During a health history interview, a male client reports that he smokes cigarettes. Which question should the practical nurse (PN) ask next?

A. "Has anyone in your family had lung cancer?": While assessing family history is important, it does not provide immediate information about the client’s personal smoking pattern, which is essential for risk evaluation and care planning. B. "Do you plan to quit now that you are ill?": Asking this question too early can sound judgmental and may make the client defensive. The PN should first gather objective data about the smoking habit before discussing cessation readiness. C. "Can you tell me why you smoke?": Exploring the client’s motivation for smoking is helpful later in counseling, but it is not the priority question during initial assessment. The nurse must first quantify tobacco exposure. D. "How many packs do you smoke each day?": Determining the quantity smoked provides a measurable baseline for assessing nicotine dependence and health risks. This question establishes the “pack-per-day” history needed to calculate total exposure and guide education or cessation planning.