Key Elements of Cultural Competence
Key Elements of Cultural Competence ( 5 Questions)
A client from Mexico is admitted to the hospital with abdominal pain and fever. The nurse notices that the client has a red string tied around his wrist. What should the nurse do?
Cut off the string and dispose of it. - This is not a culturally competent action, as it may offend or distress the client, who may view the string as a protective or healing object. The nurse should not remove or discard any cultural or religious items without the client's consent.
The nurse should ask the client about the meaning and purpose of the string, as it may be a cultural or religious symbol or practice that is important to the client. The nurse should respect and support the client's cultural beliefs and practices, as long as they do not interfere with the medical treatment or pose a risk to safety.
Ignore the string and focus on the physical assessment. - This is not a culturally competent action, as it may indicate a lack of interest or respect for the client's culture. The nurse should acknowledge and inquire about any cultural or religious items or practices that are relevant to the client's care.
Report the string to the infection control team. - This is not a culturally competent action, as it may imply that the string is a source of infection or contamination, which may not be true. The nurse should not report any cultural or religious items or practices without first assessing their significance and impact on health.
Rationale: The nurse should ask the client about the meaning and purpose of the string, as it may be a cultural or religious symbol or practice that is important to the client. The nurse should respect and support the client's cultural beliefs and practices, as long as they do not interfere with the medical treatment or pose a risk to safety.
Incorrect options:
A) Cut off the string and dispose of it. - This is not a culturally competent action, as it may offend or distress the client, who may view the string as a protective or healing object. The nurse should not remove or discard any cultural or religious items without the client's consent.
C) Ignore the string and focus on the physical assessment. - This is not a culturally competent action, as it may indicate a lack of interest or respect for the client's culture. The nurse should acknowledge and inquire about any cultural or religious items or practices that are relevant to the client's care.
D) Report the string to the infection control team. - This is not a culturally competent action, as it may imply that the string is a source of infection or contamination, which may not be true. The nurse should not report any cultural or religious items or practices without first assessing their significance and impact on health.