The nurse cares for a client in a community health clinic. The nurse is uncomfortable because the client remains very close when communicating. This discomfort makes it difficult to concentrate on the interview

Question

When the nurse backs away, the client stops speaking and leaves. This is an example of:
A) Differing views of personal space
B) Treatment limitation
C) Aggressive behavior
D) Cultural bias

Answer 1

Ans: A
Feedback:
Nonverbal language varies significantly with culture, and misinterpretation of body language, including use of personal space, can lead to clinical misunderstandings. Clients from cultures in which people normally stand close together (e.g., Italian and many Latin American cultures) may feel that a nurse who sits or stands further away is cold and unfriendly. However, people from a Nordic-influenced culture may be more comfortable with larger spaces between people.