RN Nursing · Cultural Competence and Health Disparities · Practice question
A nurse is providing teaching to a client who speaks a different language than the nurse and an interpreter is present. Which of the following findings should the nurse document that shows the client understands the teaching?
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Client has no questions for interpreter.
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Client makes eye contact with the nurse frequently.
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Client smiles and nods at the nurse.
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✓
Client points to objects on printed resources when nurse is speaking.
Answer & explanation
Correct: Client points to objects on printed resources when nurse is speaking.
When a language barrier exists and an interpreter is present, the nurse needs concrete evidence of comprehension rather than social cues that may simply reflect politeness or cultural norms. Pointing to objects on printed educational resources while the nurse is speaking demonstrates active engagement with the teaching material and shows the client is connecting verbal instruction to visual representations, which is a functional indicator of understanding. Having no questions for the interpreter does not confirm comprehension; the client may not understand enough to formulate questions, or cultural norms may discourage asking questions of authority figures. Making frequent eye contact may reflect attentiveness or cultural custom but does not verify that the client understood the content. Smiling and nodding are common social responses that many clients from various cultures use as a sign of politeness or acknowledgment, not necessarily as confirmation of understanding. Documentation of comprehension requires an observable, task-oriented behavior linked directly to the teaching content, and pointing to relevant objects in printed materials best fulfills that criterion.
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