The stage of the interview that establishes the relationship between the nurse and the patient is the:

The stage of the interview that establishes the relationship between the nurse and the patient is the:

• A. Opening stage
• B. Working stage
• C. Surrogate state
• D. Examining state

Answer: (A)

Establishing a trusting, collaborative relationship is the first step in the nurse–patient interview. The opening stage is where you greet the patient, introduce yourself, explain the purpose of the interview, set boundaries, ensure privacy, and obtain consent. This is the time to make the patient feel safe and respected, which fosters honest communication and helps the patient share concerns more openly. Building rapport and trust in this early stage sets the foundation for accurate data gathering and effective care planning in the later parts of the interview. As the conversation progresses, you move into the working stage, where questions dive into the patient’s concerns, history, and symptoms to gather the information needed for assessment and planning. The closing stage then wraps things up with a summary, addressing questions, and outlining next steps. The other terms listed aren’t standard stages of the nurse–patient interview, and they don’t describe the relationship-building focus of the opening stage.

Establishing a trusting, collaborative relationship is the first step in the nurse–patient interview. The opening stage is where you greet the patient, introduce yourself, explain the purpose of the interview, set boundaries, ensure privacy, and obtain consent. This is the time to make the patient feel safe and respected, which fosters honest communication and helps the patient share concerns more openly. Building rapport and trust in this early stage sets the foundation for accurate data gathering and effective care planning in the later parts of the interview.

As the conversation progresses, you move into the working stage, where questions dive into the patient’s concerns, history, and symptoms to gather the information needed for assessment and planning. The closing stage then wraps things up with a summary, addressing questions, and outlining next steps. The other terms listed aren’t standard stages of the nurse–patient interview, and they don’t describe the relationship-building focus of the opening stage.