NUR 111: CULTURE AND ETHNICITY PRACTICE TEST
QUESTIONS WITH ACCURATE ANSWERS
A Hispanic client is diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer. The client's wife
insists that any discussion about treatment options be postponed until all local
family members are present. The nurse correctly views this as:
1. The family's attempt to facilitate a "good death'' for the client
2. An invasion of the client's right of confidentiality by the family members
3. Appropriate because the cancer may have affected his decision-making abilities
4. A cultural tradition that relieves the ill family member of the burden of decision
making correct answer *4. A cultural tradition that relieves the ill family member
of the burden of decision making*
in some cultures, the group assumes decision making for a family member in
these situations and is trusted to make the right decision for the individual.
Indeed, some groups such as African Americans, Asian Americans, and Hispanics
expect their family to make decisions for them, and family members prefer to
protect the individual from unnecessary suffering by knowing the reality of
imminent death. These cultures value group interdependence and view individual
autonomy as an unnecessary burden for a loved one who is ill (Pacquiao, 2002,
2003a). The means by which the family provides a "good death" is first
established through the process of group decision making. It may appear that the
client's confidentiality is being invaded by a member of the Western nursing
profession; it is a cultural norm for members of many Hispanic families. Although
cancer may affect the client's abilities to make decisions, the origin of this
behavior is more likely the cultural tradition of group decision making among
Hispanics.
A nurse caring for the Arab community observes a client crying. The woman was
recently informed that her radiation treatments may affect her ability to become
,pregnant. The nurse recognizes that the client is most likely reacting to a cultural
attitude regarding:
1. The importance of children to an Arab family
2. The Arab view that infertility is grounds for divorce
3. Infertility is a punishment for unholy living
4. The loss of status among other married Arab women correct answer *2. The
Arab view that infertility is grounds for divorce*
Infertility in a woman is considered grounds for divorce and rejection among
Arabs. Although infertility is grounds for divorce in Arab cultures, it is not the best
option for this question.
Infertility as a punishment for unholy living may not be a generally accepted view,
it is not the best option for this question. While the loss of status among other
married Arab women may be true, it is not the best option for this question.
A nurse that has the knowledge of the biocultural history of clients and aware
that individuals with a greater potential for and incidence of hypertension are:
1. Asians
2. Hispanics
3. Native Americans
4. African Americans correct answer *4. African Americans*
Malignant hypertension is found more frequently in African Americans. Lactose
intolerance is frequently observed among Asians. Hispanics have a higher
,incidence of lactose intolerance. Native Americans have a higher incidence of
tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus.
A nursing care assistant fails to report in a timely manner a request for pain
medication from an African-American male client who is recovering from a stab
wound. The nurse's initial action is to evaluate the care assistant's:
1. Feelings regarding this particular client
2. Need for administrative disciplinary action
3. Understanding of the need for prompt reporting
4. Employment files for documentation of similar behavior correct answer *1.
Feelings regarding this particular client*
Personal bias and prejudices when acted upon may interfere with the delivery of
appropriate, effective nursing care. While all the options are appropriate, the
nurse's initial action is to determine the cause of the care assistant's negligent
behavior. Although all the options are appropriate, the nurse's initial action is to
determine the cause of the care assistant's negligent behavior.
According to the Office of Minority Health (OMH), the thoughts, communications,
actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions of racial, ethnic, religious, or
social groups are known as
a. Culture.
b. Subculture.
c. Ethnicity.
d. Cultural backlash. correct answer *a. culture*
, The OMH describes culture as the thoughts, communications, actions, customs,
beliefs, values, and institutions of racial, ethnic, religious, or social groups.
Subcultures represent various ethnic, religious, and other groups with distinct
characteristics from the dominant culture. Ethnicity refers to a shared identity
related to social and cultural heritage such as values, language, geographical
space, and racial characteristics. Cultural backlash occurs when an individual
rejects a new culture because experience with a new or different culture is
extremely negative.
An Arab woman arrives in the emergency department reporting vaginal bleeding.
It is determined that the client is 5 months pregnant with her second child and
has had no prenatal care. The nurse realizes that the most likely reason for this
lack of health care is that the client:
1. Cannot afford to seek health care
2. Views pregnancy as a normal life event
3. Typically relies on same-culture healers
4. Lacks an understanding of available services correct answer *2. Views
pregnancy as a normal life event*
Culture is the context in which groups of people interpret and define their
experiences relevant to life transitions. This includes events such as birth, illness,
and dying. It is the system of meanings by which people make sense of their
experiences. Culture is how others define social phenomena such as when a
person is healthy or requires intervention. Traditionally, in Arab culture,
pregnancy is not a medical condition but rather a normal life transition; hence, a
pregnant woman does not always go to a doctor unless she has a problem. While
the other options may have been a factor, the most likely cause is that the Arab
QUESTIONS WITH ACCURATE ANSWERS
A Hispanic client is diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer. The client's wife
insists that any discussion about treatment options be postponed until all local
family members are present. The nurse correctly views this as:
1. The family's attempt to facilitate a "good death'' for the client
2. An invasion of the client's right of confidentiality by the family members
3. Appropriate because the cancer may have affected his decision-making abilities
4. A cultural tradition that relieves the ill family member of the burden of decision
making correct answer *4. A cultural tradition that relieves the ill family member
of the burden of decision making*
in some cultures, the group assumes decision making for a family member in
these situations and is trusted to make the right decision for the individual.
Indeed, some groups such as African Americans, Asian Americans, and Hispanics
expect their family to make decisions for them, and family members prefer to
protect the individual from unnecessary suffering by knowing the reality of
imminent death. These cultures value group interdependence and view individual
autonomy as an unnecessary burden for a loved one who is ill (Pacquiao, 2002,
2003a). The means by which the family provides a "good death" is first
established through the process of group decision making. It may appear that the
client's confidentiality is being invaded by a member of the Western nursing
profession; it is a cultural norm for members of many Hispanic families. Although
cancer may affect the client's abilities to make decisions, the origin of this
behavior is more likely the cultural tradition of group decision making among
Hispanics.
A nurse caring for the Arab community observes a client crying. The woman was
recently informed that her radiation treatments may affect her ability to become
,pregnant. The nurse recognizes that the client is most likely reacting to a cultural
attitude regarding:
1. The importance of children to an Arab family
2. The Arab view that infertility is grounds for divorce
3. Infertility is a punishment for unholy living
4. The loss of status among other married Arab women correct answer *2. The
Arab view that infertility is grounds for divorce*
Infertility in a woman is considered grounds for divorce and rejection among
Arabs. Although infertility is grounds for divorce in Arab cultures, it is not the best
option for this question.
Infertility as a punishment for unholy living may not be a generally accepted view,
it is not the best option for this question. While the loss of status among other
married Arab women may be true, it is not the best option for this question.
A nurse that has the knowledge of the biocultural history of clients and aware
that individuals with a greater potential for and incidence of hypertension are:
1. Asians
2. Hispanics
3. Native Americans
4. African Americans correct answer *4. African Americans*
Malignant hypertension is found more frequently in African Americans. Lactose
intolerance is frequently observed among Asians. Hispanics have a higher
,incidence of lactose intolerance. Native Americans have a higher incidence of
tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus.
A nursing care assistant fails to report in a timely manner a request for pain
medication from an African-American male client who is recovering from a stab
wound. The nurse's initial action is to evaluate the care assistant's:
1. Feelings regarding this particular client
2. Need for administrative disciplinary action
3. Understanding of the need for prompt reporting
4. Employment files for documentation of similar behavior correct answer *1.
Feelings regarding this particular client*
Personal bias and prejudices when acted upon may interfere with the delivery of
appropriate, effective nursing care. While all the options are appropriate, the
nurse's initial action is to determine the cause of the care assistant's negligent
behavior. Although all the options are appropriate, the nurse's initial action is to
determine the cause of the care assistant's negligent behavior.
According to the Office of Minority Health (OMH), the thoughts, communications,
actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions of racial, ethnic, religious, or
social groups are known as
a. Culture.
b. Subculture.
c. Ethnicity.
d. Cultural backlash. correct answer *a. culture*
, The OMH describes culture as the thoughts, communications, actions, customs,
beliefs, values, and institutions of racial, ethnic, religious, or social groups.
Subcultures represent various ethnic, religious, and other groups with distinct
characteristics from the dominant culture. Ethnicity refers to a shared identity
related to social and cultural heritage such as values, language, geographical
space, and racial characteristics. Cultural backlash occurs when an individual
rejects a new culture because experience with a new or different culture is
extremely negative.
An Arab woman arrives in the emergency department reporting vaginal bleeding.
It is determined that the client is 5 months pregnant with her second child and
has had no prenatal care. The nurse realizes that the most likely reason for this
lack of health care is that the client:
1. Cannot afford to seek health care
2. Views pregnancy as a normal life event
3. Typically relies on same-culture healers
4. Lacks an understanding of available services correct answer *2. Views
pregnancy as a normal life event*
Culture is the context in which groups of people interpret and define their
experiences relevant to life transitions. This includes events such as birth, illness,
and dying. It is the system of meanings by which people make sense of their
experiences. Culture is how others define social phenomena such as when a
person is healthy or requires intervention. Traditionally, in Arab culture,
pregnancy is not a medical condition but rather a normal life transition; hence, a
pregnant woman does not always go to a doctor unless she has a problem. While
the other options may have been a factor, the most likely cause is that the Arab
