CASE STUDY
Susie Chung, a 24-year-old Chinese American, is admitted with right-lower-quadrant abdominal pain. Within a few hours Miss Chung is taken to surgery for an appendectomy. When she returns to the floor, her vital signs remain stable. The nurse notes that even though Miss Chung is rapidly recovering, her immediate and extended family appear to hover about her. The nurse also notes that it is very difficult to administer nursing care because of the number of family members who are keeping a constant vigil.
Clinical decision making
1. List at least three social organization factors that influence the interactions between members of the same ethnic group or members of varying ethnic groups.
2. List at least two social organization factors that contribute to the development of cultural behavior.
3. Explain the role that religion may play for Susie Chung with regard to sociopsychological adaptation to her illness.
4. List at least three nursing interventions that minimize the confusion caused by the large number of family members who are keeping constant vigil in Susie Chung’s room.
5. List at least two reasons why the family members of Susie Chung have congregated in the hospital room.
6. List at least three factors that would support Susie Chung’s family being defined as a behavioral system.
7. List at least two imaginary and two real boundaries that would be found within Susie Chung’s family structure.
8. List at least two roles that Susie Chung may take on in a social context within her family structure.
