Deck 7: Interviewing and Communication Techniques

Question 1

The student nurse and the experienced nurse are meeting with an elderly Vietnamese client who is unable to speak English. Which actions indicate that the student nurse requires further education?

A) The student nurse looks intently at the translator during the interview.
B) The student nurse is sitting directly beside the client and both of them are facing the translator.
C) The student nurse asks one question at a time.
D) The student nurse has requested that the client bring his daughter to the interview to translate for him.
E) The student nurse states, "Please tell him to void in this specimen container and to use a clean-catch technique when acquiring the urine."

Answer 1

The student nurse looks intently at the translator during the interview.
The student nurse is sitting directly beside the client and both of them are facing the translator.
The student nurse has requested that the client bring his daughter to the interview to translate for him.
The student nurse states, "Please tell him to void in this specimen container and to use a clean-catch technique when acquiring the urine."

Question 2

A client tells the nurse about two abortions performed during college. The nurse responds, "What did you major in while you were in college?" This response is evidence of which type of barrier to communication?

A) Changing the subject.
B) False reassurance.
C) Cross-examination.
D) Use of technical terms.

Answer 2

Changing the subject.

Question 3

While conducting the client's health history, the nurse makes little eye contact with the client and focuses intently upon the computer while documenting the client's information. The nurse faces the computer with legs crossed. Which behavior is this nurse exhibiting?

A) A lack of empathy.
B) A lack of genuineness.
C) A lack of concreteness.
D) A lack of positive regard.

Answer 3

A lack of genuineness.

Question 4

The nurse is interviewing the client. The nurse states, "Can you tell me exactly how you feel when you are having difficulty catching your breath?" Which communication technique is the nurse specifically using during this client interaction?

A) Focusing.
B) Attending.
C) Paraphrasing.
D) Summarizing.

Question 5

The nurse is admitting a young client of Cuban descent to the hospital. Which action by the nurse is culturally sensitive to this client?

A) Allowing all family members to be present during the admission.
B) Ensuring that the father of the young client is provided with adequate amounts of information regarding the young client's care.
C) Requesting that all family members wait in the waiting room.
D) Ensuring that the mother of the young client is provided with adequate amounts of information regarding the young client's care.

Question 6

The nurse is providing education to an adult client recently diagnosed with asthma. The client smokes one pack of cigarettes each day. The nurse states, "Now that you have to quit smoking your friends will no longer complain that you smell like cigarettes." Which communication barrier does the nurse's statement represent?

A) False reassurance.
B) Cross-examination.
C) Unwanted advice.
D) Technical terms.

Question 7

While interviewing the client during the focused interview, the client begins to cry softly. Which interventions by the nurse are appropriate?

A) The nurse states, "It's all right, I think we're done with the interview."
B) The nurse places the tissues within arm's reach of the client.
C) The nurse remains quiet until the nurse feels that the client is prepared to proceed with the interview.
D) The nurse states, "I don't like these questions any more than you do, but we need to get on with the interview so you can go home and cry later."
E) The nurse states, "I can see you are upset. It's all right to cry."

Question 8

The nurse is conducting a health history interview for a client being seen in a community clinic. When the nurse exhibits a willingness to help, which client behavior is expected in return?

A) Cooperation.
B) Non-compliance.
C) Attitude.
D) Anger.

Question 9

The nurse recently gave birth to a stillborn infant. During the pre-interaction stage, the nurse learns that the client has had five elective abortions performed while she was in high school and college. Which nursing actions are appropriate to help the nurse prepare emotionally for the initial interview with this client?

A) The nurse speaks with one of her nursing peers and sets up a time to role-play the interview.
B) The nurse writes in her journal regarding her fears about meeting with the client.
C) The nurse makes an appointment to meet with her counselor prior to the interview.
D) The nurse should remain very quiet during the interview so that the initial interview will only last for a brief time.
E) The nurse creates a list of her own goals to accomplish during the interview with this client.

Question 10

An adolescent client is admitted to the emergency department with a possible urinary tract infection. The nurse asks, "When did you notice that urinating was painful?" Which barrier to communication does this exhibit?

A) Providing false reassurance.
B) Passing judgment.
C) Giving unwanted advice.
D) Using a technical term.

Question 11

The nurse is providing care to a client who lost a pregnancy in the 14th week due to spontaneous abortion. The client is tearful during the assessment process. The nurse states, "These things always happen for a reason. You can always get pregnant again." Which barrier to communication does the nurse's statement represent?

A) False reassurance.
B) Change of subject.
C) Cross-examination.
D) Unwanted advice.

Question 12

The nurse is interviewing the client. The nurse says to the client, "It sounds like you don't like your new job because it's more stressful than you anticipated." Which communication technique is the nurse using in this interaction with the client?

A) Listening.
B) Attending.
C) Questioning.
D) Paraphrasing.

Question 13

While conducting a health history interview, the nurse restates the client's basic message to test whether it was appropriately understood. Which interactional skill is the nurse using with this technique?

A) Attending.
B) Paraphrasing.
C) Reflecting.
D) Summarizing.

Question 14

What is occurring when the nurse unknowingly hinders the flow of information during the health history process?

A) Therapeutic interaction.
B) Non-therapeutic interaction.
C) False assurance.
D) Cross-examination.

Question 15

The nurse is conducting a health history for a client newly admitted to the hospital. Which question by the nurse is open-ended?

A) "Are you in pain?"
B) "Do you have difficulty sleeping?"
C) "Are you married?"
D) "When was your last tetanus shot?"

Question 16

The nurse is conducting a health history interview. By making direct eye contact with the client, which interactional skill is the nurse using with this client?

A) Attending.
B) Paraphrasing.
C) Focusing.
D) Reflecting.

Question 17

The nurse is interviewing the client. Which technique should the nurse use to decode the client's messages?

A) Listen actively and attentively.
B) Develop and transmit an idea.
C) Use words to convey the message.
D) Use body language to convey the message.

Question 18

The nurse is interviewing a client who is in acute pain. Which action by the nurse is the priority?

A) Interview the family for the information.
B) Attempt to reduce the pain and complete the interview later.
C) Proceed very quickly with the interview.
D) Document why the interview could not be completed.

Question 19

The nurse is preparing to conduct an initial client interview. Rank the nursing statements in the order in which they would most likely occur. Standard Text: Click on the down arrow for each response in the right column and select the correct choice from the list.
Response

A) "We're almost done; do you have any questions for me?" Response
B) "May I call you Anne?" Response
C) "When you said you had been having trouble with your belly, what did you mean?" Response
D) "So, can you tell me about what's been going on with your health?"

Question 20

The nurse is conducting a health history interview for a client who is experiencing symptoms of asthma. The nurse asks the client, "When did your symptoms begin?" Which interactional skill is the nurse using by asking this question?

A) Attending.
B) Leading.
C) Focusing.
D) Questioning.

Question 21

While conducting the health history the nurse states, "I need this information to plan dietary changes that will benefit your type 1 diabetes mellitus." This statement is an example of which professional characteristic in establishing a nurse-client relationship?

A) Positive regard.
B) Empathy.
C) Genuineness.
D) Concreteness.

Question 22

The nurse is assisting the client onto the examination table. The nurse states, "take your time" but is looking at her watch and appears annoyed. Which professional characteristic in the nurse-client relationship does this nurse lack?

A) Positive regard.
B) Empathy.
C) Genuineness.
D) Concreteness.

Question 23

Which is an appropriate secondary source of information when conducting a health history to obtain accurate information?

A) The client's spouse.
B) The client's healthcare provider.
C) The client's medical record.
D) The client's adult child.

Question 24

The nurse is preparing to conduct a health history for a pediatric client. Which companion can provide legal consent for treatment for this client without written or verbal parental consent?

A) An adolescent step-sibling of the child.
B) A grandparent who lives with the child.
C) An adult natural sibling of the child.
D) A step-parent to the child.

Question 25

Who is the best source for providing information for the disoriented older adult client?

A) A sibling of the client who does not speak fluent English.
B) The adult child of the client who is on the phone.
C) The client's spouse at the bedside.
D) The older adult client's healthcare provider.

Question 26

Which are the reasons for the nurse conducting a focused interview after the initial interview is complete?

A) To clarify data.
B) To gather missing information.
C) To validate nursing diagnoses.
D) To collect data from the medical record.
E) To review current health concerns.

Question 27

Which professional characteristic implies that the nurse respects the client's ability to understand and recognizes the client's right to know the details of the plan of care?

A) Positive regard.
B) Empathy.
C) Genuineness.
D) Concreteness.

Question 28

When conducting a focused interview for an older adult client, which interventions by the nurse are appropriate?

A) Establishing rapport.
B) Insisting adult children stay in the room.
C) Using a paper robe for infection control purposes.
D) Ensuring background noise is at a minimum.
E) Addressing the client as "honey."

Question 29

When conducting a client health history, the nurse asks that all calls go to voice mail during the interview process. Which professional characteristic is the nurse exhibiting to establish a nurse-client relationship with this action?

A) Positive regard.
B) Empathy.
C) Genuineness.
D) Concreteness.

Question 30

The nurse is caring for a client who is admitted to the emergency department (ED) with abdominal pain. The client speaks very little English and requires an emergency appendectomy. The nurse has enlisted the hospital interpreter to explain the procedure and help with informed consent. Which action by the nurse is the most appropriate when the interpreter arrives?

A) Asking the interpreter to translate as closely as possible the same words used by the professional staff.
B) Including the family in the process and exchange of information to ensure complete understanding.
C) Addressing the questions to the interpreter, so nothing is missed.
D) Asking the interpreter to use a familiar dialect to enhance understanding.