A nurse obtains the health history of a client who is recently diagnosed with lung cancer and identifies that the client has a 60-pack-year smoking history.Which action is most important for the nurse to take when interviewing this client?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Smoking history includes the use of cigarettes,cigars,pipe tobacco,marijuana,and other controlled substances.Because the client may have guilt or denial about this habit,assume a nonjudgmental attitude during the interview.This will encourage the client to be honest about the exposure.Ask the client whether any of these substances are used now or were used in the past.Assess whether the client has passive exposure to smoke in the home or workplace.If the client smokes,ask for how long,how many packs per day,and whether he or she has quit smoking (and how long ago).Document the smoking history in pack-years (number of packs smoked daily multiplied by the number of years the client has smoked).Quitting smoking may not stop further cancer development.This statement would be giving the client false hope,which should be avoided,but is not as important as maintaining a nonjudgmental attitude.

A Nurse Obtains the Health History of a Client Who