Question

Which statement by the nurse during a pain assessment demonstrates the best understanding of the need to avoid stereotypes when working with a member of an Asian cultural group who has a history of rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer 1

A nurse best avoids stereotypes in pain assessment for an Asian patient with rheumatoid arthritis by asking about their personal experience with pain and its impact on daily life, without making cultural assumptions.

Step-by-step explanation:

During a pain assessment for a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a nurse shows the best understanding of avoiding stereotypes by acknowledging individual experiences and not making assumptions based on the patient's Asian cultural background. The nurse might say, "Tell me about your pain and how it affects your daily life," which demonstrates an approach that is sensitive to the patient's personal experience without assuming that the patient's cultural background dictates their response to pain. By engaging with the patient in this manner, the nurse avoids reinforcing stereotypes, such as the belief that some cultures are more stoic or less likely to report pain compared to others, which could influence the quality of care the patient receives.

This approach aligns with the broader understanding that a medical system may harbor biases, and emphasizes the need for healthcare professionals to treat each patient as an individual rather than as a representative of a particular demographic group. It also addresses the important concern that patients from minority groups, such as Asians, may receive less care because their testimony about pain is not taken as seriously, a disparity that needs to be actively countered in clinical practice.