A home health care nurse is visiting the home of a patient whose culture is totally unfamiliar to the nurse. What action by the nurse is best?
a. Perform nursing care with a high degree of professionalism.
b. Watch family interaction patterns closely and try to copy them.
c. Tell the family you need to learn about their culture.
d. Apologize after performing tasks that make the patient uncomfortable.
ANS: B
Nurses should observe family dynamics carefully, including communication, and try to copy them as much as possible. For instance, if the family does not make eye contact with the nurse, he/she should avoid trying to make direct eye contact with the family. The other options are reasonable, although telling the family you need to learn about their culture may place the burden of educating the nurse on them.
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