Seidel’s Guide to Physical Examination, 9th Edition

MULTIPLE CHOICE 1.Which question would be considered a “leading question?” a. “What do you think is causing your headaches?” b. “You don’t get headaches often, do you?” c. “On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the severity of your headaches?” d. “At what time of the day are your headaches the most severe?” ANS: B Stating to the patient that he or she does not get headaches would limit the information in the patient’s answer. Asking the patient what he or she thinks is causing the headaches is an open-ended question. Asking the patient how he or she would rate the severity of the headaches and asking what time of the day the headaches are the most severe are direct questions. DIF:OBJ:Cognitive Level: Applying (Application) Nursing process—assessment MSC: Physiologic Integrity: Physiologic Adaptation 2.When are open-ended questions generally most useful? a. During sensitive area part of the interview b. After several closed-ended questions have been asked c. While designing the genogram d. During the review of systems NURSINGTB.COM ANS: A Asking open-ended questions during the sensitive part of the interview allows you to gather more information and establishes you as an empathic listener, which is the first step of effective communication. Asking closed-ended questions may stifle the patient’s desire to discuss the history of the illness. Interviewing for the purpose of designing a genogram or conducting a review of systems requires more focused data than can be more easily gathered with direct questioning. DIF:OBJ:Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension) Nursing process—assessment MSC: Physiologic Integrity: Physiologic Adaptation 3.Periods of silence during the interview can serve important purposes, such as: a. allowing the clinician to catch up on documentation. b. promoting calm. c. providing time for reflection. d. increasing the length of the visit. ANS: C Silence is a useful tool during interviews for the purposes of reflection, summoning courage, and displaying compassion. This is not a time to document in the chart, but rather to focus on the patient. Periods of silence may cause anxiety rather than promote calm. The length of the visit is less important than getting critical information.