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A nurse resigns from a position in a hospital to accept a job in a community setting. After starting the new job, the nurse feels helpless and confused, wondering if this was the right career choice. Which of the following terms best describes how the nurse is feeling?

a.Cultural conflict
b.Cultural relativism
c.Culture shock
d.Culture brokering

User Nicecatch
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Final answer:

The nurse is experiencing 'culture shock,' a feeling of disorientation due to the change from a hospital to a community setting. Such a transition often requires time and patience to adapt to new norms and practices. Support from the new environment can facilitate this adjustment period.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term that best describes the nurse's feelings after moving from a hospital position to a community setting is culture shock. This term, coined by Anthropologist Kalervo Oberg in 1960, refers to the disorientation and frustration people feel when they are suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture or social environment. The nurse's experience is similar to travelers who find themselves in a new country, as she is facing new rules, practices, and potentially different values in the community healthcare setting compared to the hospital. This transition can be stressful and may lead to feelings of helplessness and confusion as the nurse adjusts to the new environment. Culture shock can lead to personal growth and a deeper understanding of different cultural practices as the individual adapts over time.

Adapting to a New Culture

When individuals are exposed to a new cultural setting, it is natural for them to experience culture shock. For the nurse, adapting to the community setting after working in a hospital requires time to learn about this new culture. During this process, support from the community and colleagues can make the transition smoother. It's part of learning and growing within a professional environment, and with resilience and openness to change, the nurse can eventually overcome these feelings.

User Glenn Bech
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