Which statement by the nurse is an example of OPEN-ENDED communication?

An OPEN-ENDED question or statement cannot be answered with a simple 'yes' or 'no'; it invites the client to elaborate and share information in their own words. 'Tell me about how you've been feeling since starting the new medication' is open-ended — the client can share anything they've noticed, positive or negative, in their own terms. This produces richer information than closed questions and demonstrates genuine interest in the client's experience. CLOSED-ENDED questions (options A, C, D) can typically be answered with 'yes,' 'no,' or a single short answer: 'Are you in pain right now?' = yes/no; 'Did you take your medications this morning?' = yes/no; 'Do you prefer the morning or evening dose?' = one word answer.

When each type is useful:

Open-ended: for initial assessment, exploring feelings/concerns, when you want comprehensive information, therapeutic relationship building.

Closed-ended: for collecting specific facts quickly, confirming specific information, when the client is very agitated or cannot tolerate long conversations, emergencies.

Examples of open-ended starters: 'Tell me about...'; 'Describe what...'; 'How has...'; 'What has your experience been...'; 'Help me understand...'.

Examples of closed-ended starters: 'Do you...?'; 'Are you...?'; 'Did you...?'; 'Is it...?'; 'Have you...?'. The NCLEX-PN tests the ability to distinguish therapeutic from non-therapeutic communication, and to select the response that best honors the client's autonomy and encourages expression.