Chapter 02: Cultural Assessment
Jarvis: Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse is reviewing the characteristics of culture. Which statement is correct regarding the
development of one’s culture?
a.
Learned through language acquisition and socialization
b.
Genetically determined on the basis of racial background
c.
A nonspecific phenomenon and is adaptive but unnecessary
d.
Biologically determined on the basis of physical characteristics
2. During a class on the aspects of culture, the nurse shares that culture has four basic
characteristics. Which statement correctly reflects one of the characteristics of culture?
a.
Static and unchanging
b.
Members share similar physical characteristics.
c.
Members share a common geographic origin and religion.
d.
Adapted to specific conditions r/t environmental and technical factors
3. During a seminar on cultural aspects of nursing, the nurse recognizes that the definition
stating “the specific and distinct knowledge, beliefs, customs, and skills acquired by members
of a society” reflects which term?
a.
Norms
b.
Culture
c.
Ethnicity
d.
Assimilation
4. The nurse is discussing the term subculture with a student nurse. Which statement by the
nurse would best describe subculture?
a.
“Fitting as many people as possible into the majority culture.”
b.
“Identifying small groups of people who do not want to be identified with the
larger culture.”
c.
“Singling out groups of people who suffer differential and unequal treatment as a
result of cultural variations.”
d.
“Recognizing fairly large groups of people with shared characteristics that are not
common to all members of a culture.”
5. When reviewing the demographics of ethnic groups in the United States, the nurse recalls that
which is the largest and fastest growing population?
a.
Asian
b.
Hispanic
c.
American Indian
d.
African American/black
6. During an assessment, the nurse notices that a patient is handling a small charm that is tied to
a leather strip around his neck. Which action by the nurse is appropriate?
a.
Ask the patient about the item and its significance.
b.
Ask the patient to lock the item with other valuables in the hospital’s safe.
c.
Tell the patient that a family member should take valuables home.
d.
No action is necessary.
7. The nurse manager is explaining culturally competent care during a staff meeting. Which
statement accurately describes the concept of a culturally competent caregiver?
a.
Able to speak the patient’s native language
b.
Possesses some basic knowledge of the patient’s cultural background
c.
Applies the underlying background knowledge of a patient’s culture to provide the
best possible health care
d.
Understands and attends to the total context of the patient’s situation
8. After a class on culture and ethnicity, the new graduate nurse reflects a correct understanding
of the concept of ethnicity with which statement?
a.
“Ethnicity is dynamic and ever changing.”
b.
“Ethnicity is the belief in a higher power.”
c.
“Ethnicity pertains to a social group that may possess shared traits such as religion
and language.”
d.
“Ethnicity is learned from birth through the processes of language acquisition and
socialization.”
9. The nurse is comparing the concepts of religion and spirituality. Which statement describes an
appropriate component of one’s spirituality?
a.
Belief in and the worship of God or gods
b.
Being closely tied to one’s ethnic background
c.
Attendance at a specific church or place of worship
d.
A connection with something larger than oneself and belief in transcendence
10. A woman who has lived in the United States for a year after moving from Europe has learned
to speak English and is almost finished with her college studies. She now dresses like her
peers and says that her family in Europe would hardly recognize her. This nurse recognizes
that this situation illustrates which concept?
a.
Integration
b.
Assimilation
c.
Biculturalism
d.
Heritage consistency
11. The nurse is conducting a heritage assessment. Which question is most appropriate for this
assessment?
a.
“Do you smoke?”
b.
“What is your religion?”
c.
“Do you have a history of heart disease?”
d.
“How many years have you lived in the United States?”
12. The nurse is reviewing theories of illness. The germ theory, which states that microscopic
organisms such as bacteria and viruses are responsible for specific disease conditions, is a
basic belief of which theory of illness?
a.
Holistic
b.
Biomedical
c.
Naturalistic
d.
Magicoreligious
13. An Asian-American woman is experiencing diarrhea, which is believed to be “cold” or “yin.”
What should the nurse recognize that the woman may likely to try to treat it?
a.
Foods that are “hot” or “yang”
b.
Readings and Eastern medicine meditations
c.
High doses of medicines believed to be “cold”
d.
No treatment because diarrhea is an expected part of life
14. Many Asians believe in the yin/yang theory, which is rooted in the ancient Chinese
philosophy of Tao. Which statement most accurately reflects this philosophy’s view of
“health”?
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.
15. Illness is caused by an imbalance or disharmony in the forces of nature. This statement most
accurately reflects the views about illness from which theory?
a.
Germ theory
b.
Naturalistic theory
c.
Magicoreligious theory
d.
Biomedical or scientific theory
16. What does an individual who believes the magicoreligious theory of illness and disease
believe is the cause of his or her illness?
a.
Germs and viruses
b.
Supernatural forces
c.
Eating imbalanced (hot/cold) foods
d.
Imbalance within his or her spiritual nature
17. What should the nurse, who is caring for an American Indian woman seeking help to regulate
her diabetes, anticipate or expect of the patient?
a.
Will comply with the treatment prescribed
b.
Has given up her belief in naturalistic causes of disease
c.
May also be seeking the assistance of a shaman or medicine man
d.
Will need extra help in dealing with her illness and may be experiencing a crisis of
faith
18. An older Mexican-American woman with traditional beliefs has been admitted to an inpatient
care unit. When admitting this patient, what would a culturally sensitive nurse do?
a.
Contact the hospital administrator about the best course of action.
b.
Arrange for a shaman for her, because requesting one herself is not culturally
appropriate.
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 decision making to their families.
19. A 63-year-old Chinese-American man who recently found out his wife has cancer enters the
hospital with complaints of chest pain, shortness of breath, and palpitations. Which statement
most accurately reflects the nurse’s best course of action?
a.
The nurse should focus on psychosomatic complaints.
b.
The nurse should focus on performing a full cardiac assessment.
c.
The nurse should send him home with instructions to contact his physician.
d.
The nurse should perform both physical and psychosocial assessments.
20. Symptoms, such as pain, are often influenced by a person’s cultural heritage. Which of the
following is a true statement regarding pain?
a.
Nurses’ attitudes toward their patients’ pain are unrelated to their own experiences
with pain.
b.
Nurses need to recognize that many cultures practice silent suffering as a response
to pain.
c.
A nurse’s area of clinical practice will most likely determine his or her assessment
of a patient’s pain.
d.
A nurse’s years of clinical experience and current position are strong indicators of
his or her response to patient pain.
21. The nurse is reviewing concepts of cultural aspects of pain. Which statement is true regarding
pain?
a.
All patients will behave the same way when in pain.
b.
Just as patients vary in their perceptions of pain, so will they vary in their
expressions of pain.
c.
Cultural norms have very little to do with pain tolerance, because pain tolerance is
always biologically determined.
d.
A patient’s expression of pain is largely dependent on the amount of tissue injury
associated with the pain.
22. During a class on religion and spirituality, the nurse is asked to define spirituality. Which
statement by the nurse best describes spirituality?
a.
“Is a personal search to discover a supreme being.”
b.
“Is an organized system of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the
universe.”
c.
“Is a belief that each person exists forever in some form, such as a belief in
reincarnation or the afterlife.”
d.
“Focuses on a connection with something bigger than oneself and a belief in
transcendence.”
23. When caring for children with a different cultural perspective, what should the nurse
recognize may pose a challenge?
a.
Children have spiritual needs that are influenced by their stages of development.
b.
Children have spiritual needs that are direct reflections of what is occurring in their
homes.
c.
Religious beliefs rarely affect the parents’ perceptions of the illness.
d.
Parents are often the decision makers, and they have no knowledge of their
children’s spiritual needs.
24. A 30-year-old woman has recently moved to the United States with her husband. They are
living with the woman’s sister until they can get a home of their own. When company arrives
to visit with the woman’s sister, the woman feels suddenly shy and retreats to the back
bedroom to hide until the company leaves. She explains that her reaction to guests is simply
because she does not know how to speak “perfect English.” What is this woman likely
experiencing?
a.
Culture shock
b.
Cultural taboos
c.
Cultural unfamiliarity
d.
Culture disorientation
25. After a symptom is recognized, the first effort at treatment is often self-treatment. Which of
the following statements is true about self-treatment?
a.
“Not recognized as valuable by most health care providers.”
b.
“Usually ineffective and may delay more effective treatment.”
c.
“Always less expensive than biomedical alternatives.”
d.
“Influenced by the accessibility of over-the-counter medicines.”
26. The nurse is reviewing the hot/cold theory of health and illness. Which statement best
describes the basic tenets of this theory?
a.
The causation of illness is based on supernatural forces that influence the humors
of the body.
b.
Herbs and medicines are classified on their physical characteristics of hot and cold
and the humors of the body.
c.
The four humors of the body consist of blood, yellow bile, spiritual connectedness,
and social aspects of the individual.
d.
The treatment of disease consists of adding or subtracting cold, heat, dryness, or
wetness to restore the balance of the humors of the body.
27. When providing culturally competent care, nurses must incorporate cultural assessments into
their health assessments. Which statement is most appropriate to use when initiating an
assessment of cultural beliefs with an older American Indian patient?
a.
“Are you of the Christian faith?”
b.
“Do you want to see a medicine man?”
c.
“How often do you seek help from medical providers?”
d.
“What cultural or spiritual beliefs are important to you?”
28. During a class on cultural practices, the nurse hears the term cultural taboo. Which statement
illustrates the concept of a cultural taboo?
a.
Trying prayer before seeking medical help.
b.
Believing that illness is a punishment of sin.
c.
Refusing to accept blood products as part of treatment.
d.
Stating that a child’s birth defect is the result of the parents’ sins.
29. The nurse should recognize that categories such as ethnicity, gender, and religion illustrate
which concept?
a.
Family
b.
Cultures
c.
Spirituality
d.
Subcultures
30. The nurse is reviewing concepts related to one’s heritage and beliefs. Which concept refers to
belief in a divine or superhuman power(s) to be obeyed and worshipped as the creator(s) and
ruler(s) of the universe?
a.
Culture
b.
Religion
c.
Ethnicity
d.
Spirituality
31. When planning a cultural assessment, the nurse should include which component?
a.
Family history
b.
Chief complaint
c.
Medical history
d.
Health-related beliefs
MULTIPLE RESPONSE
1. The nurse is asking questions about a patient’s health beliefs. Which questions are
appropriate? (Select all that apply.)
a.
“What is your definition of health?”
b.
“Does your family have a history of cancer?”
c.
“How do you describe illness?”
d.
“What did your mother do to keep you from getting sick?”
e.
“Have you ever had any surgeries?”
f.
“How do you keep yourself healthy?”