Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. The nurse is attempting to collect information from the parents of a critically ill child
brought to the emergency department. The parents are from a different country, and
English is their second language. The child’s father suddenly shouts, “I cannot talk with
you, care for my child now!” Which response by the nurse is correct?
a. “I will get an interpreter to help us understand each other.”
b. “This information is important for providing care for your child.”
c. “Getting angry will just complicate things; you need to calm down.”
d. “I know that you are frustrated, but getting this information is important.”
ANS: A
Chapter: Chapter 4 Cultural, Spiritual, and Environmental Influences on the Child
Chapter Learning Objectives: 4. Identify strategies for overcoming language barriers
and describe the importance of doing so.
Page: 59
Heading: Cross-Cultural Communication > Language Barriers
Integrated Processes: Communication and Documentation
Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
Cognitive Level: Application [Applying]
Concept: Communication
Difficulty: Moderate
Feedback
A. This is correct. When the nurse recognizes difficulty in communication with a
patient’s family member, the nurse needs to remain calm and contact an
interpreter to aid in communication.
B. This is incorrect. The parents of a critically ill child are likely to be frustrated
with an inability to provide important information to the nurse. The nurse’s
comment does not resolve the issue of ineffective communication.
C. This is incorrect. When the nurse points out the father’s anger and tells him to
calm down, the nurse is likely to further hinder meaningful communication.
D. This is incorrect. Acknowledging the parent’s frustration without offering a
solution to the communication issue is not helpful.
PTS: 1 CON: Communication
2. The nurse is admitting a 15-year-old, who recently immigrated to this country with their
, family, for abdominal pain lasting 3 days. The accompanying parent reports that the
patient is exhibiting intense pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. The nurse notes that the patient
places their pain level at 3 on a scale of 0 to 10. Which conclusion does the nurse draw
regarding the discrepancy in the level of pain?
a. The patient’s response may be related to cultural expectations.
b. The patient is angry that the parent insisted on seeking medical treatment.
c. The parent’s fear of serious illness is causing an exaggeration of symptoms.
d. The parent wants to make sure the child gets immediate medical care.
ANS: A
Chapter: Chapter 4 Cultural, Spiritual, and Environmental Influences on the Child
Chapter Learning Objective: 8. Identify environmental and societal considerations
when caring for the pediatric patient and family.
Page: 60
Heading: Cross-Cultural Communication > Characteristics and Behaviors Determined
by Culture
Integrated Processes: Nursing Process
Client Need: Physiological Integrity: Reduction of Risk Potential
Cognitive Level: Analysis [Analyzing]
Concept: Self
Difficulty: Moderate
Feedback
A. This is correct. Individuals will act and respond as they have been taught to act
and respond. Children may “pretend” by responding in an “acceptable” way
rather than one that accurately communicates their feelings and/or condition.
B. This is incorrect. There is no indication that the patient is angry at the parent for
seeking medical attention.
C. This is incorrect. There is no indication that the parent is experiencing fear or
exaggerating the symptoms because of the possibility of a serious illness.
D. This is incorrect. There is no indication that the parent’s report of symptoms is
related to achieving immediate care.
PTS: 1 CON: Self
3. The nurse is completing the admission process for a pediatric patient by obtaining
information related to the patient’s culture. Which area of assessment is most important if
the patient is an infant?
a. The religious beliefs of the patient’s family
b. The family’s perception of the current health status
c. The patient’s food preferences
d. The typical daily schedule followed by family and patient
ANS: B
, Chapter: Chapter 4 Cultural, Spiritual, and Environmental Influences on the Child
Chapter Learning Objective: 8. Identify environmental and societal considerations
when caring for the pediatric patient and family.
Page: 61
Heading: Cultural Assessments
Integrated Processes: Nursing Process
Client Need: Psychosocial Integrity
Cognitive Level: Analysis [Analyzing]
Concept: Self
Difficulty: Difficult
Feedback
A. This is incorrect. The religious beliefs of the patient’s family are not the most
important cultural assessment due to the age of the patient. However, the nurse
will ascertain if the parents have certain religion-based needs.
B. This is correct. Because of the age of the patient, the most important area of
cultural assessment is the family’s perception of the current health status. The
nurse will need to know if the medical condition or treatments are impacted by
cultural beliefs or practices.
C. This is incorrect. Food preferences are not the most important area of cultural
assessment due to the age of the patient.
D. This is incorrect. Due to the age of the patient, the daily schedule followed by the
patient and family is not the most important cultural assessment.
PTS: 1 CON: Self
4. A child who is 10 years of age is brought to the clinic with symptoms of a serious lower
respiratory infection. The attending adult self-identifies as a grandparent. The child states
the grandparent is the only family of the patient. Which is the most important information
for the nurse to acquire prior to treatment?
a. How to reach one of the patient’s parents
b. Which other family members live with the patient
c. If the grandparent has legal custody of the patient
d. What caused the grandparent to seek medical care
ANS: C
Chapter: Chapter 4 Cultural, Spiritual, and Environmental Influences on the Child
Chapter Learning Objective: 8. Identify environmental and societal considerations
when caring for the pediatric patient and family.
Page: 61
Heading: Clinical Judgment: What Defines a Family?
Integrated Processes: Nursing Process
Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Safety and Infection Control
Cognitive Level: Application [Applying]
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. The nurse is attempting to collect information from the parents of a critically ill child
brought to the emergency department. The parents are from a different country, and
English is their second language. The child’s father suddenly shouts, “I cannot talk with
you, care for my child now!” Which response by the nurse is correct?
a. “I will get an interpreter to help us understand each other.”
b. “This information is important for providing care for your child.”
c. “Getting angry will just complicate things; you need to calm down.”
d. “I know that you are frustrated, but getting this information is important.”
ANS: A
Chapter: Chapter 4 Cultural, Spiritual, and Environmental Influences on the Child
Chapter Learning Objectives: 4. Identify strategies for overcoming language barriers
and describe the importance of doing so.
Page: 59
Heading: Cross-Cultural Communication > Language Barriers
Integrated Processes: Communication and Documentation
Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
Cognitive Level: Application [Applying]
Concept: Communication
Difficulty: Moderate
Feedback
A. This is correct. When the nurse recognizes difficulty in communication with a
patient’s family member, the nurse needs to remain calm and contact an
interpreter to aid in communication.
B. This is incorrect. The parents of a critically ill child are likely to be frustrated
with an inability to provide important information to the nurse. The nurse’s
comment does not resolve the issue of ineffective communication.
C. This is incorrect. When the nurse points out the father’s anger and tells him to
calm down, the nurse is likely to further hinder meaningful communication.
D. This is incorrect. Acknowledging the parent’s frustration without offering a
solution to the communication issue is not helpful.
PTS: 1 CON: Communication
2. The nurse is admitting a 15-year-old, who recently immigrated to this country with their
, family, for abdominal pain lasting 3 days. The accompanying parent reports that the
patient is exhibiting intense pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. The nurse notes that the patient
places their pain level at 3 on a scale of 0 to 10. Which conclusion does the nurse draw
regarding the discrepancy in the level of pain?
a. The patient’s response may be related to cultural expectations.
b. The patient is angry that the parent insisted on seeking medical treatment.
c. The parent’s fear of serious illness is causing an exaggeration of symptoms.
d. The parent wants to make sure the child gets immediate medical care.
ANS: A
Chapter: Chapter 4 Cultural, Spiritual, and Environmental Influences on the Child
Chapter Learning Objective: 8. Identify environmental and societal considerations
when caring for the pediatric patient and family.
Page: 60
Heading: Cross-Cultural Communication > Characteristics and Behaviors Determined
by Culture
Integrated Processes: Nursing Process
Client Need: Physiological Integrity: Reduction of Risk Potential
Cognitive Level: Analysis [Analyzing]
Concept: Self
Difficulty: Moderate
Feedback
A. This is correct. Individuals will act and respond as they have been taught to act
and respond. Children may “pretend” by responding in an “acceptable” way
rather than one that accurately communicates their feelings and/or condition.
B. This is incorrect. There is no indication that the patient is angry at the parent for
seeking medical attention.
C. This is incorrect. There is no indication that the parent is experiencing fear or
exaggerating the symptoms because of the possibility of a serious illness.
D. This is incorrect. There is no indication that the parent’s report of symptoms is
related to achieving immediate care.
PTS: 1 CON: Self
3. The nurse is completing the admission process for a pediatric patient by obtaining
information related to the patient’s culture. Which area of assessment is most important if
the patient is an infant?
a. The religious beliefs of the patient’s family
b. The family’s perception of the current health status
c. The patient’s food preferences
d. The typical daily schedule followed by family and patient
ANS: B
, Chapter: Chapter 4 Cultural, Spiritual, and Environmental Influences on the Child
Chapter Learning Objective: 8. Identify environmental and societal considerations
when caring for the pediatric patient and family.
Page: 61
Heading: Cultural Assessments
Integrated Processes: Nursing Process
Client Need: Psychosocial Integrity
Cognitive Level: Analysis [Analyzing]
Concept: Self
Difficulty: Difficult
Feedback
A. This is incorrect. The religious beliefs of the patient’s family are not the most
important cultural assessment due to the age of the patient. However, the nurse
will ascertain if the parents have certain religion-based needs.
B. This is correct. Because of the age of the patient, the most important area of
cultural assessment is the family’s perception of the current health status. The
nurse will need to know if the medical condition or treatments are impacted by
cultural beliefs or practices.
C. This is incorrect. Food preferences are not the most important area of cultural
assessment due to the age of the patient.
D. This is incorrect. Due to the age of the patient, the daily schedule followed by the
patient and family is not the most important cultural assessment.
PTS: 1 CON: Self
4. A child who is 10 years of age is brought to the clinic with symptoms of a serious lower
respiratory infection. The attending adult self-identifies as a grandparent. The child states
the grandparent is the only family of the patient. Which is the most important information
for the nurse to acquire prior to treatment?
a. How to reach one of the patient’s parents
b. Which other family members live with the patient
c. If the grandparent has legal custody of the patient
d. What caused the grandparent to seek medical care
ANS: C
Chapter: Chapter 4 Cultural, Spiritual, and Environmental Influences on the Child
Chapter Learning Objective: 8. Identify environmental and societal considerations
when caring for the pediatric patient and family.
Page: 61
Heading: Clinical Judgment: What Defines a Family?
Integrated Processes: Nursing Process
Client Need: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Safety and Infection Control
Cognitive Level: Application [Applying]
