Interview Techniques/Health History

Question 1

Define Subjective Data.

Answer 1

What the person says about himself/herself. This is the first indication of perceived health.

Question 2

The nurse controls the external environment before a patient interview by…

Answer 2

Providing privacy

Refusing interruptions

Controlling the physical environment

Question 3

The nurse will control the physical environment by…

Answer 3

Providing comfortable room temperature

Providing adequate lighting

Limiting noise/distractions such as TV, cell phones

Providing eye level seating with no barriers

Question 4

Define open-ended questions. Provide an example.

Answer 4

Open-ended questions requires a narrative.

A broad topic statement.

An example would be…“Tell me more about that” or “What brings you to the clinic today?”

Question 5

Define closed-ended questions. Provide an example.

Answer 5

Closed-ended questions ask for very specific information.

Usually a “yes” “no” or two-word answer.

Used to fill in details or when collecting specific facts.

An example would be…“Do you have a history of heart disease?” or “What type of diabetes do you have?”

Question 6

This communication technique allows patients time to think and organize thoughts without interruption from the nurse.

Answer 6

Silence

Question 7

This communication technique focuses attention on phrases by repeating the patients words.

Answer 7

Reflection

Question 8

Name the therapeutic communication demonstrated below.

Answer 8

Empathy

Recognizes a feeling and puts it into words.

“This is hard for you” is an empathetic response

Question 9

Name the therapeutic communication demonstrated below.

Answer 9

Facilitation

Phrases such as “go on” and “ummmmm” encourage patients to continue

Question 10

This communication technique helps clear up confusing phrases by the patient during the interview process.

Answer 10

Clarification

Question 11

This therapeutic technique is used when actions, feelings, or statements need to be focused on.

Answer 11

Confrontation

Can point out a discrepency or a patient’s affect

Might be uncomfortable for the nurse and patient

Question 12

Define interpretation.

Answer 12

Not a direct observation but rather a conclusion made by the nurses.

Question 13

Define explanation

Answer 13

A therapeutic communication technique that shares facts/objective information with your patient.

Question 14

Define summary

Answer 14

A therapeutic communication technique summarizing what the patient has told the nurse during the interview process.

It allows the patient to correct any misinformation the nurse has collected

Question 15

Provide an example of nontherapeutic communication for false reassurance

Answer 15

Example: “Don’t worry…I am sure that lump in your breast is not cancer.”

Breaks down communication by trivializing feelings.

Denies any further discussion on the subject

Question 16

Provide an example of nontherapeutic communication for giving unwanted advice.

Answer 16

Example: “If I were you, I would not do chemotherapy.”

Shifts the decision making process from the patient to the nurse.

Question 17

Provide an example of nontherapeutic communication for using authority.

Answer 17

Example: “The ocologist knows best.”

Promotes dependency on the health care provider and encourages the feelings of inferiority.

Question 18

Provide an example of nontherapeutic communication for using avoidance language.

Answer 18

Example: “I am sorry, but your sister has passed.”

Avoids reality

Better to use the words, in this case, “I am sorry, but your sister has died.”

Question 19

Provide an example of nontherapeutic communication for engaging distancing.

Answer 19

Example: “There is a spot on the left lung.”

Uses impersonal speech between a perceived threat and the patient

Better to say: “There is a spot on your left lung.”

Question 20

Provide an example of nontherapeutic communication for using professional jargon.

Answer 20

Example: “Your paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea is atypical.”

Adjust your vocabulary to the patient to avoid condescension.

Question 21

Provide an example of nontherapeutic communication for biased questioning.

Answer 21

Example: “You don’t take drugs, do you?”

The implication is that one answer is better than another.

Question 22

True/False: Talking to much is helpful during the interview process. Explain your answer.

Answer 22

False: This gives the interviewer a false sense of helpfulness.

Talking too much does not meet the patient’s needs.

Question 23

True/False: Asking a patient “Why?” is an appropriate therapeutic technique. Explain your answer.

Answer 23

False

Implies blame and will put your patient on the defensive, impeding communication

Question 24

Define positive nonverbal messaging. Provide examples.

Answer 24

These are nonverbal messages that show attentiveness, acceptance, and is productive at moving the relationship forward.

Examples:

Relaxed open posture

Leaning slightly toward person

Appropriate eye contact, smiling, touch

Question 25

Define negative nonverbal messaging. Provide examples.

Answer 25

These are nonverbal messages that inattentive, nonproductive, and defeating to the relationship.

Examples:

Tense posture/standing during interview

Avoiding eye contact

Distracting gestures: finger pointing, looking at watch

Inappropriate touch

Question 26

Define objective data.

Answer 26

What the nurse notices or information collected.

Example: Vital signs, general survey, height

Question 27

Define the components of “symptom summary” using the PQRSTU mneumonic.

Answer 27

P: provocative or palliative…“What causes this sympton?” “What makes it worse/better?”

Q: quality or quantity…“What does the symptom look like, feel like, sound like?”

R: Region or radiation…“Where is this symptom?” “Does this symptom spread anywhere?”
S: Severity…“Rate on a scale of 1-10 of symptom intensity.”

T: Timing…Ask about onset/duration/frequency

U: Understanding…“What do you think this symptom means?”