The nurse wants to teach a child newly enrolled in English as a second language class about the importance of handwashing before meals and of not eating food dropped on the examination room floor. What is the best way to assimilate the nurse's cultural values about hygienic nutrition?

Question

1. Schedule a medical interpreter to accompany the client to his or her next visit.
2. Have the child repeat her or his interpretation of the information that was taught.
3. Provide written materials in English about hygiene and diet for the client to take home.
4. Have the nurse model proper handwashing before examining the child and throw out the dropped cookie.

Answer 1

2
Explanation:
1. In working with families with limited English proficiency, it is optimal to have a medical interpreter present for the entire visit. When teaching has been done, the nurse has a responsibility to assess client understanding; thus, an interpreter at the next visit will not help the nurse or the client now.
2. When an interpreter is not available, asking the client to repeat his or her understanding of what was taught reveals how concepts were understood.
3. Written materials in English hold minimal value for clients with limited understanding.
4. Assimilation is described as adopting and incorporating traits of the new culture within one's practices. Information must be understood before it is assimilated. The purpose of modeled behavior might be misunderstood if it is not accompanied by an explanation.