The nurse is assessing a patient's alcohol intake. What question is most appropriate?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse needs to be nonjudgmental when inquiring about topics that might be sensitive, such as alcohol or drug use. The nurse asks a neutral, objective question such as "How much alcohol do you drink daily?" that allows the patient to quantify the intake. Avoid yes/no questions because they are closed ended and do not lead to further discussion or disclosure. Avoid a negatively charged question such as, "You don't drink much, do you?"; this demonstrates the nurse's displeasure with drinking. Asking when the last drink was is not as important in a general survey as quantifying the amount of intake.

The Nurse Is Assessing a Patient's Alcohol Intake