Two nurses, one male and one female, were discussing client assignment

QUESTION

Two nurses, one male and one female, were discussing client assignments. Which of the following best illustrates gender differences between these two colleagues?

a.
Male: “I think the client needs to have a nursing assistant assigned on a one-to-one basis.”
Female: “I agree with you.”
b.
Male: “I think the client is experiencing a loss related to the fact that he is no longer the breadwinner of the family.”
Female: “I think the client is grieving.”
c.
Male: “I wonder if the client has expressed to his family his feelings of loss.”
Female: “I think he is dealing with his feelings.”
d.
Male: “I plan to care for the client as part of my assignment—he will confide in me because I am a male.”
Female: “I am just as competent to care for the client as you are.”

ANSWER:

ANS: D
Personal versus contextual style is one form of gender difference in communication, with males using the role-centered contextual style, and females using the personal style stressing equality.