provides holistic care that aligns with the patient's values. This approach helps build trust and ensures the patient receives care that is culturally appropriate and respectful. Choice A is incorrect as contacting the hospital administrator may not directly address the patient's cultural needs. Choice B is inappropriate as assuming the patient needs a curandero without assessment disregards individual preferences. Choice D is incorrect because while family involvement is valued in Mexican-American culture, the primary focus should be on the patient's individual preferences and autonomy.

2. When evaluating the reliability of a patient's responses, which of these statements would be correct? The patient:

• A. has a history of drug abuse and therefore is not reliable.
• B. provided consistent information and therefore is reliable.
• C. smiled throughout the interview and therefore is assumed reliable.
• D. would not answer questions concerning stress and therefore is not reliable.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: In evaluating the reliability of a patient's responses, consistency in the information provided by the patient is crucial. When a patient provides consistent information, it indicates that their responses are trustworthy and reliable. In this scenario, the nurse can consider the patient as reliable based on the consistency of the information provided. Other factors such as a history of drug abuse, smiling behavior, or refusal to answer certain questions may not necessarily determine the reliability of the patient's responses. Therefore, the correct choice is B as consistency in responses is a more reliable indicator of trustworthiness than other factors mentioned in the choices.

3. Among many Asians there is a belief in the yin\yang theory, rooted in the ancient Chinese philosophy of Tao. The nurse recognizes which statement that most accurately reflects "health" in an Asian with this belief?

• A. A person is able to work and produce.
• B. A person is happy, stable, and feels good.
• C. All aspects of the person are in perfect balance.
• D. A person is able to care for others and function socially. - C) All aspects of the person are in perfect balance. Page: 21 Many Asians believe in the yin\yang theory, in which health is believed to exist when all aspects of the person are in perfect balance. The other statements do not describe this theory.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In Asian belief systems like the yin\yang theory rooted in Tao philosophy, health is seen as existing when all aspects of a person are in perfect balance. This means that physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual elements need to be harmonized for an individual to be considered healthy. The other statements do not encapsulate this holistic perspective on health.

4. When a female patient who does not speak English well requires an interpreter, what would be the most appropriate choice?

• A. A trained interpreter
• B. A male family member
• C. A female family member
• D. A volunteer college student from the foreign language studies department

Correct answer: A

Rationale: To facilitate effective communication between a female patient with limited English proficiency and healthcare providers, the most appropriate choice is a trained interpreter. Trained interpreters, especially those familiar with medical terminology, ensure accurate transmission of information and maintain patient-provider confidentiality. Using a family member, whether male or female, can lead to misunderstandings, breaches of confidentiality, and potential biases. Volunteer college students may lack the necessary skills and experience to handle sensitive medical conversations professionally. Opting for a trained interpreter is crucial to enhance communication quality, promote understanding, and uphold patient care standards.

5. During an interview, the nurse states, 'You mentioned shortness of breath. Tell me more about that.' Which verbal skill is used with this statement?

• A. Reflection
• B. Facilitation
• C. Direct question
• D. Open-ended question

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The nurse's statement, 'Tell me more about that,' is an example of an open-ended question. Open-ended questions encourage the interviewee to provide detailed information and expand on their responses. This type of question is useful for gathering narrative information and allows the interviewee to express themselves freely. Reflection involves restating or paraphrasing the client's words, facilitation encourages the client to say more, and direct questions typically elicit specific, close-ended responses, unlike open-ended questions.

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