NCNZ Cultural Safety & Māori Health in Nursing 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When the NCNZ refers to 'culturally safe practice' in its competencies, what is the key requirement of the nurse?
- Reflect on own cultural identity and biases, and ensure practice does not diminish or disempower the patient's cultural identity (Correct answer)
- Learn facts about Māori culture and apply them to all Māori patients
- Ensure the waiting room has posters in te reo Māori
- Attend one annual cultural competency training session
Correct answer: Reflect on own cultural identity and biases, and ensure practice does not diminish or disempower the patient's cultural identity
The NCNZ defines cultural safety as requiring nurses to examine their own cultural values and assumptions, recognise the power differential in the nurse-patient relationship, and ensure their practice does not marginalise or disempower patients.
Question 2: A nurse is providing discharge education to a Māori patient about managing diabetes. Which approach is most consistent with culturally safe practice?
- Ask the patient what they already know, explore their cultural context and food practices, involve whānau if appropriate, and tailor education accordingly (Correct answer)
- Provide a standard printed handout and ask the patient to read it at home
- Assume the patient knows the basics because they have had diabetes for years
- Provide all information in one long session to be efficient
Correct answer: Ask the patient what they already know, explore their cultural context and food practices, involve whānau if appropriate, and tailor education accordingly
Culturally safe diabetes education explores the patient's existing knowledge, cultural food practices, and involves whānau. Information is delivered in a culturally relevant context, building on the patient's strengths and respecting their values.
Question 3: A nurse is caring for a patient who has died. The whānau requests that the body not be moved until karakia has been performed and all whānau have gathered. What should the nurse do?
- Facilitate the whānau's request as much as operationally possible — tikanga around death is a key cultural safety obligation (Correct answer)
- Move the body to the mortuary immediately as per standard procedure
- Explain that hospital policy requires the body to be moved within 1 hour
- Ask the charge nurse to manage the situation without nurse involvement
Correct answer: Facilitate the whānau's request as much as operationally possible — tikanga around death is a key cultural safety obligation
Tikanga Māori around mate (death) includes karakia, keeping whānau present, and specific handling practices. Facilitating these practices is a cultural safety requirement. Nurses should liaise with the Māori health team and work flexibly within hospital constraints.
Question 4: Which Māori health model uses the metaphor of a canoe to describe the journey to health?
- Te Pae Māhutonga (Correct answer)
- Te Whare Tapa Whā
- Meihana model
- Hui Process
Correct answer: Te Pae Māhutonga
Te Pae Māhutonga uses the metaphor of the Southern Cross star constellation and a voyaging waka (canoe) as a health promotion framework for Māori. It emphasises community participation, cultural identity, and leadership in health.
Question 5: A Māori patient refuses a proposed surgery citing whānau not yet consulted. How should the nurse respond?
- Support the patient's decision, provide written information, and schedule a follow-up appointment that accommodates whānau involvement (Correct answer)
- Document the refusal and discharge planning immediately
- Escalate to social work to override the patient's decision
- Proceed with pre-operative preparation while the discussion continues
Correct answer: Support the patient's decision, provide written information, and schedule a follow-up appointment that accommodates whānau involvement
Whānau-centred decision making is fundamental to Māori health values. Facilitating whānau involvement before major decisions respects autonomy, tikanga, and the NZ Code of Rights. The nurse advocates for a process that enables this.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the NCNZ's requirement for nurses regarding health disparities for Māori?
- Nurses are required to contribute actively to reducing health disparities for Māori as part of their professional obligations under Domain 4 (Correct answer)
- Addressing health disparities is the sole responsibility of public health nurses
- Nurses need only be aware of disparities, not act on them
- Reducing disparities is the responsibility of management, not frontline nurses
Correct answer: Nurses are required to contribute actively to reducing health disparities for Māori as part of their professional obligations under Domain 4
Domain 4 of the NCNZ Competencies requires ALL registered nurses to actively contribute to reducing health disparities for Māori — this is a professional obligation, not optional. This includes culturally safe practice, advocacy, and working with Māori health workers.
NCNZ Cultural Safety & Māori Health in Nursing 2
When the NCNZ refers to 'culturally safe practice' in its competencies, what is the key requirement of the nurse?