ATI Health Promotion and Disease Maintenance Revision Guide - Questions & Answers with Rationales

A 16-year-old girl visits the women's health clinic to obtain information about birth control because she is sexually active and wants to avoid pregnancy. The nurse who is interviewing the client should first: Assess the client's knowledge of available birth control methods Rationale: Learning occurs more readily when new information complements existing knowledge. Therefore it is important for the nurse to assess the client's level of knowledge of the subject matter. Although the use of written material assists in the learning process, this would not be the first nursing intervention. Telling the client that because of her age and lifestyle birth control pills would be the easiest method of contraception provides advice from the nurse's perspective and does not allow the client the opportunity to make her own decision. Telling the client that birth control methods cannot be discussed unless the client's boyfriend is present is incorrect and nontherapeutic.