Public Health Nursing Practice Exam

What should the nurse do to ensure active participation from clients during an educational session?

1. Encourage individual work only

2. Ask open-ended questions and invite discussion

3. Provide lecture-style instruction

4. Limit interactions to personal experiences

The correct answer is: Ask open-ended questions and invite discussion

To promote active participation from clients during an educational session, it is essential for the nurse to ask open-ended questions and invite discussion. This approach fosters an interactive learning environment where clients feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, experiences, and questions. Open-ended questions require more than a simple "yes" or "no" response, encouraging clients to elaborate on their understanding and engage with the material meaningfully. Creating a dialogue through open-ended inquiries not only enhances comprehension but also helps the nurse assess the clients’ knowledge and beliefs. This engagement can lead to a richer educational experience, as it allows clients to connect the information to their personal situations and learn from one another. Inviting discussion also supports the development of critical thinking skills among clients, empowering them to take more responsibility for their health and decision-making. Other methods, such as lectures or limiting interactions, typically do not foster the same level of engagement. Lectures can often lead to passive learning, where clients are merely listening rather than actively participating. Individual work can limit the benefit of shared input and dynamic discussions that enhance learning. Similarly, confining interactions to personal experiences may restrict the breadth of knowledge being exchanged and might not address collective learning needs effectively. Thus, encouraging open dialogue through questioning stands out as the most effective