Ch. 3 Flashcards
- Receiving is a part of the communication process. Which receiver is most likely to misinterpret a message sent by a health care professional?
A) Well-adjusted adolescent who came in for a sports physical
B) Recovering alcoholic who came in for a basic physical examination
C) Man whose wife has just been diagnosed with lung cancer
D) Man with a hearing impairment who uses sign language to communicate and who has an interpreter with him
C) Man whose wife has just been diagnosed with lung cancer
The nurse makes which adjustment in the physical environment in order to promote the success of an interview?
A) Reduces noise by turning off televisions and radios
B) Reduces the distance between the interviewer and the patient to 2 feet or less
C) Provides a dim light that makes a room cozier and will help the patient relax
D) Arranges seating across a desk or table to allow the patient some personal space
A) Reduces noise by turning off televisions and radios
*In an interview, the nurse may find it necessary to take notes to aid his or her memory later. Which statement is true regarding note-taking?
A) Note-taking may impede the nurse’s observation of the patient’s nonverbal behaviors.
B) Note-taking allows the patient to continue at his or her own pace as the nurse records what is said.
C) Note-taking allows the nurse to shift attention away from the patient, resulting in an increased comfort level.
D) Note-taking allows the nurse to break eye contact with the patient, which may increase his or her level of comfort.
A) Note-taking may impede the nurse’s observation of the patient’s nonverbal behaviors.
The nurse asks, “I would like to ask you some questions about your health and your usual daily activities so that we can better plan your stay here.” This question is found at the \_\_\_\_\_ phase of the interview process. A) summary B) closing C) body D) opening or introduction
D) opening or introduction
*A woman has just entered the emergency department after being battered by her husband. The nurse needs to get some information from her to begin treatment. What is the best choice for an opening with this patient?
A) “Hello Nancy, my name is Mrs. C.”
B) “Hello, Mrs. H., my name is Mrs. C. It sure is cold today!”
C) “Mrs. H., my name is Mrs. C. How are you?”
D) “Mrs. H., my name is Mrs. C. I’ll need to ask you a few questions about what happened.”
D) “Mrs. H., my name is Mrs. C. I’ll need to ask you a few questions about what happened.”
During an interview, the nurse states, “You mentioned shortness of breath. Tell me more about that.” Which verbal skill is used with this statement? A) Reflection B) Facilitation C) Direct question D) Open-ended question
D) Open-ended question
- A patient has finished giving the nurse information about the reason he is seeking care. When reviewing the data, the nurse finds that some information about past hospitalizations is missing. At this point, which statement by the nurse would be most appropriate to gather these data?
A) “Mr. Y., at your age, surely you have been hospitalized before!”
B) “Mr. Y., I just need permission to get your medical records from County Medical.”
C) “Mr. Y., you mentioned that you have been hospitalized on several occasions. Would you tell me more about that?”
D) “Mr. Y., I just need to get some additional information about your past hospitalizations. When was the last time you were admitted for chest pain?”
D) “Mr. Y., I just need to get some additional information about your past hospitalizations. When was the last time you were admitted for chest pain?”
In using verbal responses to assist the patient’s narrative, some responses focus on the patient’s frame of reference and some focus on the health care provider’s perspective. An example of a verbal response that focuses on the health care provider’s perspective would be: A) empathy. B) reflection. C) facilitation. D) confrontation.
D) confrontation.
*When taking a history from a newly admitted patient, the nurse notices that he is pausing often and looking at the nurse expectantly. What would be the nurse’s best response to this behavior?
A) Be silent and allow him to continue when he is ready.
B) Smile at him and say, “Don’t worry about all of this. I’m sure we can find out why you’re having these pains.”
C) Lean back in the chair and ask, “You are looking at me kind of funny; there isn’t anything wrong, is there?”
D) Stand up and say, “I can see that this interview is uncomfortable for you. We can continue it another time.”
A) Be silent and allow him to continue when he is ready.
- A 17-year-old single mother is describing how difficult it is to raise a 3-year-old child by herself. During the course of the interview she states, “I can’t believe my boyfriend left me to do this by myself! What a terrible thing to do to me!” Which of these responses by the nurse uses empathy?
A) “You feel alone.”
B) “You can’t believe he left you alone?”
C) “It must be so hard to face this all alone.”
D) “I would be angry, too; raising a child alone is no picnic.”
C) “It must be so hard to face this all alone.”
- A man has been admitted to the observation unit for observation after being treated for a large cut on his forehead. As the nurse works through the interview, one of the standard questions has to do with alcohol, tobacco, and drug use. When the nurse asks him about tobacco use, he states, “I quit smoking after my wife died 7 years ago.” However, the nurse notices an open package of cigarettes in his shirt pocket. Using confrontation, the nurse could say:
A) “Mr. K., I know that you are lying.”
B) “Mr. K., come on, tell me how much you smoke.”
C) “Mr. K., I didn’t realize your wife had died. It must be difficult for you at this time. Please tell me more about that.”
D) “Mr. K., you have said that you don’t smoke, but I see that you have an open package of cigarettes in your pocket.”
D) “Mr. K., you have said that you don’t smoke, but I see that you have an open package of cigarettes in your pocket.”
- The nurse has used interpretation regarding a patient’s statement or actions. After using this technique, it would be best for the nurse to:
A) apologize because this can be demeaning for the patient.
B) allow the patient time to confirm or correct the inference.
C) continue with the interview as though nothing has happened.
D) immediately restate the nurse’s conclusion on the basis of the patient’s nonverbal response.
B) allow the patient time to confirm or correct the inference.
During an interview, a woman says, “I have decided that I can no longer allow my children to live with their father’s violence, but I just can’t seem to leave him.” Using interpretation, the nurse’s best response would be:
A) “You are going to leave him?”
B) “If you are afraid for your children, then why can’t you leave?”
C) “It sounds as if you might be afraid of how your husband will respond.”
D) “It sounds as though you have made your decision. I think it is a good one.”
C) “It sounds as if you might be afraid of how your husband will respond.”
A pregnant woman states, “I just know labor will be so painful that I won’t be able to stand it. I know it sounds awful, but I really dread going into labor.” The nurse responds by stating, “Oh, don’t worry about labor so much. I have been through it, and although it is painful there are many good medications to decrease the pain.” Which statement is true regarding this response? It was a:
A) therapeutic response. By sharing something personal, the nurse gives hope to this woman.
B) nontherapeutic response. By providing false reassurance, the nurse actually cut off further discussion of the woman’s fears.
C) therapeutic response. By providing information about the medications available, the nurse is giving information to the woman.
D) nontherapeutic response. The nurse is essentially giving the message to the woman that labor cannot be tolerated without medication.
B) nontherapeutic response. By providing false reassurance, the nurse actually cut off further discussion of the woman’s fears.
- During a clinic visit a patient states, “The doctor just told me he thought I ought to stop smoking. He doesn’t understand how hard I’ve tried. I just don’t know the best way to do it. What should I do?” The nurse’s most appropriate response in this case would be:
A) “I’d quit. The doctor really knows what he is talking about.”
B) “Would you like some information about the different ways a person can quit smoking?”
C) “Stopping your dependence on cigarettes can be very difficult. I understand how you feel.”
D) “Why are you confused? Didn’t the doctor give you the information about the smoking cessation program we offer?”
B) “Would you like some information about the different ways a person can quit smoking?”
