HESI (Health and Environmental Sciences Institute) Health Assessment Practice Test

What is a potential drawback of note-taking during a patient interview?

1. Note-taking may impede the nurse's observation of the patient's nonverbal behaviors.

2. Note-taking allows the patient to continue at his or her own pace as the nurse records what is said.

3. Note-taking allows the nurse to shift attention away from the patient, resulting in an increased comfort level.

4. Note-taking allows the nurse to break eye contact with the patient, which may increase his or her level of comfort.

The correct answer is: Note-taking may impede the nurse's observation of the patient's nonverbal behaviors.

Note-taking during a patient interview can indeed impede the nurse's observation of the patient's nonverbal behaviors, which are crucial for effective communication and assessment. Nonverbal cues, such as body language, facial expressions, and gestures, can provide significant insights into the patient's emotional state, level of comfort, and truthfulness about their symptoms. When a nurse is focused on writing down information, they may miss these important signals and fail to fully understand the patient's perspective. This can potentially lead to a less comprehensive assessment and a missed opportunity to address underlying issues that may not be articulated verbally. The ability to maintain eye contact and actively engage with the patient is essential for building rapport and trust, which is an integral part of effective patient care.