CBS Counseling & Education 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which educational approach is most effective for a mother with low health literacy?
- Provide detailed pamphlets with medical terminology
- Use teach-back method with simple, plain language (Correct answer)
- Show a lengthy instructional video
- Give her a website address to research on her own
Correct answer: Use teach-back method with simple, plain language
The teach-back method confirms understanding and plain language ensures the mother can apply the information regardless of literacy level.
Question 2: A mother asks whether it is safe to breastfeed while taking a prescribed antidepressant. What is the CBS's best response?
- Tell her to stop breastfeeding while on medication
- Advise her to stop the medication to continue breastfeeding
- Encourage her to consult her prescribing provider and offer to help find evidence-based resources (Correct answer)
- Tell her all antidepressants are safe during breastfeeding
Correct answer: Encourage her to consult her prescribing provider and offer to help find evidence-based resources
The CBS should stay within their scope of practice by directing medication questions to the prescribing provider while supporting access to evidence-based resources like LactMed.
Question 3: Which setting is MOST conducive to effective breastfeeding education?
- A busy nurses' station where interruptions are frequent
- A private, quiet room where the mother feels safe and unhurried (Correct answer)
- A group class with 20 other new parents
- A hallway conversation before discharge
Correct answer: A private, quiet room where the mother feels safe and unhurried
A private, quiet environment reduces distractions and promotes open communication, which is essential for effective counseling and skill teaching.
Question 4: A grandmother insists the mother's milk is 'not enough' and pressures her to supplement with formula. How should the CBS educate the family?
- Agree that supplementation may be needed to keep peace
- Exclude the grandmother from future consultations
- Acknowledge her concern, explain normal newborn output expectations, and involve her as a support person (Correct answer)
- Tell the grandmother her advice is incorrect
Correct answer: Acknowledge her concern, explain normal newborn output expectations, and involve her as a support person
Including the grandmother respectfully and providing factual education about wet diapers and weight gain turns a potential barrier into a support resource.
Question 5: When counseling a mother about breast refusal by her infant, which approach demonstrates evidence-based education?
- Tell the mother to force the breast into the infant's mouth
- Advise the mother to skip feedings until the baby is hungrier
- Discuss skin-to-skin contact, reverse pressure softening, and paced bottle feeding if applicable (Correct answer)
- Recommend immediate formula supplementation
Correct answer: Discuss skin-to-skin contact, reverse pressure softening, and paced bottle feeding if applicable
Skin-to-skin, reverse pressure softening, and paced bottle feeding address the common causes of breast refusal and support return to direct breastfeeding.
Question 6: A CBS is leading a prenatal breastfeeding class. Which teaching method best promotes active learning?
- Lecturing for 60 minutes with slides
- Distributing handouts and dismissing the class
- Using demonstrations, return demonstrations, and group discussion (Correct answer)
- Showing a video and answering no questions
Correct answer: Using demonstrations, return demonstrations, and group discussion
Demonstrations, return demonstrations, and group discussion engage multiple learning styles and improve skill retention over passive lecture methods.
Question 7: A mother who exclusively breastfed for 3 months decides to return to work. What anticipatory guidance should the CBS prioritize?
- Advise her to wean before returning to work
- Discuss milk expression strategies, storage guidelines, and communicating with her employer about pumping breaks (Correct answer)
- Tell her breastfeeding and working are not compatible
- Suggest introducing formula to simplify the transition
Correct answer: Discuss milk expression strategies, storage guidelines, and communicating with her employer about pumping breaks
Proactive education about pumping schedules, milk storage, and workplace rights helps mothers successfully continue breastfeeding after returning to work.
CBS Counseling & Education 3
Which educational approach is most effective for a mother with low health literacy?