Nursing Exam Prep

NCLEX-RN: Cultural Awareness/Cultural Influences on Health practice questions

13 questions. Try each one first, then open the answer.

Practise these interactively

1Question

A transgender man is admitted with pneumonia. The registration record lists a feminine name and a female sex. Which action by the nurse is best?

  1. Use the name on the registration record until the client's legal name has been changed in the hospital registration system
  2. Avoid using any name or pronoun for the client during the stay
  3. Privately ask the client what name and pronouns he prefers, use them, and record them according to policy
  4. Ask about his surgical history to decide how he should be addressed
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C. Privately ask the client what name and pronouns he prefers, use them, and record them according to policy

Topic: respecting gender identity

Respectful care starts with asking the client how he wishes to be addressed, using that name and those pronouns, and recording them so that all staff do the same. The conversation is held privately to protect his privacy. Questions about surgery or anatomy are asked only when clinically needed.

Why the others are wrong

  • A – The registration name may not reflect his identity and would be hurtful; legal change is not required for preferred names.
  • B – Avoiding names and pronouns is impersonal and does not meet his needs.
  • D – A surgical history is not needed to decide how to address him and is an intrusive question.

Written for the Medical Exam YouTube channel and answered blind by a second AI model before publication.

2Question

A nurse interviews an older client from a Native American community. The client speaks softly, pauses often and looks down during most of the interview. Which interpretation by the nurse is most appropriate?

  1. The client is depressed and should be screened for suicide risk at once
  2. The client is uninterested and should be told that eye contact is needed for the interview
  3. The client does not understand English and needs an interpreter
  4. Limited eye contact can show respect in some cultures, so continue assessing and ask about the client's preferences
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D. Limited eye contact can show respect in some cultures, so continue assessing and ask about the client's preferences

Topic: culture and nonverbal communication

Eye contact, pauses and speech volume carry different meanings in different cultures, and avoiding direct eye contact can express respect. The nurse avoids assuming, keeps assessing for the client's actual needs, and asks the client how he prefers to communicate. Individuals vary, so cultural knowledge is a starting point and not a conclusion.

Why the others are wrong

  • A – Looking down and speaking softly alone do not indicate depression or suicide risk.
  • B – Demanding eye contact imposes the nurse's norms and may offend the client.
  • C – Nothing suggests that he does not understand; the assumption is unfounded.

Written for the Medical Exam YouTube channel and answered blind by a second AI model before publication.

3Question

A nurse is preparing to teach insulin injection to a client who speaks only Vietnamese. A qualified medical interpreter is present, and so is the client's 14-year-old daughter, who speaks both languages. Which actions by the nurse are appropriate?

Select all that apply.

  1. Face the client and speak to the client directly, saying 'you'.
  2. Ask the daughter to interpret, because the client is more comfortable with her.
  3. Use short sentences and pause after each one for interpretation.
  4. Say to the interpreter, 'Ask her whether she has ever injected herself.'
  5. Have the client explain and demonstrate the steps back through the interpreter.
Show the answers and explanation

Answers: A, C and E.

  • A – Face the client and speak to the client directly, saying 'you'.
  • C – Use short sentences and pause after each one for interpretation.
  • E – Have the client explain and demonstrate the steps back through the interpreter.

Topic: working with a medical interpreter

A trained medical interpreter is used for health teaching and consent. The nurse keeps the conversation with the client, uses plain short statements and confirms understanding by teach-back and return demonstration.

Why the others are wrong

  • B – A child or family member may leave out or change information, lacks medical vocabulary and compromises privacy.
  • D – Speaking about the client in the third person turns the conversation toward the interpreter and away from the client.

Written for the Medical Exam YouTube channel and answered blind by a second AI model before publication.

4Question

A woman who describes herself as an observant Muslim is admitted for abdominal surgery. She tells the nurse that she eats only halal food and is very uncomfortable being examined by men. Which actions by the nurse are appropriate?

Select all that apply.

  1. Ask the client which practices matter most to her during this stay and record them in the plan of care.
  2. Tell the client that the hospital cannot change its menu, so her family will have to bring every meal.
  3. Arrange for female staff to give intimate care when possible, and keep her covered as much as possible during examinations.
  4. Move all her daytime medications to the night without asking her, in case she is fasting.
  5. Direct questions about her care to her husband, because that is the custom in her culture.
Show the answers and explanation

Answers: A and C.

  • A – Ask the client which practices matter most to her during this stay and record them in the plan of care.
  • C – Arrange for female staff to give intimate care when possible, and keep her covered as much as possible during examinations.

Topic: dietary and modesty needs

Culturally responsive care starts from what the individual client says is important, not from assumptions about a group. The nurse asks, documents and then accommodates stated needs where it is safe to do so: here a suitable diet through the dietary service and same-gender caregivers with careful draping. Assuming fasting or assuming that a husband decides are stereotypes that bypass the client.

Why the others are wrong

  • B – Refusing without consulting dietary services fails to accommodate a stated need; family food may supplement but is not the only solution.
  • D – Changing medication times on an assumption, without asking the client or the provider, is both stereotyping and unsafe.
  • E – Assuming the husband makes her decisions is a stereotype and denies a competent adult her autonomy unless she asks for it.

Written for the Medical Exam YouTube channel and answered blind by a second AI model before publication.

5Question

An alert, oriented 78-year-old client has biopsy results showing cancer. Before the provider's visit, the client's son takes the nurse aside and says, 'In our family we do not tell elders this kind of news. Tell me, and we will decide what is best for him.' Which action by the nurse is most appropriate?

  1. Agree, and instruct the staff not to discuss the diagnosis with the client.
  2. Acknowledge the son's concern, then ask the client how much he wishes to know about his illness and whom he wants involved in decisions, and share his answer with the provider.
  3. Go to the client now and tell him the diagnosis, because he has a right to know.
  4. Tell the son that withholding a diagnosis is against the law and that nothing more can be discussed with him.
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B. Acknowledge the son's concern, then ask the client how much he wishes to know about his illness and whom he wants involved in decisions, and share his answer with the provider.

Topic: family request to withhold a diagnosis

A competent client has the right to information about his own health, and equally the right to decide how much he wants to hear and to hand decisions to family if that is his preference. The nurse neither joins in withholding nor forces disclosure: the nurse respects the family's concern, asks the client what he wants, and brings that to the provider, who is responsible for disclosing the diagnosis.

Why the others are wrong

  • A – Agreeing to withhold without asking the client takes away a competent adult's right to information and decision making.
  • C – Forcing the news on the client ignores his possible wish not to be told directly, oversteps the provider's role, and disregards the family.
  • D – A legalistic refusal dismisses the family's cultural concern and loses the chance to find out what the client wants.

Written for the Medical Exam YouTube channel and answered blind by a second AI model before publication.

6Question

On the first day after abdominal surgery a client lies very still with a calm face and answers 'It is fine' whenever asked about pain. The client's breathing is shallow, the heart rate has risen to 112/min, and the client refuses to get out of bed. A relative remarks that in their family people are brought up to bear pain without complaint. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate?

  1. Document that the client denies pain and withhold analgesia.
  2. Ask the relatives to let the staff know when the client is in pain.
  3. Describe what has been observed, ask the client to rate the pain on a scale and say what taking pain medication means to him or her, and explain that relief will make deep breathing and walking easier.
  4. Give the prescribed intravenous opioid now, because the physical signs show that the client is in pain.
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C. Describe what has been observed, ask the client to rate the pain on a scale and say what taking pain medication means to him or her, and explain that relief will make deep breathing and walking easier.

Topic: cultural differences in pain expression

How pain is shown is shaped by culture and upbringing; a stoic client may be in severe pain without grimacing or asking for help. Self-report remains the standard, so when behavior and physiological signs do not fit the words, the nurse assesses further in a respectful way, explores what the client believes about pain and analgesics, and links pain relief to recovery so that the client can make an informed choice.

Why the others are wrong

  • A – Taking 'fine' at face value ignores clear signs of unrelieved pain and leaves the client at risk of atelectasis and immobility complications.
  • B – Pain is assessed with the client; relatives who share the same value of stoicism are unlikely to report it and are not a substitute for self-report.
  • D – Giving an opioid to a competent client who has not agreed to it overrides the client's right to refuse; assessment and teaching come first.

Written for the Medical Exam YouTube channel and answered blind by a second AI model before publication.

7Question

A nurse is admitting a client who recently immigrated. The client declines several treatments and asks that family members be present for all decisions. Which question by the nurse best helps assess the client's cultural beliefs about health care?

  1. Is there a religion you belong to that does not allow you to have these treatments or tests done?
  2. What beliefs or practices matter to you and your family when someone is ill, and how can we respect them?
  3. Why are you refusing the care that the health care provider has recommended for you today?
  4. Which country are you from, and how long have you lived here in the United States?
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B. What beliefs or practices matter to you and your family when someone is ill, and how can we respect them?

Topic: assessing cultural beliefs

An open-ended question that invites the client to describe the beliefs and practices that matter to the family respects the client's perspective and avoids stereotyping. Closed or why-questions assume reasons and can sound accusing, and country of origin alone does not describe an individual's beliefs.

Why the others are wrong

  • A – This is a closed question that assumes religion is the reason and may miss the real concern.
  • C – A 'why' question sounds like criticism and can make the client defensive.
  • D – Place of origin does not tell the nurse about this client's personal beliefs and practices.

Written for the Medical Exam YouTube channel and answered blind by a second AI model before publication.

8Question

A nurse is caring for a client from a cultural background different from her own who has been told to start insulin. Which question best helps the nurse understand the client's health beliefs?

  1. Do you understand that you must follow the doctor's plan exactly as it is written?
  2. Don't you agree that insulin is the best option for someone with your condition?
  3. What do you think caused your diabetes, and what worries you about treatment?
  4. Do the other members of your family usually believe in modern medicine and hospitals?
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C. What do you think caused your diabetes, and what worries you about treatment?

Topic: eliciting health beliefs

Open-ended questions about the client's own explanation of the illness and concerns about treatment bring out beliefs that affect adherence. Asking rather than assuming is the basis of culturally responsive care.

Why the others are wrong

  • A – A yes-or-no question about compliance does not reveal the client's beliefs and may feel like an order.
  • B – A leading question pushes the client to agree and closes discussion.
  • D – This assumes the family's beliefs match the client's and uses a stereotyping frame.

Written for the Medical Exam YouTube channel and answered blind by a second AI model before publication.

9Question

A nurse uses a qualified medical interpreter by video to obtain consent from a client who speaks little English. Which technique is correct?

  1. Face the video screen and say 'ask her' before each question for the interpreter to relay
  2. Speak quickly to finish within the scheduled time so the video session is not extended
  3. Give the whole explanation in one long passage and let the interpreter summarize it
  4. Look and speak directly to the client, use short sentences and pause for interpretation
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D. Look and speak directly to the client, use short sentences and pause for interpretation

Topic: working with a medical interpreter

Speaking directly to the client, in short segments, lets the interpreter convey the message accurately and keeps the relationship between nurse and client. Consent requires that information be understood.

Why the others are wrong

  • A – Addressing the interpreter instead of the client weakens the nurse-client connection.
  • B – Rapid speech makes accurate interpretation harder and risks an invalid consent.
  • C – Long passages are likely to be shortened, and parts of the information may be lost.

Written for the Medical Exam YouTube channel and answered blind by a second AI model before publication.

10Question

Which statement by a nurse best reflects cultural humility when beginning care for a client from another culture?

  1. I have cared for many clients of your background, so I already know what you will need.
  2. In this hospital, every client follows the same routines, and we do not make exceptions.
  3. Tell me what matters to you in your care, and correct me if I get something wrong.
  4. Your family can tell me what you would prefer, so you do not need to go to any trouble.
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: C. Tell me what matters to you in your care, and correct me if I get something wrong.

Topic: cultural humility

Cultural humility is an ongoing commitment to self-reflection, learning from the client and recognizing power differences. The nurse asks about the client's priorities and accepts correction.

Why the others are wrong

  • A – This assumes the client fits a group stereotype.
  • B – Rigid insistence ignores individual needs and values.
  • D – Speaking through family overlooks the client's own voice.

Written for the Medical Exam YouTube channel and answered blind by a second AI model before publication.

11Question

A client with hypertension, who is oriented to the present, tells the nurse that regular exercise is not a priority. Which teaching approach is most likely to be effective?

  1. Describe the stroke and kidney damage that may occur many years from now if pressure stays high
  2. Emphasize benefits the client will notice soon, such as better energy, and set short-term goals
  3. Give a detailed plan for the next five years with milestones at each annual visit
  4. Explain that tradition and family history show exercise has always helped relatives live well
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B. Emphasize benefits the client will notice soon, such as better energy, and set short-term goals

Topic: time orientation and teaching

A present-oriented person focuses on immediate needs, so teaching works best when it links behavior to benefits that can be felt soon and uses short-term goals.

Why the others are wrong

  • A – Distant consequences carry little weight for a present-oriented person.
  • C – Long-range plans do not fit a present orientation.
  • D – Appeals to the past fit a past-oriented person.

Written for the Medical Exam YouTube channel and answered blind by a second AI model before publication.

12Question

The grandmother of a client with depression states that the illness is caused by evil spirits and refuses to allow treatment. Which nurse response reflects the current understanding of mental illness?

  1. Explain that mental illness results from interacting biological, psychological and social factors, and respectfully ask about the family's beliefs
  2. Agree that spiritual causes must be treated first, and delay any medical treatment indefinitely
  3. Tell the grandmother that her beliefs are superstition and should be ignored by the family
  4. Explain that mental illness results from an imbalance of the body's fluids
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A. Explain that mental illness results from interacting biological, psychological and social factors, and respectfully ask about the family's beliefs

Topic: biopsychosocial model versus traditional explanations

The biopsychosocial model explains mental disorders as the result of interacting genetic, neurobiological, psychological and social influences. Respectful exploration of family beliefs allows culturally sensitive care without abandoning evidence-based treatment.

Why the others are wrong

  • B – Delaying treatment indefinitely endangers a client with depression, who may be at risk of suicide.
  • C – Dismissing beliefs is disrespectful and will likely end cooperation.
  • D – A fluid-imbalance explanation is an ancient theory that has been replaced by modern models.

Written for the Medical Exam YouTube channel and answered blind by a second AI model before publication.

13Question

A widow tells the nurse that she sometimes sees and speaks with her late husband, which is a comforting experience accepted in her community. She has no distress or impairment. Which action avoids pathologizing a normal cultural experience?

  1. Document 'visual hallucinations' and request an antipsychotic right away to treat the new psychotic symptoms
  2. Ask what the experience means to her, assess distress and function, and document in her own words
  3. Tell her these experiences are not real and she should stop describing them
  4. Transfer her to the psychiatric unit for observation
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B. Ask what the experience means to her, assess distress and function, and document in her own words

Topic: avoiding pathologizing normal experiences

Culturally sanctioned and bereavement-related experiences are common and are not disorders when they cause no distress or impairment. To pathologize is to label a normal variation as abnormal; the nurse explores meaning and function and records the client's own words.

Why the others are wrong

  • A – Labeling the experience a hallucination and starting medication treats a normal experience as illness.
  • C – Contradicting her disrespects her culture and may end trust.
  • D – Transfer is not justified in the absence of distress, impairment or risk.

Written for the Medical Exam YouTube channel and answered blind by a second AI model before publication.

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