Solutions
30. Define cultural competence. Correct Answer -Ability of
providers and organizations to effectively deliver healthcare
services that meet the social, cultural, and linguistic needs of
patients
-Can help improve health outcomes
-Guides the nurse in understanding behavior and planning
appropriate approaches to patient needs
31. Describe nursing behaviors and attitudes that demonstrate
cultural competence. Correct Answer -Takes cultural
differences into consideration, are aware of potential "trouble
spots" that can occur, usually interpret patient behavior
accurately, and recognize problems that need to be managed.
-They realize that cultural norms must be included in plan of
care to prevent conflicts between nursing goals and
patient/family goals.
,32. Identify how culture affects personal beliefs about health and
illness. Correct Answer -Determines when one seeks health
and the type of practitioner consulted.
-Also prescribes customs of responding to the sick.
-Culture defines whether illness is seen as a punishment for
misdeeds or as the result of inadequate personal health practices.
-It influences whether one goes to an acupuncturist, a herbalist, a
folk healer, or a traditional health care provider such as
physicians and nurse practitioners.
33. Describe the authority of state boards of nursing to award
licenses to practice nursing and discipline nurses. Correct
Answer -SBNs have three functions that mirror those of the
federal and state governments:
-Executive, with the authority to administer the nursing practice
act.
-Legislative, with authority to adopt rules necessary to
implement the act (note that rules are different from laws, which
are made by the state's legislative body)
,-Judicial, with authority to deny, suspend, or revoke a license or
to otherwise discipline a licensee or to deny an application for
licensure.
-Each of these functions is as broad or limited as the state
legislature specifies in the nursing practice act and related laws.
-In most states SBNs have the authority to set and enforce
minimum criteria for nursing education programs.
-The most common reason nurses are disciplined by the SBNs is
for practicing while under the influence of alcohol or other
substance.
34. Explain the elements of malpractice and discuss common
reasons nurses are sued for malpractice. Correct Answer -
Malpractice is negligence applied to the acts of a professional.
In other words, malpractice occurs when a professional- for
example a nurse or a physician- fails to act as a reasonably
prudent professional would have acted under the same
circumstances. Malpractice does not have to be intentional
malpractice that is professional negligence may occur in two
ways, by commision - doing something that shouldn't have been
, done- and by omission- failing to do things that should have
been done
Six major categories of negligence that result in malpractice
lawsuit
1. Failure to follow standards of care, including failure to
Follow a physician's verbal or written orders
2. Failure to use equipment in a responsible manner, including
failure to
Place equipment properly during treatment
3. Failure to communicate, including failure to
Seek higher medical authorization
4. Failure to document, including failure to recognize the
patient's record
A patient's progress and response to treatment
5. Failure to assess and monitor, including failure to
Implement a plan of care.
6. Failure to act as a patient advocate, including failure to
Provide a safe environment
Common reasons nurses are sued for malpractice:
-Failure to follow standards of care