When preparing the physical setting for an interview, the interviewer should:
A. set the room temperature between 64° F and 66° F.
B. reduce noise by turning the volume on the television or radio down.
C. conduct the interview at eye level and at a distance of 4 to 5 feet.
D. stand next to the patient to convey a professional demeanor.
C. conduct the interview at eye level and at a distance of 4 to 5 feet.
Both
the interviewer and the patient should be at eye level at a distance of 4 to 5 feet.
The room temperature should be set at a comfortable level; a temperature between 64° F and 66° F is too cool.
Turn off the television or radio and any unnecessary equipment to reduce noise.
The interviewer and the patient should be comfortably seated; standing communicates haste and assumes superiority.
Parents or caretakers accompany children to the health care setting. Starting at ___ years of age, the interviewer asks the child directly about his or her presenting symptoms.
A. 5
B. 7
C. 9
D. 11
B. 7
School-age children (starting at age 7) have the verbal ability to add important data to the history. The nurse should interview the parent and child together, but when a presenting symptom or sign exists, the nurse should ask the child about it first and then gather data from the parent.
Which of the following statements made by the interviewer would be an appropriate response?
A. "I know just how you feel."
B. "If I were you, I would have the surgery."
C. "Why did you wait so long to make an appointment?"
D. "Tell me what you mean by 'bad blood.'"
D. "Tell me what you mean by 'bad blood.'"
"Tell me what you mean by 'bad blood'" is an appropriate communication
technique referred to as seeking further clarification.
"I know just how you feel" is an inappropriate communication technique referred to as false reassurance.
"If I were you, I would have the surgery" is an inappropriate communication technique referred to as giving unwanted advice.
"Why did you wait so long to make an appointment?" is an inappropriate communication technique referred to as using "Why" questions.
While discussing the treatment plan, the nurse infers that the patient is uncomfortable asking the physician for a different treatment because of fear of the physician's reaction. In this situation, the nurse's verbal interpretation:
A. affects the nurse-physician relationship.
B. impedes further discussion.
C. helps the patient understand personal feelings in relation to his or her verbal message.
D. helps the nurse understand his or her own feelings in relation to the patient's verbal
message.
C. helps the patient understand personal feelings in relation to his or her verbal message.
Patients may experience barriers to communication with a health care provider seen as an authority figure. The patient may not share personal feelings if fear is experienced. In this situation, the nurse identified the patient's personal feelings in relation to the patient's verbal message.
The nurse-physician relationship is not the barrier to
communication in this situation.
The interpretation by the nurse will improve communication.
The nurse's feelings are not the barrier to communication in this situation.
The use of euphemisms to avoid reality or to hide feelings is known as:
A. distancing language.
B. sympathetic language.
C. avoidance language.
D. ethnocentric language.
C. avoidance language.
Euphemisms are
used to avoid reality or to hide feelings. Using direct language is the best way to deal with frightening topics instead of using avoidance language.
Distancing is the use of impersonal speech to put space between a threat and the self.
Empathy means viewing the world from the other person's inner frame of reference. Empathy is therapeutic; sympathy is nontherapeutic.
Ethnocentrism is the belief that one's ethnic or cultural group is more important or superior.
When addressing a toddler during the interview, the health care provider should:
A. ask the child, before the caretaker, about symptoms.
B. use nonverbal communication.
C. use short, simple, concrete sentences.
D. use detailed explanations.
C. use short, simple, concrete sentences.
A toddler's communication is direct, concrete, literal, and set in the present. The health care provider should use short,
simple sentences with concrete explanations.
For a younger child such as a toddler, the parent will provide all or most of the history.
Nonverbal communication is the primary communication method for infants.
Detailed explanations would be more appropriate for a school-age child, adolescent, or adult.
Nonverbal communication is the primary form of communication for which group of individuals?
A. Infants
B. Preschoolers
C. Adolescents
D. Older adults
A. Infants
Nonverbal communication is the primary communication method for infants.
Preschoolers' communication is direct, concrete, literal, and set in the present.
Adolescents should be treated with respect; the nurse should use open, honest, professional communication.
Older adults may need special considerations related to physical limitations (e.g., adjusted pace to avoid fatigue, impaired hearing).
Viewing the world from another person's inner frame of reference is called:
A. reflection.
B. empathy.
C. clarification.
D. sympathy.
B. empathy.
Empathy means viewing the world from the other person's inner frame of reference.
Reflection is repeating part of what the person has just said.
Clarification is used to summarize the person's words or to simplify the words to make them
clearer.
Sympathy is a social affinity in which one person stands with another person, closely understanding his or her feelings.
An example of an open-ended question or statement is:
A. "Tell me about your pain."
B. "On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your pain?"
C. "I can see that you are quite uncomfortable."
D. "You are upset about the level of pain, right?"
A. "Tell me about your pain."
Open-ended questions and statements ask for narrative information; they state the topic to be discussed but only in general terms. "Tell me about your pain" encourages the person to respond in paragraphs and to give a spontaneous account in any order chosen.
"On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your pain?"; "I can see that you are quite uncomfortable"; and "You are upset about the level of pain, right?" are closed or direct questions. Closed or direct questions and
statements ask for specific information. This type of question or statement will elicit a short, one- or two-word answer, a yes or no response, or a forced choice.
The most appropriate introduction to use to start an interview with an older adult patient is:
A. "Mr. Jones, I want to ask you some questions about your health so that we can plan your care."
B. "David, I am here to ask you questions about your illness; we want to determine
what is wrong."
C. "Mr. Jones, is it okay if I ask you several questions this morning about your health?"
D. "Because so many people have already asked you questions, I will just get the information from the chart."
A. "Mr. Jones, I want to ask you some questions about your health so that we can plan your care."
An older adult should be addressed by the last name; older adults may be offended by a younger person using their first names.
The
initial introduction should include the person's surname (unless a child) and the reason for the interview.
"Mr. Jones, is it okay if I ask you several questions this morning about your health?" is a closed-ended question.
"Because so many people have already asked you questions, I will just get the information from the chart" does not allow for free expression of ideas.