Question Of The Day: Adolescent

Q. A nurse is about to conduct a sexual history for a 16-year-old female who is accompanied by her mother. What is an appropriate question for the nurse to ask this client or her mother?

A. "What do you think about having your mother leave the room now?"
B. "Mother, do you think your daughter is sexually active?"
C. "Mother, I am going to ask you to wait a few minutes in the waiting room now so I can complete the health history with your daughter."
D. "The two of you seem like you share everything. I am going to ask questions about sexual history now."

Correct Answer: C

Reason: Confidentiality and privacy are critical developmental needs for the adolescent. These needs are important to enable the nurse to establish a relationship of trust with the adolescent. A sexual history should be conducted with a teen without parents. Therefore, the nurse should not ask the mother to provide information or put the daughter in a position of having to make a decision about her mother remaining in the room. Inform the adolescent that this information is confidential, and will not be shared with the parent. Inform the adolescent that issues of abuse or life-threatening issues are required by law to be disclosed to the authorities, and all other information is private.