Chapter 4: The Interview Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Chapter 4: The Interview Deck (39)
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1
Q

The nurse is conducting an interview with a woman who has recently learned that she is pregnant and has come to the clinic to begin prenatal care. The woman states that she and her husband are excited about the pregnancy but have a few questions. She looks nervously at her hands during the interview and sighs audibly. Which of the following statements does the nurse know is most accurate, considering the concept of communication? The woman:

a. is excited about her pregnancy but nervous about labour.
b. is exhibiting verbal and nonverbal behaviours that do not match.
c. is excited about her pregnancy but her husband is not, and this is upsetting to her.
d. is not excited about her pregnancy but believes the nurse will respond negatively to her if she states this.

A

b.

2
Q

Receiving is a vital part of the communication process. Which of receivers listed below is most likely to misinterpret a message sent by a health care professional?

a. A well-adjusted adolescent in for a sports-related physical examination
b. A recovering alcoholic in for a basic physical examination
c. A man whose wife has just been diagnosed with lung cancer
d. A hearing-impaired man who uses sign language to communicate and has an interpreter with him

A

c.

3
Q

Because the physical environment in which an interview takes place is an important consideration for the success of the interview, the interviewer should:

a. reduce noise by turning off televisions and radios.
b. keep a distance of about 0.6 m (2 ft) or closer between himself or herself and the patient.
c. ensure dim lighting that makes the room cozier and will help the patient relax.
d. arrange seating across a desk or table to allow the patient some personal space.

A

a.

4
Q

In an interview, the nurse may find it necessary to take notes to aid his or her memory later. Which of the following statements is true regarding note-taking?

a. Taking notes may impede the nurse’s observation of the patient’s nonverbal behaviours.
b. Taking notes allows the patient to continue at his or her own pace as the nurse records what is being said.
c. Taking notes allows the nurse to shift attention away from the patient, thus increasing the patient’s comfort level.
d. Taking notes allows the nurse to break eye contact with the patient, which may help increase the patient’s level of comfort.

A

a.

5
Q

At which phase of the interview could the following statement be made? “Mr. S., I would like to ask you some questions about your health and your usual daily activities so that we can better plan your stay here.”

a. During the summary
b. While closing the interview
c. During the body of the interview
d. When opening/introducing the interview

A

d.

6
Q

Mrs. H. has just entered the emergency department after being battered by her husband. The nurse will need to get some information from her before beginning treatment. What of the following is the best choice for an opening statement with this patient?

a. “Nancy, my name is Mrs. C.”
b. “Hello, Mrs. H., my name is Mrs. C. It sure is cold today!”
c. “Mrs. H., my name is Mrs. C. You sure look like you’re in pain. Can I get you anything?”
d. “Mrs. H., my name is Mrs. C. I’ll need to ask you a few questions about what happened.”

A

d.

7
Q

During an interview, the nurse states: “You mentioned shortness of breath. Tell me more about that.” Identify the verbal skill used with this statement.

a. Reflection
b. Facilitation
c. Direct question
d. Open-ended question

A

d.

8
Q

A patient has finished describing to the nurse the reason he is seeking care. When reviewing the data, the nurse finds that information about past hospitalizations is incomplete. Which of the following statements by the nurse would be most appropriate to obtain the missing data?

a. “Mr. Y., at your age, surely you have been hospitalized before!”
b. “Mr. Y., I need your permission to get your medical records from your local hospital.”
c. “Mr. Y., you mentioned that you have been hospitalized on several occasions. Would you tell me more about that?”
d. “Mr. Y., I need to get some additional information about your past hospitalizations. When was the last time you were admitted for chest pain?”

A

d.

9
Q

Some verbal responses that assist the patient’s narrative focus on the patient’s frame of reference and some focus on the health care provider’s perspective. An example of a verbal response that focuses on the health care provider’s perspective would be:

a. empathy.
b. reflection.
c. facilitation.
d. confrontation.

A

d.

10
Q

When taking history from a newly admitted patient, the nurse notices that he is pausing often and looking at the nurse expectantly. What would be the nurse’s best response to this behaviour?

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.”
c. Lean back in the chair and say, “Mr. J., 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.”

A

a.

11
Q

A woman is describing the problems she is having with her 2-year-old son. “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.”

A

b.

12
Q

A 17-year-old single mother is describing how difficult it is to raise a 2-year-old by herself. During the course of the interview, 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 the following responses by the nurse uses empathy?

a. “You feel alone?”
b. “You can’t believe he left you alone.”
c. “It must be very hard to face this all by yourself.”
d. “I would be angry, too; raising a child by yourself is no picnic.”

A

c.

13
Q

A man has been admitted to the observation unit after having been treated for a large cut on his forehead. As the nurse works through the interview, one of the standard questions has to do with alcohol, tobacco, and drug use. When the nurse asks him about tobacco use, he states, “I quit smoking after my wife died 7 years ago.” However, the nurse notices an open packet of cigarettes in his shirt pocket. If using confrontation as a response, the nurse could say:

a. “Mr. K., I know that you are lying.”
b. “Mr. K., come on, tell me how much you smoke.”
c. “Mr. K., I didn’t realize your wife had died. It must be difficult for you at this time. Please tell me more about that.”
d. “Mr. K., you have said that you don’t smoke, but I see that you have an open packet of cigarettes in your pocket.”

A

d.

14
Q

When using interpretation as a response to a patient’s statement or actions, it would be best for the nurse to:

a. apologize because this could be demeaning for the patient.
b. allow the patient time to confirm or correct the inference.
c. continue with the interview as though nothing had happened.
d. immediately restate the conclusion after observing the patient’s nonverbal response.

A

b.

15
Q

During an interview, a woman says, “I have decided that I can no longer allow my children to live with their father’s violence. I just can’t seem to be able to leave him though.” Using interpretation, the nurse’s best response would be:

a. “You’re going to leave him?”
b. “If you’re afraid for your children, why can’t you leave?”
c. “It sounds as if you might be afraid of how your husband will respond.”
d. “It sounds as though you have made your decision. I think it is a good one.”

A

c.

16
Q

A pregnant woman states, “I just know labour will be so painful that I won’t be able to stand it. I know it sounds awful, but I really dread going into labour.” The nurse responds by stating, “Oh, don’t worry about labour so much. I have been through it myself, and yes, it is painful, but there are many good medications to decrease the pain.” Which of the following statements about this response is true?

a. It was a therapeutic response. By sharing something personal, the nurse gives hope to this woman.
b. It was a nontherapeutic response. By providing false reassurance, the nurse actually cut off further discussion of the woman’s fears.
c. It was a therapeutic response. By providing information about the medications available, the nurse is giving reassurance to the woman.
d. It was a nontherapeutic response. The nurse is essentially giving the message to the woman that labour cannot be tolerated without medication.

A

b.

17
Q

During a clinic visit, the patient states, “The doctor just told me I should stop smoking. He doesn’t understand how hard I’ve tried. I just don’t know the best way to do it. What should I do?” The nurse’s most appropriate response in this case would be:

a. “I’d quit. The doctor really knows what he is talking about.”
b. “Would you like some information about the different ways a person can quit smoking?”
c. “Stopping your dependence on cigarettes can be very difficult. I understand how you feel.”
d. “Why are you confused? Didn’t the doctor give you the information about the smoking cessation program we offer?”

A

b.

18
Q

The nurse enters a patient’s room and finds her crying because the patient has just found out that the lump in her breast is cancerous. The patient says, “I’m so afraid of, um, you know.” The nurse’s most therapeutic response would be to say, in a gentle manner:

a. “You’re afraid you might lose your breast?”
b. “No, I’m not sure what you are talking about.”
c. “I’ll wait here until you get yourself under control, and then we can talk.”
d. “I can see that you are very upset. Perhaps we should discuss this later.”

A

a.

19
Q

A nurse is taking complete health histories from all the patients attending a wellness workshop. On the history form, one of the questions is, “You don’t smoke, drink, or take drugs, do you?” This question is an example of:

a. talking too much.
b. using confrontation.
c. using biased or leading questions.
d. using blunt language to deal with distasteful topics.

A

c.

20
Q

When observing a patient’s verbal and nonverbal communication, the nurse notices a discrepancy. Which of the following statements about this situation is true?

a. The nurse should ask someone who knows the patient well to help interpret this discrepancy.
b. The nurse should focus on the patient’s verbal message and try to ignore the nonverbal behaviours.
c. The nurse should try to integrate the verbal and nonverbal messages and then interpret them as an “average.”
d. The nurse should focus on the patient’s nonverbal behaviours because these are often more reflective of a patient’s true feelings.

A

d.

21
Q

During an interview, a parent of a hospitalized child is sitting with an “open” posture. As the interviewer begins to discuss his son’s treatment, however, the father suddenly crosses his arms against his chest and crosses his legs. This would suggest that he is:

a. just changing positions.
b. more comfortable in this position.
c. tired and needs a break in the interview.
d. uncomfortable talking about his son’s treatment.

A

d.

22
Q

A mother brings her 28-month-old daughter into the clinic for a well-child visit. At the beginning of the visit, the nurse focuses attention away from the toddler, but as the interview progresses, the toddler begins to “warm up” and is smiling shyly at the nurse. Which of the following should the nurse do next to be most successful in interacting with the toddler?

a. Tickle the toddler and get her to laugh.
b. Bend down to her level and ask her about the toy she is holding.
c. Continue to ignore her until it is time for the physical examination.
d. Ask the mother to leave during the examination of the toddler because toddlers usually fuss less when their parents are not around.

A

b.

23
Q

During an examination of a 3-year-old child, the nurse needs to take her blood pressure. What could the nurse do to gain the child’s full co-operation?

a. Tell the child that the blood pressure cuff is going to give her arm a big hug.
b. Tell the child that the blood pressure cuff is asleep and cannot wake up.
c. Give the blood pressure cuff a name and refer to it by this name during the assessment.
d. Tell the child that by using the blood pressure cuff, we can see how strong her muscles are.

A

d.

24
Q

A 16-year-old boy has just been admitted for overnight observation after being in an automobile accident. What is the nurse’s best approach to communicating with him?

a. Use periods of silence to communicate respect for him.
b. Be totally honest with him, even if the information is unpleasant.
c. Tell him that everything that is discussed will be kept totally confidential.
d. Use slang language when possible to help him open up.

A

b.

25
Q

A 75-year-old woman is at the clinic for a preoperative interview. The nurse is aware that the interview with her may take longer than interviews with younger persons. What is the reason for this?

a. An older adult has a longer story to tell.
b. An older adult is usually lonely and likes to have someone to talk to.
c. Older adults lose much of their mental abilities and require more time to complete an interview.
d. As a person ages, he or she is unable to hear well, so interviewers usually need to frequently repeat what they say.

A

a.

26
Q

The nurse is interviewing a patient who has a hearing impairment. What technique would be most beneficial in communicating with this patient?

a. Assess the communication method preferred by the patient.
b. Avoid using facial expressions and hand gestures because most persons with hearing impairment find this degrading.
c. Request the help of a sign language interpreter before meeting with the patient.
d. Speak loudly and with exaggerated facial movement when talking with the patient because this facilitates lip reading.

A

a.

27
Q

During her prenatal checkup, a patient begins to cry as the nurse asks her about previous pregnancies. The patient says that she is remembering her last pregnancy, which ended in miscarriage. The nurse’s best response to her crying would be:

a. “I’m so sorry for making you cry!”
b. “I can see that you are sad remembering this. It is all right to cry.”
c. “Why don’t I step out for a few minutes until you’re feeling better?”
d. “I can see that you feel sad about this; why don’t we talk about something else?”

A

b.

28
Q

The nurse is interviewing a recent immigrant from Mexico. During the course of the interview, the man leans forward and then finally moves his chair close enough that his knees are nearly touching the nurse’s. The nurse begins to feel uncomfortable with his proximity. Which of the following statements describes the most appropriate response by the nurse?

a. Try to relax—this behaviour is culturally appropriate for this person.
b. Discreetly move the chair back to a more comfortable distance and then continue with the interview.
c. These behaviours are indicative of sexual aggression, and the nurse should confront this person about them.
d. The nurse should laugh but tell him that he or she is uncomfortable with the proximity and ask the person to move away.

A

a.

29
Q

An Aboriginal woman has come to the clinic for diabetes follow-up teaching. During the interview, the nurse notices that the patient never makes eye contact and speaks mostly looking down at the floor. Which of the following statements about this situation is true?

a. She is nervous and embarrassed.
b. She has something to hide and is ashamed.
c. She is showing inconsistent verbal and nonverbal behaviours.
d. She is showing that she is listening carefully to what the nurse is saying.

A

d.

30
Q

The nurse has just started an assessment of the newborn child of a woman of Vietnamese origin. Considering the mother’s cultural background, which of the following statements about this examination is true? The mother:

a. will be offended if the infant’s fontanelles are examined.
b. will be offended if the infant’s diaper area is touched during the examination.
c. would prefer to have the results of the examination communicated directly to her husband.
d. would prefer to receive written report about her child’s growth and development, rather than a verbal one.

A

a.

31
Q

The nurse is conduction a health interview with a patient named Salil. There is a language barrier, and no interpreter is available. Which of the following is the best example of an appropriate question for the nurse to ask in this situation?

a. “Does Salil take medicine?”
b. “Do you sterilize the bottles?”
c. “Do you have nausea and vomiting?”
d. “He has been taking his medicine, hasn’t he?”

A

a.

32
Q

A man arrives at the clinic for an annual wellness physical examination. He is not experiencing any acute health problems. Which of the following statements by the nurse is most appropriate when beginning the interview?

a. “How is your family?”
b. “Why are you here today?”
c. “Tell me about your hypertension.”
d. “How has your health been since your last visit?”

A

d.

33
Q

Critique the following statement made by the nurse: “I know it may be hard, but you should do what the doctor ordered because he/she is the expert in this field.”

a. This statement is inappropriate because it shows the nurse’s bias.
b. This statement is appropriate because members of the health care team are experts in the area of patient care.
c. This type of statement creates dependency and inferiority in the patient and is best avoided in an interview situation.
d. At times, it is necessary to use authority statements when dealing with patients, especially when they are undecided about an issue.

A

c

34
Q

A female patient does not speak English well, and the nurse needs to choose an interpreter. Which of the following would be the most appropriate choice?

a. A trained interpreter
b. A male family member
c. A female family member
d. A volunteer university student from the foreign language studies department

A

a.

35
Q

During a follow-up visit, the nurse discovers that the patient has not been taking his insulin regularly. The nurse asks, “Why haven’t you taken your insulin?” Which of the following is an appropriate evaluation of this question?

a. It may put the patient on the defensive.
b. It is an innocent attempt to get information.
c. It would have been better to discuss this with his wife.
d. It is the best way to discover the reasons for his behaviour.

A

a.

36
Q

Which of the following is appropriate for the nurse to say near the end of the interview?

a. “Did we forget anything?”
b. “Is there anything else you would like to mention?”
c. “I need to go on to the next patient. I’ll be back.”
d. “While I’m here, let’s talk about your upcoming surgery.”

A

b.

37
Q

The interview portion of data collection obtains:

a. physical data.
b. historical data.
c. objective data.
d. subjective data.

A

d.

38
Q

During an interview, at which distance would the nurse expect that most of the interview will take place?

a. Intimate zone
b. Personal distance
c. Social distance
d. Public distance

A

c.

39
Q

A female nurse is interviewing a male patient who is close in age to the nurse. During the interview, the patient makes an overtly sexual comment. The nurse’s best response would be:

a. “Stop that immediately!”
b. “Oh, you are too funny. Let’s keep going with the interview.”
c. “Do you really think I’d be interested?”
d. “It makes me uncomfortable when you talk that way. Please don’t.”

A

d.