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. - correct
answer 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. - correct answer 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 - correct answer 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 - correct answer 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?" - correct answer 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." - correct answer 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.'" - correct answer 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. - correct answer 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. - correct answer 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 - correct answer 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. - correct
answer 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 - correct answer 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):
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. - correct
answer 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. - correct answer 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 - correct answer 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 - correct answer 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?" - correct answer 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." - correct answer 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.'" - correct answer 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. - correct answer 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. - correct answer 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 - correct answer 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. - correct
answer 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 - correct answer 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):
