A nurse is describing and demonstrating the technique for emptying a Vietnamese patient's surgical drain, knowing that the patient will soon be discharged home with the drain in place

Question

As the nurse is explaining, the patient laughs at times that appear unrelated to what the nurse is saying or doing. How should the nurse best understand the patient's behavior?
A) The patient's sense of humor is culturally mediated and may be unfamiliar to the nurse.
B) The patient may believe that she has sufficient knowledge and skill to empty the drain.
C) The patient may be unable to fully comprehend the information the nurse is trying to convey.
D) Individuals from the patient's culture may not normally explain and demonstrate at the same time.

Answer 1

Ans: C
Feedback:
Inappropriate laughter can signal a lack of understanding. This is more likely than the presence of a culture-specific sense of humor in this particular context. It is unlikely that there is a prohibition against simultaneous explaining and demonstrating. Laughing is unlikely to suggest that teaching and learning are unnecessary.