Transcultural Nursing exam Giger:
Chapter 1 and 2 latest version with Q& A
Vietnamese: potential barriers to communication - CORRECT ANSWER- Vietnamese
persons may say yes to avoid confrontation or to please
- Smile may cover up disturbed feelings; a nurse may misinterpret this as understanding
Give examples of language or verbal communication. - CORRECT ANSWER
Vocabulary, grammatical structure, voice qualities, intonation, rhythm, speed,
pronunciation, and silence.
Give examples of nonverbal communication. - CORRECT ANSWERT ouch, facial
expression, eye movement, body posture.
What are examples of communication that combines verbal and nonverbal elements? -
CORRECT ANSWER Warmth and humor.
Vocabulary: an issue - CORRECT ANSWER- Understanding differences in the meaning
of words can provide insight into people of different cultures
- Hispanics, when they hear the term constipation, think nasal congestion rather than
intestinal constipation
- In Spanish, "time" is passing such as a clock passing time. In America, the clock
"runs." There is a sense of urgency in America versus time being a leisurely concept in
the Hispanic population.
What is paralinguistic or paralanguage? - CORRECT ANSWER Paralanguage refers to
something beyond the words themselves such as voice intonation (pitch and range).
Intonation - CORRECT ANSWER In linguistics, intonation is the use of changing vocal
pitch to convey grammatical information or personal attitude. I.e. You are going home.
VS. You are going home?
Silence - CORRECT ANSWER- American Indians, Chinese, and Japanese see silence
as essential to understanding a person's needs
- English and Arabic persons use silence as a need for privacy
- Russian, French, and Spanish persons use silence to indicate agreement between
parties
- Asian cultures: silence as a means of showing respect
What are 3 examples of nonverbal communication? - CORRECT ANSWER Touch,
facial expression, eye movement.
, What are examples of highly tactile cultures? - CORRECT ANSWER- French, Jews,
Spanish, Italians, and South Americans.
- Mexican and American Indians view touch as healing/magical.
- Vietnamese: find touching shoulders with another as anxiety-producing (they believe
the soul can leave the body on physical contact). They also view the head as highly
personal; procedures that invade the surface or any orifice of the head can frighten
Vietnamese patients.
Eye contact: variations according to culture - CORRECT ANSWER- Filipinos: eye
contact that turns away is associated with the possibility of that person being a witch
- Asians and American Indians: view eye contact as rude
- Certain Indian cultures avoid eye contact with person of higher or lower socioeconomic
class; may be used to indicate sexual significance
- Orthodox Jews: prolonged eye contact is viewed as sexual
- Vietnamese practice less eye contact
- Appalachian people: tend to avert their eyes b/c for them eye contact is r/t hostility and
aggressiveness
Body posturing: significance - CORRECT ANSWER- In Western cultures: the closer a
listener's overall posturing matches the posture of the speaker, the higher the likelihood
of receptivity; if the individuals' unconscious gestures differ, probably their perspective
on the matter at hand is also different
- In Western cultures: body posture can also communicate attitude; in American, leaning
forward communicates attentiveness
- Western culture: pain is communicated by rigid muscles , flexed body, and cautious
movements
Communications that Combine Verbal and Nonverbal Elements: Warmth - CORRECT
ANSWER- Warmth can be communicated verbally and may be communicated
nonverbally such as by a pat on the shoulder
- Although warmth is a matter of perception, communication that focuses on human
needs is more likely to be related to warmth in the speaker
What are the six key guidelines for relating to patients from different cultures? -
CORRECT ANSWER1. Assess personal beliefs of persons from different cultures
2. Assess communication variables from a cultural perspective
3. Plan Care Based on the Communicated Needs and Cultural Background
4. Modify communication approaches to meet cultural needs
5. Understand that respect for the client and communicated needs is central to a
therapeutic relationship - listen
6. Communicate in a nonthreatening manner (begin interview in an unhurried manner,
general topics to begin with)
7. Use strategies to develop trust (avoid being too busy, not having time to listen, not
giving sufficient time for an answer)
8. Use validating techniques in communication (never pretend to understand)
Chapter 1 and 2 latest version with Q& A
Vietnamese: potential barriers to communication - CORRECT ANSWER- Vietnamese
persons may say yes to avoid confrontation or to please
- Smile may cover up disturbed feelings; a nurse may misinterpret this as understanding
Give examples of language or verbal communication. - CORRECT ANSWER
Vocabulary, grammatical structure, voice qualities, intonation, rhythm, speed,
pronunciation, and silence.
Give examples of nonverbal communication. - CORRECT ANSWERT ouch, facial
expression, eye movement, body posture.
What are examples of communication that combines verbal and nonverbal elements? -
CORRECT ANSWER Warmth and humor.
Vocabulary: an issue - CORRECT ANSWER- Understanding differences in the meaning
of words can provide insight into people of different cultures
- Hispanics, when they hear the term constipation, think nasal congestion rather than
intestinal constipation
- In Spanish, "time" is passing such as a clock passing time. In America, the clock
"runs." There is a sense of urgency in America versus time being a leisurely concept in
the Hispanic population.
What is paralinguistic or paralanguage? - CORRECT ANSWER Paralanguage refers to
something beyond the words themselves such as voice intonation (pitch and range).
Intonation - CORRECT ANSWER In linguistics, intonation is the use of changing vocal
pitch to convey grammatical information or personal attitude. I.e. You are going home.
VS. You are going home?
Silence - CORRECT ANSWER- American Indians, Chinese, and Japanese see silence
as essential to understanding a person's needs
- English and Arabic persons use silence as a need for privacy
- Russian, French, and Spanish persons use silence to indicate agreement between
parties
- Asian cultures: silence as a means of showing respect
What are 3 examples of nonverbal communication? - CORRECT ANSWER Touch,
facial expression, eye movement.
, What are examples of highly tactile cultures? - CORRECT ANSWER- French, Jews,
Spanish, Italians, and South Americans.
- Mexican and American Indians view touch as healing/magical.
- Vietnamese: find touching shoulders with another as anxiety-producing (they believe
the soul can leave the body on physical contact). They also view the head as highly
personal; procedures that invade the surface or any orifice of the head can frighten
Vietnamese patients.
Eye contact: variations according to culture - CORRECT ANSWER- Filipinos: eye
contact that turns away is associated with the possibility of that person being a witch
- Asians and American Indians: view eye contact as rude
- Certain Indian cultures avoid eye contact with person of higher or lower socioeconomic
class; may be used to indicate sexual significance
- Orthodox Jews: prolonged eye contact is viewed as sexual
- Vietnamese practice less eye contact
- Appalachian people: tend to avert their eyes b/c for them eye contact is r/t hostility and
aggressiveness
Body posturing: significance - CORRECT ANSWER- In Western cultures: the closer a
listener's overall posturing matches the posture of the speaker, the higher the likelihood
of receptivity; if the individuals' unconscious gestures differ, probably their perspective
on the matter at hand is also different
- In Western cultures: body posture can also communicate attitude; in American, leaning
forward communicates attentiveness
- Western culture: pain is communicated by rigid muscles , flexed body, and cautious
movements
Communications that Combine Verbal and Nonverbal Elements: Warmth - CORRECT
ANSWER- Warmth can be communicated verbally and may be communicated
nonverbally such as by a pat on the shoulder
- Although warmth is a matter of perception, communication that focuses on human
needs is more likely to be related to warmth in the speaker
What are the six key guidelines for relating to patients from different cultures? -
CORRECT ANSWER1. Assess personal beliefs of persons from different cultures
2. Assess communication variables from a cultural perspective
3. Plan Care Based on the Communicated Needs and Cultural Background
4. Modify communication approaches to meet cultural needs
5. Understand that respect for the client and communicated needs is central to a
therapeutic relationship - listen
6. Communicate in a nonthreatening manner (begin interview in an unhurried manner,
general topics to begin with)
7. Use strategies to develop trust (avoid being too busy, not having time to listen, not
giving sufficient time for an answer)
8. Use validating techniques in communication (never pretend to understand)
