As a nursing student and nurse, you will encounter many patients from diverse cultures. When caring for a culturally diverse patient, what initial question can you ask your patient that will best assist you to improve your cultural competency?

Question

a. "Can you tell me about your culture and cultural practices?"
b. "Do you understand how we do things here in the United States?"
c. "What matters most to you about your illness and treatment?"
d. "Can you please make me a list of your cultural preferences?"

Answer 1

C
If there were only one intervention or question the nurse could use to improve cultural competence, it should be to routinely ask patients what matters most to them in their illness and treatment. No matter how busy the nurse is, she can find time to do this. From that point, she can use this information to incorporate cultural needs and preferences into the patient's plan of care. Each of the other questions can be asked of the patient; however, the first question that will elicit the most information is to ask the patient what matters most to him. The other three questions can follow in assisting to formulate the plan of care.