Mr. Q. is a 45-year-old salesman who comes to your office for evaluation of fatigue. He has come to the office many times in the past with a variety of injuries, and you suspect that he has a problem with alcohol. Which one of the following questions will be most helpful in diagnosing this problem?
A) You are an alcoholic, aren't you?
B) When was your last drink?
C) Do you drink 2 to 3 beers every weekend?
D) Do you drink alcohol when you are supposed to be working?
B) When was your last drink?
This is a good opening question that is general and neutral in tone; depending on the timing, you will be able to ask for more specific information related to the patient's last drink. The others will tend to stifle the conversation because they are closed-ended questions. Answer D implies negative behavior and may also keep the person from sharing freely with you.
You might also like to view...
A nurse caring for a postoperative patient following a tracheostomy should assess the patient for symptoms of early complications, which include:
A) Pneumothorax B) Airway obstruction C) Infection D) Difficulty communicating
A nurse is preparing a room for a patient being transferred from the emergency department with a diagnosis of delirium. What should the nurse ensure in regard to the room?
a. Brightly lit b. Shared by another patient c. Visible from the nurses' station d. Dark and quiet
Because a pregnant client's diabetes has been poorly controlled throughout her pregnancy, the nurse would be alert for which of the following in the neonate at birth?
A) Macrosomia B) Hyperglycemia C) Low birth weight D) Hypobilirubinemia
The client is being treated with captopril (Capoten). The nurse teaches the client that while she is on the medication, she should avoid eating a diet that is rich in which:
a. potassium. b. calcium. c. iron. d. folic acid.