The nurse is assessing a patient's alcohol intake. What question is most appropriate?
a. "Do you drink alcohol at all?"
b. "You don't drink much do you?"
c. "When was your last drink?"
d. "How much alcohol do you drink daily?"
ANS: D
The nurse needs to be non-judgmental when inquiring about topics that might be sensitive, such as alcohol or drug use. The nurse asks a neutral, objective question such as "How much alcohol do you drink daily?" that allows the patient to quantify the intake. Avoid yes/no questions because they are closed ended and do not lead to further discussion or disclosure. Avoid a negatively charged question such as, "You don't drink much, do you?"; this demonstrates the nurse's displeasure with drinking. Asking when the last drink was is not as important in a general survey as quantifying the amount of intake.
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