Ambivalence & Talk Types
DARN CATS
Strategies and Tools
100

Define ambivalence 

What is 

Having mixed or conflicting feelings about change or wanting to change but also wanting to stay the same


100

What does the letter D stand for in DARN CATS, and give an example

What is 

D stands for Desire (I want to quit smoking)

100

Give an example for the looking back strategy

What is 

"what was life like before you started smoking?"

200

"I know that going to the gym is good for me, but Im too busy to go" which part of this sentence is sustain talk 

what is 

"Im too busy to go to the gym"

200

What does R and N stand for in DARN CATS and give an example 

What is 

R- Reason (if I stop smoking my family would be proud of me) 

N- Need (I need to stop smoking because my lungs are shutting down)

200

Patient states that they are a 3 out of 10 on the readiness ruler, how should the nurse respond?

What is

nurse: "can you explain to me why you are a 3 out of 10 instead of a 7 out of 10?"

300

what is the difference between change talk and sustain talk?

what is 

change talk is about reasons for making a change (I want to quit smoking to be healthier) and sustain talk is wanting to stay the same (I enjoy smoking because it helps me with my stress)

300

what does the acronym DARN CATS stand for?

What is

 D- Desire, A- Ability, R- Reason, N- Need, C- Commitment, A- Activation, TS- Taking steps

300

Pick a letter from OARS and define and give an example

what is 

O- open ended questions (what concerns do you focus on today?)

A- affirmations (youve done a really great job so far)

R- Reflections (pt- "i need to quit smoking buts hard" nurse- "so you know you need to quit but you find it very challenging")

S- summaries (nurse- "let me summaries what i've heard so far, tell me if this is correct. you want to quit, its been stressful, but you know it would help your health.")