Chapter 2 Interviewing Patients to Obtain a Health History

Chapter 2  Interviewing Patients to Obtain a Health History

Complete Chapter Questions And Answers
 

Sample Questions

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. Which statement or question does the nurse use during the introduction phase of the interview?
a.
“I’m here to learn more about the pain you’re experiencing.”
b.
“Can you describe the pain that you’re experiencing?”
c.
“I heard you say that the pain is ‘all over’ your body.”
d.
“What relieves the pain you are having?”

ANS: A

Feedback
A
“I’m here to learn more about the pain you’re experiencing” is an example of the introduction phase when the nurse tells the patient the purpose of the interview.
B
“Can you describe the pain that you’re experiencing?” is an example of part of a symptom analysis that occurs in the discussion phase.
C
“I heard you say that the pain is ‘all over’ your body” is an example of a summary statement by the nurse that occurs in the summary phase.
D
“What relieves the pain you are having?” is an example of part of a symptom analysis that occurs in the discussion phase.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply REF: 8
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX Patient Needs: Psychosocial Integrity: Therapeutic Communications

2. Which statement is appropriate to use when beginning an interview with a new patient?
a.
“Have you ever been a patient in this clinic before?”
b.
“What is your purpose for coming to the clinic today?”
c.
“Tell me a little about yourself and your family.”
d.
“Did you have any difficulty finding the clinic?”

ANS: B

Feedback
A
“Have you ever been a patient in this clinic before?” is a close-ended question that yields a “yes” or “no” response. This question may be asked on the first visit, but not as an opening question for a health interview.
B
“What is your purpose for coming to the clinic today?” is an open-ended question that focuses on the patient’s reason for seeking care.
C
“Tell me a little about yourself and your family” is an open-ended question, but it is too general, and it is at least two questions: one about the patient and another about the family.
D
“Did you have any difficulty finding the clinic?” is a social question and does not focus on the patient’s purpose for the visit.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand REF: 8
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX Patient Needs: Psychosocial Integrity: Therapeutic Communications

3. Which statement by the nurse demonstrates a patient-centered interview?
a.
“I need to complete this questionnaire about your medical and family history.”
b.
“The hospital requires me to complete this assessment as soon as possible.”
c.
“Tell me about the symptoms you’ve been having.”
d.
“I’ve had the same symptoms that you’ve described.”

ANS: C

Feedback
A
“I need to complete this questionnaire about your medical and family history” focuses on the nurse’s need to complete the assessment rather than the needs of the patient.
B
“The hospital requires me to complete this assessment as soon as possible” focuses on the nurse’s need to meet hospital requirements rather than the needs of the patient.
C
“Tell me about the symptoms you’ve been having” focuses on the needs of the patient so that the patient is free to share concerns, beliefs, and values in his or her own words.
D
“I’ve had the same symptoms that you’ve described” focuses on the nurse rather than on the patient.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply REF: 8
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX Patient Needs: Psychosocial Integrity: Therapeutic Communications

4. Which question is an example of an open-ended question?
a.
“Have you experienced this pain before?”
b.
“Do you have someone to help you at home?”
c.
“How many times a day do you use your inhaler?”
d.
“What were you doing when you felt the pain?”

ANS: D

Feedback
A
“Have you experienced this pain before?” is closed-ended, which can obtain a “yes” or “no” answer to the question without any additional data.
B
“Do you have someone to help you at home?” is closed-ended, which can obtain a “yes” or “no” answer to the question without any additional data.
C
“How many times a day do you use your inhaler?” is closed-ended, which can obtain an answer of a specific number without any additional data.
D
What were you doing when you felt the pain?” is a broadly-stated question that encourages a free-flowing, open response.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand REF: 11
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX Patient Needs: Psychosocial Integrity: Therapeutic Communications

5. A nurse suspects a female patient is a victim of physical abuse. Which response is most likely to encourage the patient to confide in the nurse?
a.
“You’ve got a huge bruise on your face. Did your husband hit you?”
b.
“That bruise looks tender. I don’t know how people can do that to one another.”
c.
“If your boyfriend hit you, you can get a restraining order against him.”
d.
“I’ve seen women who have been hurt by boyfriends or husbands. Does anyone hit you?”

ANS: D

Feedback
A
“You’ve got a huge bruise on your face. Did your husband hit you?” assumes that domestic violence did occur, and the comment does not encourage the patient to divulge additional information.
B
“That bruise looks tender. I don’t know how people can do that to one another” assumes that domestic violence did occur, and the comment does not encourage the patient to divulge additional information.
C
“If your boyfriend has hit you, you can get a restraining order against him” assumes that domestic violence did occur, and the comment does not encourage the patient to divulge additional information.
D
“I’ve seen women who have been hurt by boyfriends or husbands” is an example of a technique referred to as “permission giving” in which the nurse communicates that it is safe to discuss uncomfortable topics.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply REF: 10
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX Patient Needs: Psychosocial Integrity: Abuse/Neglect