Nokea
A nurse is caring for an in-patient client in the hospital who is from another country and who fasts for temporary periods in order to promote his own spiritual growth. The nurse responds by saying, 'You need to eat something while you are here. Food and proper nutrition are extremely important for your health.' What social philosophy is the nurse demonstrating?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The nurse's response reflects ethnocentrism, a belief that one's own cultural practices are superior to others. Ethnocentrism involves viewing one's own culture as the standard by which all others should be judged. In this scenario, the nurse's insistence that the client needs to eat disregards the client's cultural and spiritual beliefs, considering only the nurse's perspective as valid.
B: Relativism is the recognition and acceptance of cultural differences without judgment. The nurse's behavior does not align with relativism as there is a lack of understanding and acceptance of the client's cultural practices.
C: Stereotyping involves making assumptions about individuals based on predefined characteristics. While the nurse may have made assumptions, the core issue in this scenario is the belief in the superiority of one's own cultural practices.
D: Xenocentrism is the opposite of ethnocentrism, where one perceives other cultures as superior to their own. The nurse's actions are not driven by a belief in the superiority of the client's culture but rather by a belief in the superiority of her own cultural practices.