NUR 226- Exam 1 Study Questions and
Correct Answers
Which maximum score can be given to a patient when using the Mini-Mental State
Examination (MMSE)?
5
20
25
30 ✅- 30
-- A score of 30 would indicate that the patient has good cognitive abilities. The MMSE
is performed to assess a person's cognitive function. A score of 5 indicates severe
cognitive impairment. A score of 20 indicates mild cognitive impairment. A score of 25
indicates the patient has no cognitive impairment.
A patient tells the nurse how much pain he is in. Is the nurse collecting subjective data
or objective data? ✅Subjective
The nurse assesses the patient and notices his heart rate is high and is having a hard
time catching his breath. Is the data objective or subjective? ✅Objective
If a nurse has a genuine approach toward her patients, she is using what internal factor
in the process of communication? ✅Liking others
An internal factor of communication by developing an understanding and sensitivity to
others feeling's ✅Empathy
Internal factors of communication ✅- Liking Others
- Empathy
- Ability to listen
- Self-awareness
The Process of Communications, External Factors: ✅- Ensure Privacy (geographic--
private room or psychological--curtain)
- Avoid Interruptions
- Physical Environment (equal status--sit at eye level with chairs at a 90 degrees;
remove distractions; sufficient lighting and room temp.; keep 4-5 feet b/w you and the
client)
- Appearance/Clothing (for you and the patient)
,- Note-taking (keep to a minimum)
The working phase during the interview is also known as the ✅Data-gathering Phase
The following is examples of what kind of questions:
"You mentioned shortness of breath. Tell me more about that." ✅Open-ended
Open-ended Question ✅- Narrative
- Unbiased
- Used to begin the interview or to introduce a new topic
A nurse asks her patient that suffers from migraines, "where are your headaches
located?", this is an example of what kind of question? ✅Closed/direct
Closed/Direct Questions ✅- Asks for specifics
- Leads to a forced response (i.e. yes/no)
Guidelines to follow when asking direct questions: ✅1. ONE question at a time;
process what they say and respond (don't bumerang)
2. Client/Patient appropriate language/verbage (some may not have a college
education)
5 verbal responses when narrating the interview from the client's perspective: ✅1.
Facilitate: exemplifies interest and encourages the patient to keep talking (i.e. "mmmm",
eye contract, nod up and down)
2. Silence: allow some but not too much-- can cause awkwardness OR allows the client
(specifically older adults) to process/catch their thoughts
3. Reflect: repeat parts of what the client discloses
4. Empathy:
5. Clarify: summary
4 verbal responses when narrating the interview from the examiner's perspective: ✅1.
Confrontation: clarify any confusion
2. Interpretation:
3. Explaination:
4. Summary:
10 Interviewing Traps: ✅1. Don't give false hope-- a nurse tells a patient with a
terminal illness that they will better better
2. Don't give unwanted advice-- patients may ask but ultimately it is their decision
3. Avoid authority-- "your doctor/nurse knows best"
4. Don't try to avoid certain languages/topics-- "passed away" vs "died"; reality is that
someone died
5. Avoid impersonal speech/distancing-- "the left breast" vs "your left breast"-- specific
language ("your") shows that you are confidently knowledgable about the disease
, 6. Don't assume your client knows/understands the medical terms you spit out at tham
7. Ask unbiased and open-ended questions-- "Do you smoke?" is better than "you don't
smoke, do you?"; clients may feel the need to please/answer the way they think you
want them to
8. Listen more than you talk
9. It's rude to interrupt
10. Don't ask why-- it leaves implied bad behavior/wrong doing
What is the best technique to improve a patients health literacy? ✅Teach back
What does SBAR stand for? ✅Situation
Background
Assessment
Recommendation
When do you use an SBAR Report? ✅Nurse to nurse or nurse to another healthcare
provider (physician)
A sign is ______ while a symptom is ______. ✅Objective; Subjective
Critical characteristics of a complete health history: ✅1.) Location: specifically where is
the irritation or pain?
2.) Character: descriptive qualities
3.) Quantity: pain scale 1-10
4.) Timing: how long does it last? How often? When does it occur?
5.) Setting:
6.) What makes it better or worse?
7.) Are there any other concerns or symptoms?
8.) How does the patient feel/perceive this is affecting them?
The mnemonic PQRSTU to organize questions: ✅P: Provocative or Palliative (irritates
or relives)
Q: Quality or Quantity
R: Region or Radiation
S: Severity scale 1-10
T: Timing or Onset
U: Understand patient's perception
What is a pedigree or genogram? ✅A family tree used to organize data
Cephalocaudal approach ✅Examination of the musculoskeletal system from head to
toe, proximal to distal, starting with TMJ, spine, upper extremity starting with the
shoulder, lower extremity starting with hip
Correct Answers
Which maximum score can be given to a patient when using the Mini-Mental State
Examination (MMSE)?
5
20
25
30 ✅- 30
-- A score of 30 would indicate that the patient has good cognitive abilities. The MMSE
is performed to assess a person's cognitive function. A score of 5 indicates severe
cognitive impairment. A score of 20 indicates mild cognitive impairment. A score of 25
indicates the patient has no cognitive impairment.
A patient tells the nurse how much pain he is in. Is the nurse collecting subjective data
or objective data? ✅Subjective
The nurse assesses the patient and notices his heart rate is high and is having a hard
time catching his breath. Is the data objective or subjective? ✅Objective
If a nurse has a genuine approach toward her patients, she is using what internal factor
in the process of communication? ✅Liking others
An internal factor of communication by developing an understanding and sensitivity to
others feeling's ✅Empathy
Internal factors of communication ✅- Liking Others
- Empathy
- Ability to listen
- Self-awareness
The Process of Communications, External Factors: ✅- Ensure Privacy (geographic--
private room or psychological--curtain)
- Avoid Interruptions
- Physical Environment (equal status--sit at eye level with chairs at a 90 degrees;
remove distractions; sufficient lighting and room temp.; keep 4-5 feet b/w you and the
client)
- Appearance/Clothing (for you and the patient)
,- Note-taking (keep to a minimum)
The working phase during the interview is also known as the ✅Data-gathering Phase
The following is examples of what kind of questions:
"You mentioned shortness of breath. Tell me more about that." ✅Open-ended
Open-ended Question ✅- Narrative
- Unbiased
- Used to begin the interview or to introduce a new topic
A nurse asks her patient that suffers from migraines, "where are your headaches
located?", this is an example of what kind of question? ✅Closed/direct
Closed/Direct Questions ✅- Asks for specifics
- Leads to a forced response (i.e. yes/no)
Guidelines to follow when asking direct questions: ✅1. ONE question at a time;
process what they say and respond (don't bumerang)
2. Client/Patient appropriate language/verbage (some may not have a college
education)
5 verbal responses when narrating the interview from the client's perspective: ✅1.
Facilitate: exemplifies interest and encourages the patient to keep talking (i.e. "mmmm",
eye contract, nod up and down)
2. Silence: allow some but not too much-- can cause awkwardness OR allows the client
(specifically older adults) to process/catch their thoughts
3. Reflect: repeat parts of what the client discloses
4. Empathy:
5. Clarify: summary
4 verbal responses when narrating the interview from the examiner's perspective: ✅1.
Confrontation: clarify any confusion
2. Interpretation:
3. Explaination:
4. Summary:
10 Interviewing Traps: ✅1. Don't give false hope-- a nurse tells a patient with a
terminal illness that they will better better
2. Don't give unwanted advice-- patients may ask but ultimately it is their decision
3. Avoid authority-- "your doctor/nurse knows best"
4. Don't try to avoid certain languages/topics-- "passed away" vs "died"; reality is that
someone died
5. Avoid impersonal speech/distancing-- "the left breast" vs "your left breast"-- specific
language ("your") shows that you are confidently knowledgable about the disease
, 6. Don't assume your client knows/understands the medical terms you spit out at tham
7. Ask unbiased and open-ended questions-- "Do you smoke?" is better than "you don't
smoke, do you?"; clients may feel the need to please/answer the way they think you
want them to
8. Listen more than you talk
9. It's rude to interrupt
10. Don't ask why-- it leaves implied bad behavior/wrong doing
What is the best technique to improve a patients health literacy? ✅Teach back
What does SBAR stand for? ✅Situation
Background
Assessment
Recommendation
When do you use an SBAR Report? ✅Nurse to nurse or nurse to another healthcare
provider (physician)
A sign is ______ while a symptom is ______. ✅Objective; Subjective
Critical characteristics of a complete health history: ✅1.) Location: specifically where is
the irritation or pain?
2.) Character: descriptive qualities
3.) Quantity: pain scale 1-10
4.) Timing: how long does it last? How often? When does it occur?
5.) Setting:
6.) What makes it better or worse?
7.) Are there any other concerns or symptoms?
8.) How does the patient feel/perceive this is affecting them?
The mnemonic PQRSTU to organize questions: ✅P: Provocative or Palliative (irritates
or relives)
Q: Quality or Quantity
R: Region or Radiation
S: Severity scale 1-10
T: Timing or Onset
U: Understand patient's perception
What is a pedigree or genogram? ✅A family tree used to organize data
Cephalocaudal approach ✅Examination of the musculoskeletal system from head to
toe, proximal to distal, starting with TMJ, spine, upper extremity starting with the
shoulder, lower extremity starting with hip
