The patient reports having a persistent cough for the past 2 weeks and that the cough disrupts sleep and has not been helped by over-the-counter cough medicines. Which question is most appropriate for the nurse to ask next?
A) "So what do you think is causing this persistent cough?"
B) "Have you tried taking sleeping pills to help you sleep?"
C) "Did you think this will just go away on its own?"
D) "What other symptoms have you noticed related to this cough?"

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

"What other symptoms have you noticed related to this cough?" is part of a symptom analysis to provide more data. The answer to the question "So what do you think is causing this persistent cough?" is a guess by the patient and does not provide useful data. "Have you tried taking sleeping pills to help you sleep?" does not focus on the cough, which is what is disturbing the patient's sleep. "Did you think this will just go away on its own?" does not provide useful data and criticizes the patient's lack of action.

The Patient Reports Having a Persistent Cough for the Past