A nursing student is preparing a presentation on cultural competence for a group of fellow nursing students. Which of the following statements should the student include in their explanation to best describe cultural competence in nursing?

A. SaO₂ 94%. An oxygen saturation of 94% is within the normal range and does not indicate respiratory depression, which is a primary concern with morphine. A more significant drop in oxygen saturation would be a greater cause for concern.
B. Respiratory rate 8/min. This is an adverse effect of morphine. Opioids like morphine can cause respiratory depression, and a respiratory rate below 12 breaths per minute is considered concerning. A rate of 8 breaths per minute requires immediate intervention, such as administering naloxone if necessary.
C. Sleepy, but arousing when her name is called. Mild sedation is an expected side effect of morphine. As long as the client easily wakes up to verbal stimuli, this does not indicate significant opioid toxicity. However, if sedation deepens to unresponsiveness, it would be a concern.
D. Pain level of 6 on a scale from 0 to 10. This indicates that the morphine has not fully relieved the client’s pain, but it is not an adverse effect. The nurse may need to reassess pain management, but the priority is monitoring for respiratory depression.

A. Avoid standing in front of the client while speaking. This is incorrect because standing in front of the client allows them to see the nurse’s facial expressions and lip movements, which can aid in understanding. Good lighting and face-to-face positioning improve communication.
B. Speak loudly and slowly to the client to ensure they can hear you clearly. Speaking loudly can distort sounds, making it harder for hearing-impaired clients to understand speech. Instead, the nurse should speak clearly at a moderate pace and use other communication aids, such as written instructions.
C. Use written communication to supplement verbal instructions and ensure the client understands the information. This is the best approach, as written instructions help reinforce spoken communication, ensuring the client fully understands important details. This is especially useful for clients with significant hearing loss.
D. Use gestures and non-verbal cues only, without speaking, as the client is able to read lips effectively. While gestures and facial expressions help, not all hearing-impaired clients read lips fluently. Relying solely on non-verbal cues may lead to miscommunication. A combination of verbal, written, and visual communication is more effective.