Question

A client doesn't make eye contact with the nurse during an interview. The nurse suspects that the client's behavior has a cultural basis. What should the nurse do first?

1. Read several articles about the client's culture.
2. Ask staff members of a similar culture about the client's behavior.
3. Observe how the client and the client's family and friends interact with one another and with other staff members.
4. Accept the client's behavior because it's probably culturally-based.

Answer 1

The nurse should first observe the client's interactions with others to understand if the lack of eye contact is culturally based.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a nurse suspects that a client's lack of eye contact during an interview has a cultural basis, the first step the nurse should take is to observe the client's interactions with family, friends, and other staff members. This observation can provide contextual insights into whether the behavior is consistent within the client’s cultural or social group. It is not immediately necessary to read several articles or ask staff members, as direct observation can be more immediate and pertinent. Accepting the client's behavior without understanding its context may result in miscommunication or misunderstanding. This approach aligns with ethnographic research practices that emphasize participant observation and understanding behavior within cultural contexts.