Question

To effectively establish a setting for communication, the nurse, upon entering the room with a child and his mother, introduces herself and explains the purpose of the interview. The child is included in the interaction as the nurse asks his name and age and what he is expecting at his visit today. The nurse next tells them both, "The child is 25 pounds overweight, and his diet and exercise plan must be dreadful for him to be in such appalling shape." Which aspect of effective communication has the nurse disregarded that will most significantly impact the exchange of information during this interview?

a. Assurance of privacy and confidentiality
b. Preliminary acquaintance
c. Directing the focus away from the complaint of fatigue to one of obesity
d. Injecting her own attitudes and feelings into the interview

Answer 1

The nurse failed to use effective communication by injecting her own negative attitudes and feelings into the Interview, potentially creating a barrier to open and trustful dialogue.

Step-by-step explanation:

The aspect of effective communication that the nurse has disregarded, which will most significantly impact the exchange of information during the interview with the child and his mother, is injecting her own attitudes and feelings into the interview. Making judgmental statements about the child being overweight and criticizing the diet and exercise plan as 'dreadful' and 'appalling' can create a defensive or on-guard environment. This can hamper open communication and trust between the healthcare provider and the patient. Instead, it is important to use respectful language and to be sensitive to the patient's feelings, especially when discussing issues related to health and lifestyle. An effective communication strategy would involve establishing rapport, assurance of privacy and confidentiality, and using a non-judgmental tone to discuss sensitive topics, such as a patient's weight.