When interviewing a patient, the nurse must always take into consideration the patients culture.

When interviewing a patient, the nurse must always take into consideration the patients culture. Violating cultural norms may jeopardize a professional relationship. Because cultural beliefs vary from country to country and sometimes region to region, ask the person about culturally relevant aspects of male-female relationships at the beginning of the interview (Jarvis, 2016). In many cultures, it is not unusual for a female to refuse to be examined by a male and vice versa. When interviewing Mrs. Li, the nurse most consider the Asian culture. For example, in the Asian culture it is very common to share information among family members, good health is achieved through proper balance of yin and yang, diseases are classified as hot or cold, they may complain about drawing blood, and may not complain about what is bothering them. All these factors affect the interview by the nurse and the nurse must respect their beliefs (Fundamentals of Nursing, 2011). It is imperative that all nurses become culturally sensitive to all patients.

The abuse assessment screen is the oldest short domestic violence screening tool. It is still used today. The Abuse Assessment Screen was developed for the detection of abuse during pregnancy. It consists of five questions. The tool has been translated into six languages, and it also includes body maps for documentation of injuries. Here are the 5 questions asked during this screening:

1. Have you ever been emotionally or physically abused by your partner or someone important to you?

2. Within the last year, have you been hit, slapped, kicked, or otherwise physically hurt by someone?

3. Since you have been pregnant, were you hit, slapped, kicked, or otherwise physically hurt by someone?

4. Within the last year, has anyone forced you to have sexual activities?

5. Are you afraid of your partner or anyone you listed above?

Domestic violence is widely recognized to be a public health issue of epidemic proportions. One in four U.S. women will be abused by an intimate partner during her life-time (WHEC). If the nurse suspects that Mrs. Li has been abused, they have the right to provide Mrs. Li with information on how to get help. The nurse can give information on local resources or hotlines to call for help and assistance. Unlike child and elder abuse, it is not mandatory to report suspected domestic abuse in adult males and females. Many times, when there is abuse, the patients will deny it, make up stories, or fail to report it.

References

Taylor, Carol., Lillis, Carol., LeMone, Priscilla., Lynn, Pamela., (2011). Fundamentals of

Nursing. The Art and Science of Nursing Care. Seventh Edition. Wolters Kluwer

Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Womens Health and Education Center. Violence Against Women. Retrieved from:

http://www.womenshealthsection.com/content/vaw/vaw011.php3