Health Disparities

Health Disparities

Concept 54: Health Disparities

Giddens: Concepts for Nursing Practice, 2nd Edition MULTIPLE CHOICE

1.             The nurse is caring for a Chinese patient diagnosed with cancer who is suffering from pain, yet refuses analgesia administration. What type of health disparities is this patient exhibiting?

a.             Avoidable and acceptable

b.             Avoidable and unacceptable

c.             Unavoidable and acceptable

d.             Unavoidable and unacceptable

ANS:       B

Health disparities that are avoidable and unacceptable unfortunately occur in healthcare settings and these are the targets of interventions. For example, a disparity in cancer pain management exists between Asians and Whites. This difference is attributable to Asian cultural values and attitudes related to cancer pain and pain medication distinguished from the cultural values of Whites. The disparity is avoidable if Asian cancer patients are adequately educated and instructed on cancer pain management strategies including pain medication and complementary and alternative medicine. Also, this disparity is unacceptable because this gives an unnecessary burden of pain to Asian cancer patients that could be easily managed by using existing strategies.

REF:       Page 504 OBJ:       NCLEX® Client Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment

2.             An experienced nurse tells the student nurse, “I have found that most Hispanic immigrants live in unsanitary conditions but are hard workers.” How should the student nurse best classify this statement?

a.             Stereotyping

b.             Prejudice

c.             Discrimination

d.             Misinformed

ANS:       A

Stereotyping often leads to biased clinical decision-making. Stereotyping refers to the process by which people use social categories (e.g., gender or race/ethnicity) in acquiring, processing, and recalling information about others. Both implicit and explicit negative attitudes and stereotypes of healthcare providers significantly shape interactions with patients, influence how information is recalled, and guide expectations and inferences in systematic ways. Stereotyping often occurs subconsciously, unlike prejudice or discrimination. Prejudice, which refers to unjustified negative attitudes based on a person’s group membership, is another source of biased clinical decision-making. Discrimination refers to the actual mistreatment of individuals based on race, gender, ethnicity, etc. The nurse is not misinformed as the nurse has practiced for some time and made a statement based on observation and experience.

REF:       Page 506 OBJ:       NCLEX® Client Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment

3.             Which type of health disparities are most frequently encountered by nurses in clinical and community

settings?

a.             Avoidable and acceptable

b.             Avoidable and unacceptable

c.             Unavoidable and acceptable

d.             Unavoidable and unacceptable

ANS:       B

Although there are many types of health disparities, the avoidable and unacceptable health disparities are the ones that healthcare providers, including nurses, frequently encounter in clinical and community settings. Furthermore, these are the health disparities that healthcare providers need to target to intervene.

REF:   Page 504 OBJ:   NCLEX® Client Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment

4.             The nurse is caring for diverse population groups at a health clinic. Which of the following patients demonstrates a potential health disparity group?

a.             A 26-year-old woman who is receiving follow-up after a car accident. b. A 30-year-old immigrant who does not speak English.

c.             A 28-year-old man who needs a tetanus booster.

d.             A 12-month-old with an appointment for immunizations.

ANS:      B