The nurse at the clinic is interviewing a patient who offers a number of vague somatic complaints that might not ordinarily prompt a visit to a caregiver: fatigue,back pain,headaches,and sleep disturbance.The patient seems tense,and after having spoken of the symptoms,seems reluctant to provide more information and is in a hurry to leave.The nurse can best serve the patient by:

Question

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In this situation,the nurse should consider the possibility that the patient is a victim of domestic violence or possibly other abuse.Although the patient is reluctant to discuss issues,completing a screening as part of the health assessment might open the door to discussing possible abuse more openly.Asking about psychiatric care could imply the nurse suspects mental illness,which would likely be perceived as offensive and in turn decrease trust in the nurse.The data do not suggest that isolation is a likely issue.Disrobing will seem inappropriate and threatening to the patient,probably be met with refusal,interfere with trust,and impede the remainder of the nursing assessment.

The Nurse at the Clinic Is Interviewing a Patient Who