1|Page
Galen College of Nursing NUR 210 Newest Exam
Preparation With Complete Questions And Correct Answers
With Rationales Already Graded A+ Brand New Version!!
1. A nurse is conducting a patient interview. To create a comfortable
environment that facilitates open communication, which action should
the nurse take first?
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 the room cozy and helps the patient
relax.
D) Arranges seating across a desk or table to allow the patient some
personal space.
Answer: A
Explanation: The correct answer is A. Creating a quiet, private
environment is the foundational first step for a patient interview.
Reducing environmental distractions, such as turning off televisions and
radios, allows both the nurse and patient to focus on the conversation.
While personal space is important, seating across a desk can create a
barrier, and sitting too close (within 2 feet) may invade the patient's
personal space. A dimly lit room may make it difficult to observe
nonverbal cues .
,2|Page
2. During an interview, the nurse finds it necessary to take notes to aid
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 for the patient.
D) Note-taking allows the nurse to break eye contact with the patient,
which may increase the patient's level of comfort.
Answer: A
Explanation: Note-taking can disrupt the flow of the interview and may
prevent the nurse from fully observing the patient's nonverbal cues,
such as body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice. When the
nurse looks down to write, it can interrupt eye contact and may make
the patient feel less heard, potentially affecting their comfort level and
the quality of the narrative .
3. The nurse is taking a history from a newly admitted patient. The
patient often pauses and expectantly looks at the nurse. 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."
,3|Page
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."
Answer: A
Explanation: The use of silence is a therapeutic communication
technique that gives the patient time to organize their thoughts, reflect,
and continue speaking when they are ready. It demonstrates respect for
the patient's need to process information. The other responses either
cut off the patient's narrative, change the subject, introduce the nurse's
own feelings, or terminate the interview prematurely .
4. A woman is discussing problems with her 2-year-old son, stating, "He
won't go to sleep at night, and during the day he has several fits. I get
so upset when that happens." The nurse's best verbal response would
be:
A) "Go on, I'm listening."
B) "Fits? Tell me what you mean by this."
C) "Yes, it can be upsetting when a child has a fit."
D) "Don't be upset when he has a fit; every 2-year-old has fits."
Answer: B
Explanation: This is an example of clarification, a therapeutic
communication technique. The nurse is seeking to understand the
, 4|Page
patient's meaning of the word "fits" to avoid making assumptions. It
ensures the nurse and patient are on the same page regarding the
child's behavior. Option A is a general encouragement, while options C
and D contain judgments or false reassurance that dismiss the patient's
concerns .
5. A 17-year-old single mother describes the difficulty of raising a 3-
year-old child alone. 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."
Answer: C
Explanation: Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings
of another person. It involves perceiving the patient's experience from
their perspective. "It must be so hard to face this all alone" validates the
patient's emotion and reflects an understanding of her situation
without agreeing or disagreeing. Option A is a reflection of content, and
options B and D are not empathetic; D introduces the nurse's own
feelings, which is a form of sympathy, not empathy .
Galen College of Nursing NUR 210 Newest Exam
Preparation With Complete Questions And Correct Answers
With Rationales Already Graded A+ Brand New Version!!
1. A nurse is conducting a patient interview. To create a comfortable
environment that facilitates open communication, which action should
the nurse take first?
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 the room cozy and helps the patient
relax.
D) Arranges seating across a desk or table to allow the patient some
personal space.
Answer: A
Explanation: The correct answer is A. Creating a quiet, private
environment is the foundational first step for a patient interview.
Reducing environmental distractions, such as turning off televisions and
radios, allows both the nurse and patient to focus on the conversation.
While personal space is important, seating across a desk can create a
barrier, and sitting too close (within 2 feet) may invade the patient's
personal space. A dimly lit room may make it difficult to observe
nonverbal cues .
,2|Page
2. During an interview, the nurse finds it necessary to take notes to aid
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 for the patient.
D) Note-taking allows the nurse to break eye contact with the patient,
which may increase the patient's level of comfort.
Answer: A
Explanation: Note-taking can disrupt the flow of the interview and may
prevent the nurse from fully observing the patient's nonverbal cues,
such as body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice. When the
nurse looks down to write, it can interrupt eye contact and may make
the patient feel less heard, potentially affecting their comfort level and
the quality of the narrative .
3. The nurse is taking a history from a newly admitted patient. The
patient often pauses and expectantly looks at the nurse. 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."
,3|Page
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."
Answer: A
Explanation: The use of silence is a therapeutic communication
technique that gives the patient time to organize their thoughts, reflect,
and continue speaking when they are ready. It demonstrates respect for
the patient's need to process information. The other responses either
cut off the patient's narrative, change the subject, introduce the nurse's
own feelings, or terminate the interview prematurely .
4. A woman is discussing problems with her 2-year-old son, stating, "He
won't go to sleep at night, and during the day he has several fits. I get
so upset when that happens." The nurse's best verbal response would
be:
A) "Go on, I'm listening."
B) "Fits? Tell me what you mean by this."
C) "Yes, it can be upsetting when a child has a fit."
D) "Don't be upset when he has a fit; every 2-year-old has fits."
Answer: B
Explanation: This is an example of clarification, a therapeutic
communication technique. The nurse is seeking to understand the
, 4|Page
patient's meaning of the word "fits" to avoid making assumptions. It
ensures the nurse and patient are on the same page regarding the
child's behavior. Option A is a general encouragement, while options C
and D contain judgments or false reassurance that dismiss the patient's
concerns .
5. A 17-year-old single mother describes the difficulty of raising a 3-
year-old child alone. 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."
Answer: C
Explanation: Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings
of another person. It involves perceiving the patient's experience from
their perspective. "It must be so hard to face this all alone" validates the
patient's emotion and reflects an understanding of her situation
without agreeing or disagreeing. Option A is a reflection of content, and
options B and D are not empathetic; D introduces the nurse's own
feelings, which is a form of sympathy, not empathy .
