Nursing Fundamentals
Sample Question

Culturally competent care focuses on understanding and recognizing clients as unique individuals with diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. To provide culturally competent care, the nurse should seek to develop a genuine respect for the client's culture and religion and look for ways to incorporate alternative medicine practices in the client's care.

Discussion regarding cultural practices and preferences with clients and caregivers should be initiated by the nurse upon admission and as needed for clarity and understanding (Option 4). An individualized care plan should be created with the client and caregivers to determine the client's specific preferences and increase understanding within the health care team.

(Options 1 and 2) Dermatological findings may be a byproduct of a cultural health practice (eg, coining, cupping); the nurse should examine the client's skin without judgment. Assessment findings should be objectively (factually, without personal opinion) documented in the client's medical record. Objective documentation increases understanding within the health care team about the client's specific health practices.

(Option 3) The nurse should not assume that a client follows the same health practices as others from the same culture. Instead, the nurse should view each client as a unique individual and ask the client about specific preferences.

Educational objective:
Culturally competent care focuses on understanding and recognizing clients as unique individuals with diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. Cultural practices and preferences should be reviewed with clients and caregivers upon admission and as needed for clarity and understanding.