What communication strategies would the nurse have in place when establishing rapport with the caregiver and an 8-year-old during a health history interview? Select all that apply.

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The first step in effective communication is to establish trust between the nurse, the child, and the parent. By actively including a school-age child in the health history interview, the nurse shows respect to that child and obtains valuable insight into their health status. Allowing the child to describe how they feel or where they hurt gives the nurse a better understanding of the issue. Using clear, age-appropriate explanations will enhance communication with the child while maintaining the participation of the caregiver. Open-ended questions allow the child or caregiver to elaborate on the question, giving the nurse detailed information to guide further assessment. Non-verbal cues also play an important role in communication (eg, staying at eye level with the child to ease any potential nervousness). (Option A) Closed-ended questions usually result in a "yes" or "no" answer. There are times in an interview that closed-ended questions are appropriate to gather specific information, but broader, more descriptive answers are generally desired when conducting a health history interview. (Option C) The nurse should interview a school-age child together with their caregiver unless there is an indication of child abuse. The child may feel more at ease, and a more complete assessment may be obtained through answers from both the child and caregiver. Educational objective: It is important for the nurse to develop a rapport with the child and the caregiver based on mutual trust and respect. Strategies for building this relationship include actively including the child in the interview, using age-appropriate explanations, maintaining an eye level position, and asking open-ended questions.

What Communication Strategies Would the Nurse Have in Place When