Wisconsin Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Practice Exam

Which type of question encourages residents to communicate openly?

1. Closed Questions

2. Multiple Choice Questions

3. Yes/No Questions

4. Open Ended Questions

The correct answer is: Open Ended Questions

Open-ended questions are designed to allow residents to express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a free-form manner. These types of questions do not have a fixed response, meaning they invite elaboration and detailed answers rather than simple, one-word responses. For instance, asking a resident, "What do you enjoy most about your daily routine?" gives them the opportunity to share their personal insights and preferences, thus encouraging a more thorough and meaningful dialogue. In contrast, closed questions, multiple choice questions, and yes/no questions typically restrict the respondent's answer to options provided by the questioner, limiting the potential for expansive communication. Closed questions can often be answered with a single word or phrase, while multiple choice questions and yes/no questions require selecting from predefined responses, which can inhibit a resident's ability to express themselves fully. This makes open-ended questions the most effective for promoting open communication and deeper interaction with residents.