Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017) - Overview of Transcultural Nursing Related

Review Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017) - Overview of Transcultural Nursing related questions and content

Which cultural group would most likely consider the direct eye contact impolite?

  • A. African Americans
  • B. Hispanics
  • C. Canadians
  • D. Native Americans
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Eye contact is a culturally determined behavior. Although most nurses have been taught to maintain eye contact when speaking with patients, some people from certain cultural backgrounds may interpret this behavior differently. For example, some Asians, Native Americans, Indo-Chinese, Arabs, and Appalachians may consider direct eye contact impolite or aggressive, and they may avert their own eyes when talking with nurses and others whom they perceive to be in positions of authority.