Chapter 29: Communication and Physical
Assessment of the Child and Family Perry:
Maternal Child Nursing Care, 6th Edition0
questions and 100% verified answers
2025/2026 version
1. The nurse is seeing an adolescent boy and his parents in the clinic for the first time. What should the
nurse do first?
a. Introduce himself or herself.
b. Make the family comfortable.
c. Explain the purpose of the interview.
d. Give an assurance of privacy. - Answer ANS: A
The first thing that nurses must do is to introduce themselves to the patient and family. Parents and
other adults should be addressed with appropriate titles unless they specify a preferred name. During
the initial part of the interview the nurse should include general conversation to help make the family
feel at ease. Next, the purpose of the interview and the nurse's role should be clarified. The interview
should take place in an environment as free of distraction as possible. In addition, the nurse should
clarify which information will be shared with other members of the health care team and any limits to
the confidentiality.
2. Which action is most likely to encourage parents to talk about their feelings related to their child's
illness?
a. Be sympathetic.
b. Use direct questions.
c. Use open-ended questions.
d. Avoid periods of silence. - Answer ANS: C
Closed-ended questions should be avoided when attempting to elicit parents' feelings. Open-ended
questions require the parent to respond with more than a brief answer. Sympathy is having feelings or
emotions in common with another person rather than understanding those feelings (empathy).
Sympathy is not therapeutic in the helping relationship. Direct questions may obtain limited
information. In addition, the parent may consider them threatening. Silence can be an effective
interviewing tool. It allows sharing of feelings in which two or more people absorb the emotion in depth.
Silence permits the interviewee to sort out thoughts and feelings and search for responses to questions.
, 3. What is the single most important factor to consider when communicating with children?
a. The child's physical condition
b. The presence or absence of the child's parent
c. The child's developmental level
d. The child's nonverbal behaviors - Answer ANS: C
The nurse must be aware of the child's developmental stage to engage in effective communication. The
use of both verbal and nonverbal communication should be appropriate to the developmental level.
Although the child's physical condition is a consideration, developmental level is much more important.
The parents' presence is important when communicating with young children, but it may be detrimental
when speaking with adolescents. Nonverbal behaviors vary in importance based on the child's
developmental level.
4. What is an important consideration for the nurse who is communicating with a very young child?
a. Speak loudly, clearly, and directly.
b. Use transition objects such as a doll.
c. Disguise own feelings, attitudes, and anxiety.
d. Initiate contact with the child when the parent is not present. - Answer ANS: B
Using a transition object allows the young child an opportunity to evaluate an unfamiliar person (the
nurse). This facilitates communication with this age child. Speaking loudly, clearly, and directly tends to
increase anxiety in very young children. The nurse must be honest with the child. Attempts at deception
lead to a lack of trust. Whenever possible, the parent should be present for interactions with young
children.
Which age-group is most concerned with body integrity?
a. Toddler
b. Preschooler
c. School-age child
d. Adolescent - Answer ANS: C
School-age children have a heightened concern about body integrity. They place importance and value
on their bodies and are overly sensitive to anything that constitutes a threat or suggestion of injury.
Body integrity is not as important a concern to children in the toddler, preschooler, and adolescent age-
groups.
Assessment of the Child and Family Perry:
Maternal Child Nursing Care, 6th Edition0
questions and 100% verified answers
2025/2026 version
1. The nurse is seeing an adolescent boy and his parents in the clinic for the first time. What should the
nurse do first?
a. Introduce himself or herself.
b. Make the family comfortable.
c. Explain the purpose of the interview.
d. Give an assurance of privacy. - Answer ANS: A
The first thing that nurses must do is to introduce themselves to the patient and family. Parents and
other adults should be addressed with appropriate titles unless they specify a preferred name. During
the initial part of the interview the nurse should include general conversation to help make the family
feel at ease. Next, the purpose of the interview and the nurse's role should be clarified. The interview
should take place in an environment as free of distraction as possible. In addition, the nurse should
clarify which information will be shared with other members of the health care team and any limits to
the confidentiality.
2. Which action is most likely to encourage parents to talk about their feelings related to their child's
illness?
a. Be sympathetic.
b. Use direct questions.
c. Use open-ended questions.
d. Avoid periods of silence. - Answer ANS: C
Closed-ended questions should be avoided when attempting to elicit parents' feelings. Open-ended
questions require the parent to respond with more than a brief answer. Sympathy is having feelings or
emotions in common with another person rather than understanding those feelings (empathy).
Sympathy is not therapeutic in the helping relationship. Direct questions may obtain limited
information. In addition, the parent may consider them threatening. Silence can be an effective
interviewing tool. It allows sharing of feelings in which two or more people absorb the emotion in depth.
Silence permits the interviewee to sort out thoughts and feelings and search for responses to questions.
, 3. What is the single most important factor to consider when communicating with children?
a. The child's physical condition
b. The presence or absence of the child's parent
c. The child's developmental level
d. The child's nonverbal behaviors - Answer ANS: C
The nurse must be aware of the child's developmental stage to engage in effective communication. The
use of both verbal and nonverbal communication should be appropriate to the developmental level.
Although the child's physical condition is a consideration, developmental level is much more important.
The parents' presence is important when communicating with young children, but it may be detrimental
when speaking with adolescents. Nonverbal behaviors vary in importance based on the child's
developmental level.
4. What is an important consideration for the nurse who is communicating with a very young child?
a. Speak loudly, clearly, and directly.
b. Use transition objects such as a doll.
c. Disguise own feelings, attitudes, and anxiety.
d. Initiate contact with the child when the parent is not present. - Answer ANS: B
Using a transition object allows the young child an opportunity to evaluate an unfamiliar person (the
nurse). This facilitates communication with this age child. Speaking loudly, clearly, and directly tends to
increase anxiety in very young children. The nurse must be honest with the child. Attempts at deception
lead to a lack of trust. Whenever possible, the parent should be present for interactions with young
children.
Which age-group is most concerned with body integrity?
a. Toddler
b. Preschooler
c. School-age child
d. Adolescent - Answer ANS: C
School-age children have a heightened concern about body integrity. They place importance and value
on their bodies and are overly sensitive to anything that constitutes a threat or suggestion of injury.
Body integrity is not as important a concern to children in the toddler, preschooler, and adolescent age-
groups.
