NURS 5220- Exam #1: Module 1: Chapter
1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8
During an initial interview with your patient, you ask the patient, "Can you describe that for me?"
Which statement best describes the question?
A. It is the most risky type of question because the patient can say anything.
B.The question is asking for specific information.
C. The patient has discretion about the extent of the answer.
D. The answer can lead the interviewer away from the purpose of the interview. - ANS C: The
open-ended question gives the patient discretion about the extent of an answer. This is an
example of a question carefully formulated to illicit an enhanced patient response.
The answer can lead the interviewer away from the purpose of the interview.
Because an adolescent is often reluctant to talk during an interview, it is best to:
A. tell the patient that you must have straight answers to your questions.
B. ensure confidentiality regarding the information discussed.
C. inform the patient that adolescents have trouble expressing their feelings.
D. obtain the history from a parent or other family member. - ANS C: CorrectAdolescents may
be reluctant to talk and have a clear need for confidentiality. All adolescent patients should be
given the opportunity to discuss their concerns with you privately. It is wise to let parents or
other caregivers know you will be asking them to step out of the room to provide this important
opportunity for the adolescent.
For which age group is a functional assessment most critical?
A. Children
B. Adolescents
C. Adults
D. Older adults - ANS D: CorrectQuite simply, functional assessment is an attempt to
understand a patient's ability to achieve the basic activities of daily living. This assessment
should be made for all older adults and for any person limited by disease or disability, acute or
chronic.
,Which of the following will best facilitate an interview with a deaf person?
A. Speaking loudly
B. Using gestures
C. Sitting or standing at eye level
D. Sitting to the side of the patient - ANS c: CorrectPersons with impaired hearing often read,
write, sign, and/or read lips, but you must speak slowly and enunciate each word clearly and in
full view. Sitting or standing at eye level allows for full view.
Which of the following questions may lead to an inaccurate response?
A. "Where do you feel the pain?"
B. "How does this situation make you feel?"
C. "What happened after you noticed your injury?"
D. "That was a horrible experience, wasn't it?" - ANS D: CorrectAnswer d is an example of a
leading question. The leading question is the most risky because it may limit the information
provided to what the patient thinks you want to know. Questions a, b, and c are examples of
direct and open-ended questions.
Ms. Carol Turner, a 38-year-old woman, brings her 1-year-old son in for health care. Which of
the following requests made would be most appropriate at the beginning of an interview?
A. "Mom, please place your son in your lap."
B. "Carol, please place your son in your lap."
C. "Ms. Turner, please place your son in your lap."
D. "Sweetie, please place your son in your lap." - ANS C: CorrectAnswer c best displays
courtesy and respect for the parent. Initially, the examiner should address the patient or
caregiver properly (e.g., as Mr., Miss, Mrs., Ms., or the manner of address preferred by the
patient) and repeat the patient's name at appropriate times. Do not use a surrogate term for a
person's name; for example, when the patient is a child, do not address the parent as "Mother"
or "Father."
During an interview, a patient describes abdominal pain that often awakens him at night. Which
of the following responses by the interviewer would facilitate the interviewing process?
A. "Constipation can cause abdominal pain."
B. "Do you need a sleeping medication?"
C. "Pain is always worse at night, isn't it?"
D. "Tell me what you mean by 'often.'" - ANS D: CorrectAnswer d is an example of clarifying or
seeking additional information by using the open-ended question. Answers a, b, and c are
examples of yes or no or leading questions.
When you repeat a patient's answer, you are:
,A. testing the patient's knowledge.
B. teaching the patient new medical terms.
C. discouraging an emotional outburst.
D. encouraging more detail. - ANS D: CorrectWhen you repeat a patient's answer, you are
engaging in reflecting. Reflecting encourages patients to provide more detail.
While interviewing an angry patient, you start to become annoyed and are beginning to dislike
the patient. The best way to resolve this is to:
A. spend the least amount of time possible with the patient.
B. displace your annoyance toward the patient on an inanimate object.
C. ignore the feelings and remain neutral in your interactions.
D. express concern and explore the problem with the patient. - ANS D: CorrectWhen dealing
with the angry patient, it is appropriate to confront or acknowledge the anger and explore the
potential issue. Answer d is the best example in the scenario given.
Which of the following behaviors is most important in establishing a connection with the patient?
A. Documenting data from the history using direct patient quotes
B. Phrasing questions so that they are clear and explicit
C. Avoiding the trap of giving advice during an interview
D. Listening intently while observing nonverbal cues - ANS D: CorrectEstablishing a connection
with the patient is essential to good communication. Being a skilled listener and being alert to
patients' nonverbal communication help establish meaningful connection.
During an interview, the patient describes problems associated with an illness and begins to cry.
The best action in this situation is to:
A. stop the interview and reschedule for another time.
B. allow the patient to cry, then resume when the patient is ready.
C. change the topic to something less upsetting.
D. continue the interview while the patient cries in order to get through it quickly. - ANS
B:CorrectPeople will cry. Let the emotion proceed at the patient's pace. Resume your
questioning only when the patient is ready. If you suspect a patient is holding back, give
permission. Offer a tissue or simply say, "It seems like you're feeling bad. It's okay to cry." Name
the emotion. Be direct about such a tender circumstance, but gently, not too aggressively or
insistently.
Which statement best describes the chief complaint?
A.General health and illness
B. The reason the individual is seeking care
C. Information to make the diagnosis
, D. Concerns about confidentiality and trust - ANS B: CorrectThe chief complaint is the main
reason the person is seeking care or the chief concern. The other answers are parts of the
history and physical or review of symptoms.
A woman presents to a women's health clinic stating that she has had a positive home
pregnancy test and desires prenatal care. You would conduct a(n):
A. complete history.
B. focused history.
C. problem-oriented history.
D. interim history. - ANS A:CorrectThe examiner would conduct a complete history because the
complete history allows the examiner to become thoroughly familiar with the patient. Most often,
this history is recorded the first time you see the patient. The other answers are used when
something is already known about the patient or an established relationship exists.
You are responding to a patient who has behaved toward you in a seductive manner. Which of
the following is most appropriate?
A. Respond in a manner that acknowledges that the patient is embarrassed.
B. Remain calm, firm, and direct regarding the professional nature of the relationship.
C. Be courteous.
D. Ignore the patient's behavior. - ANS B:CorrectThis type of patient is seeking additional
attention. Avert it courteously and firmly, delivering the immediate message that the relationship
is and will remain professional. It takes skill to do this while maintaining the patient's dignity, but
there is no room for sexual misconduct in the relationship, and there can be no tolerance for
exploitation of the patient in this regard.
Which interviewer behavior would least contribute to decreasing tension in an anxious patient?
A. Avoid information overload.
B. Slow the conversation.
C. Maintain a calm demeanor.
D. Finish the interview promptly. - ANS D:CorrectAnswer d is the inappropriate response and
may increase the patient's level of anxiety. The examiner helps decrease anxiety by avoiding an
overload of information, pacing the conversation, and presenting a calm demeanor.
Which of the following information is particular to a pediatric history?
A. Family history
B. Developmental history
C. Social history
D. Past medical history - ANS B:CorrectThe developmental history tells the examiner when the
child achieved developmental milestones and is a key indicator in discerning developmental
delays.
1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8
During an initial interview with your patient, you ask the patient, "Can you describe that for me?"
Which statement best describes the question?
A. It is the most risky type of question because the patient can say anything.
B.The question is asking for specific information.
C. The patient has discretion about the extent of the answer.
D. The answer can lead the interviewer away from the purpose of the interview. - ANS C: The
open-ended question gives the patient discretion about the extent of an answer. This is an
example of a question carefully formulated to illicit an enhanced patient response.
The answer can lead the interviewer away from the purpose of the interview.
Because an adolescent is often reluctant to talk during an interview, it is best to:
A. tell the patient that you must have straight answers to your questions.
B. ensure confidentiality regarding the information discussed.
C. inform the patient that adolescents have trouble expressing their feelings.
D. obtain the history from a parent or other family member. - ANS C: CorrectAdolescents may
be reluctant to talk and have a clear need for confidentiality. All adolescent patients should be
given the opportunity to discuss their concerns with you privately. It is wise to let parents or
other caregivers know you will be asking them to step out of the room to provide this important
opportunity for the adolescent.
For which age group is a functional assessment most critical?
A. Children
B. Adolescents
C. Adults
D. Older adults - ANS D: CorrectQuite simply, functional assessment is an attempt to
understand a patient's ability to achieve the basic activities of daily living. This assessment
should be made for all older adults and for any person limited by disease or disability, acute or
chronic.
,Which of the following will best facilitate an interview with a deaf person?
A. Speaking loudly
B. Using gestures
C. Sitting or standing at eye level
D. Sitting to the side of the patient - ANS c: CorrectPersons with impaired hearing often read,
write, sign, and/or read lips, but you must speak slowly and enunciate each word clearly and in
full view. Sitting or standing at eye level allows for full view.
Which of the following questions may lead to an inaccurate response?
A. "Where do you feel the pain?"
B. "How does this situation make you feel?"
C. "What happened after you noticed your injury?"
D. "That was a horrible experience, wasn't it?" - ANS D: CorrectAnswer d is an example of a
leading question. The leading question is the most risky because it may limit the information
provided to what the patient thinks you want to know. Questions a, b, and c are examples of
direct and open-ended questions.
Ms. Carol Turner, a 38-year-old woman, brings her 1-year-old son in for health care. Which of
the following requests made would be most appropriate at the beginning of an interview?
A. "Mom, please place your son in your lap."
B. "Carol, please place your son in your lap."
C. "Ms. Turner, please place your son in your lap."
D. "Sweetie, please place your son in your lap." - ANS C: CorrectAnswer c best displays
courtesy and respect for the parent. Initially, the examiner should address the patient or
caregiver properly (e.g., as Mr., Miss, Mrs., Ms., or the manner of address preferred by the
patient) and repeat the patient's name at appropriate times. Do not use a surrogate term for a
person's name; for example, when the patient is a child, do not address the parent as "Mother"
or "Father."
During an interview, a patient describes abdominal pain that often awakens him at night. Which
of the following responses by the interviewer would facilitate the interviewing process?
A. "Constipation can cause abdominal pain."
B. "Do you need a sleeping medication?"
C. "Pain is always worse at night, isn't it?"
D. "Tell me what you mean by 'often.'" - ANS D: CorrectAnswer d is an example of clarifying or
seeking additional information by using the open-ended question. Answers a, b, and c are
examples of yes or no or leading questions.
When you repeat a patient's answer, you are:
,A. testing the patient's knowledge.
B. teaching the patient new medical terms.
C. discouraging an emotional outburst.
D. encouraging more detail. - ANS D: CorrectWhen you repeat a patient's answer, you are
engaging in reflecting. Reflecting encourages patients to provide more detail.
While interviewing an angry patient, you start to become annoyed and are beginning to dislike
the patient. The best way to resolve this is to:
A. spend the least amount of time possible with the patient.
B. displace your annoyance toward the patient on an inanimate object.
C. ignore the feelings and remain neutral in your interactions.
D. express concern and explore the problem with the patient. - ANS D: CorrectWhen dealing
with the angry patient, it is appropriate to confront or acknowledge the anger and explore the
potential issue. Answer d is the best example in the scenario given.
Which of the following behaviors is most important in establishing a connection with the patient?
A. Documenting data from the history using direct patient quotes
B. Phrasing questions so that they are clear and explicit
C. Avoiding the trap of giving advice during an interview
D. Listening intently while observing nonverbal cues - ANS D: CorrectEstablishing a connection
with the patient is essential to good communication. Being a skilled listener and being alert to
patients' nonverbal communication help establish meaningful connection.
During an interview, the patient describes problems associated with an illness and begins to cry.
The best action in this situation is to:
A. stop the interview and reschedule for another time.
B. allow the patient to cry, then resume when the patient is ready.
C. change the topic to something less upsetting.
D. continue the interview while the patient cries in order to get through it quickly. - ANS
B:CorrectPeople will cry. Let the emotion proceed at the patient's pace. Resume your
questioning only when the patient is ready. If you suspect a patient is holding back, give
permission. Offer a tissue or simply say, "It seems like you're feeling bad. It's okay to cry." Name
the emotion. Be direct about such a tender circumstance, but gently, not too aggressively or
insistently.
Which statement best describes the chief complaint?
A.General health and illness
B. The reason the individual is seeking care
C. Information to make the diagnosis
, D. Concerns about confidentiality and trust - ANS B: CorrectThe chief complaint is the main
reason the person is seeking care or the chief concern. The other answers are parts of the
history and physical or review of symptoms.
A woman presents to a women's health clinic stating that she has had a positive home
pregnancy test and desires prenatal care. You would conduct a(n):
A. complete history.
B. focused history.
C. problem-oriented history.
D. interim history. - ANS A:CorrectThe examiner would conduct a complete history because the
complete history allows the examiner to become thoroughly familiar with the patient. Most often,
this history is recorded the first time you see the patient. The other answers are used when
something is already known about the patient or an established relationship exists.
You are responding to a patient who has behaved toward you in a seductive manner. Which of
the following is most appropriate?
A. Respond in a manner that acknowledges that the patient is embarrassed.
B. Remain calm, firm, and direct regarding the professional nature of the relationship.
C. Be courteous.
D. Ignore the patient's behavior. - ANS B:CorrectThis type of patient is seeking additional
attention. Avert it courteously and firmly, delivering the immediate message that the relationship
is and will remain professional. It takes skill to do this while maintaining the patient's dignity, but
there is no room for sexual misconduct in the relationship, and there can be no tolerance for
exploitation of the patient in this regard.
Which interviewer behavior would least contribute to decreasing tension in an anxious patient?
A. Avoid information overload.
B. Slow the conversation.
C. Maintain a calm demeanor.
D. Finish the interview promptly. - ANS D:CorrectAnswer d is the inappropriate response and
may increase the patient's level of anxiety. The examiner helps decrease anxiety by avoiding an
overload of information, pacing the conversation, and presenting a calm demeanor.
Which of the following information is particular to a pediatric history?
A. Family history
B. Developmental history
C. Social history
D. Past medical history - ANS B:CorrectThe developmental history tells the examiner when the
child achieved developmental milestones and is a key indicator in discerning developmental
delays.
