Health History

Although the assessment phase of the nursing process precedes the other phases, the assessment phase is

• a. continuous.

• b. completed on admission.

• c. linear.

• d. performed only by nurses.

When a client first enters the hospital for an elective surgical procedure, the nurse should perform an assessment termed

• a. entry.

   

• b. exploratory.

• c. focused.

• d. comprehensive.

To prepare for the assessment of a client visiting a neighborhood health care clinic, the nurse should first

• a. discuss the client’s symptoms with other team members.

• b. plan for potential laboratory procedures.

• c. review the client’s health care record.

• d. determine potential health care resources.

Before beginning a comprehensive health assessment of an adult client, the nurse should explain to the client that the purpose of the assessment is to

• a. arrive at conclusions about the client’s health.

• b. document any physical symptoms the client may have.

• c. contribute to the medical diagnosis.

• d. validate the data collected.

During an interview, the nurse collects both subjective and objective data from an adult client. Subjective data would include the client’s

• a. perception of pain.

• b. height.

• c. weight.

• d. temperature.

During an interview with an adult client, the nurse can keep the interview from going off course by

• a. using open-ended questions.

• b. rephrasing the client’s statements.

• c. inferring information.

• d. using closed-ended questions.

The nurse is interviewing a client in the clinic for the first time. The client appears to have a

very limited vocabulary. The nurse should plan to

• a. use very basic lay terminology.

• b. have a family member present during the interview.

• c. use standard medical terminology.

• d. show the client pictures of different symptoms, such as the “faces pain chart.”

During a client interview, the nurse uses nonverbal expressions appropriately when the nurse

• a. avoids excessive eye contact with the client.

• b. remains expressionless throughout the interview.

• c. uses touch in a friendly manner to establish rapport.

• d. displays mental distancing during the interview.

During the interview of an adult client, the nurse should

• a. use leading questions for valid responses.

• b. provide the client with information as questions arise.

• c. read each question carefully from the history form.

• d. complete the interview as quickly as possible.

While interviewing a client for the first time, the nurse is using a standardized nursing history form. The nurse should

• a. maintain eye contact while asking the questions from the form.

• b. read the questions verbatim from the form.

• c. ask the client to complete the form.

• d. ask leading questions throughout the interview.