Final answer:
The nurse is determining the content and feeling of the client's message through attentive listening, which involves interpreting both verbal and non-verbal communication, maintaining silence when appropriate, and asking both open and closed follow-up questions.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a nurse is using the interviewing technique of attentive listening, they are primarily focused on determining the content and feeling of the client's message.
This involves being aware not only of the spoken content but also the emotional undertones and non-verbal cues such as body language. By doing so, the nurse can understand the full context of the client's words and respond appropriately. Attentive listening is essential for building rapport and helping clients feel heard and understood.
Part of this technique involves the use of silence to encourage the client to talk, as well as asking open and closed questions to elicit further information. Follow-up questions may also be used to clarify responses. An attentive listener will utilize all these strategies to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the client's concerns and needs.