Deck 11: Communication

Question 1

A nurse is assisting in the admission of a patient to the orthopedic unit of the hospital and is obtaining information for the database.Which technique is the best way for the nurse to obtain information from the patient?

A) Ask personal questions so as to show interest.
B) Use medical vocabulary to appear competent.
C) Ask why the patient waited so long to get treatment.
D) Use silence while the patient collects his or her thoughts.

Answer 1

Use silence while the patient collects his or her thoughts.

Question 2

A nurse is caring for a patient who cannot speak clearly.Which technique should the nurse use to enhance conversation with this patient?

A) Speak loudly.
B) Finish the patient's sentences.
C) Ask question that require "yes" or "no" answers.
D) Avoid communication aids to prevent embarrassment.

Answer 2

Ask question that require "yes" or "no" answers.

Question 3

A patient asked a nurse when the primary health care provider would make rounds.The nurse was taking another patient for a stat test and replied very quickly,"I have no idea." The patient most likely interpreted the nurse as uncaring because of which factor?

A) Vocabulary
B) Pacing
C) Timing
D) Personal appearance

Answer 3

Pacing

Question 4

A nurse went into a patient's room at 0900,shortly after the patient was told that he or she had liver cancer.The patient asked the nurse to stay because he or she did not want to be alone.The nurse stood very close to the patient,held the patient's hand,and told the patient that he or she had plenty of time.A few minutes later,the nurse thought to check the time on the wristwatch because the nurse was supposed to take another patient for a test at 0945.The patient saw the nurse look at the wrist watch and told the nurse it was now okay to be alone.What was the most likely reason the patient said it was okay for the nurse to leave?

A) Invasion of personal space
B) Verbal communication
C) Nurse's gesture
D) Intonation

Question 5

A nurse gives a hand-off report to the oncoming staff nurse.Which type of communication does this illustrate?

A) Gossip
B) Validation
C) Interpersonal
D) Intrapersonal

Question 6

A nurse is caring for a patient who is having abdominal pain and is experiencing difficulty sleeping.The nurse sits at the bedside of the patient and takes the patient's hand.The patient quickly pulls back.How should the nurse interpret this patient's behavior?

A) The patient is uncomfortable with being touched.
B) The patient is unable to express feelings.
C) The patient has impaired social skills with others.
D) The patient has difficulty with nonverbal communication.

Question 7

A nurse is caring for a patient who is visually impaired.Which technique should the nurse use to facilitate communication?

A) Touch the patient before speaking.
B) Identify self when entering the room.
C) Quietly leave the room when finished.
D) Keep the room dimly lit for calmness.

Question 8

A nurse forms a contract with the patient to specify roles during a therapeutic helping relationship.The nurse is in which phase of the therapeutic relationship?

A) Working
B) Termination
C) Pre-interaction
D) Orientation

Question 9

A patient has just been admitted to the hospital with a broken hip from a fall in the home.The nurse admitting the patient is practicing active listening.Which behavior best conveys to the patient that the nurse is using active listening?

A) Keeping arms crossed
B) Sitting facing the patient
C) Standing facing the patient
D) Leaning away from the patient

Question 10

A nurse is spending time with a patient,who has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer.The patient states that he or she is frightened about the diagnosis and feels overwhelmed.The nurse responds,"It sounds to me like you are feeling very scared right now." Which communication technique did the nurse use?

A) Sympathy
B) Empathy
C) Focusing
D) Self-disclosure

Question 11

When caring for a patient from another culture,what is the best strategy for the nurse to use in communicating with the patient?

A) Using a cultural joke to break the ice
B) Stereotyping the patient within his or her culture
C) Considering the context of the patient's background
D) Assuming the patient or the family member speaks English

Question 12

A nurse who works for an oncology unit is preparing to bathe a patient who recently underwent surgery to remove an abdominal tumor.Before beginning the bath,the nurse explains the procedure.Which of the following best describes the nurse's communication role?

A) Channel
B) Receiver
C) Message
D) Sender

Question 13

A patient had a stroke that left the patient aphasic.A nurse is working on a plan of care.Which nursing diagnosis should the nurse use to describe the patient's aphasia?

A) Impaired Verbal Communication
B) Anxiety
C) Impaired Social Interaction
D) Ineffective Coping

Question 14

Which behavior by the nurse would be considered most professional?

A) Addressing a patient by "dear"
B) Wearing small earrings
C) Being task oriented
D) Avoiding troublesome patients

Question 15

A patient is aphasic from a recent stroke.The nurse is taking a multidisciplinary approach to this patient's care.Who would be most appropriate for the nurse to collaborate with regarding the patient's aphasia?

A) Interpreter
B) Speech therapist
C) Physical therapist
D) Mental health nurse specialist

Question 16

A registered nurse is caring for a postoperative patient who is experiencing respiratory distress after the administration of pain medication.The nurse called the patient's primary health care provider immediately.The information regarding the patient was conveyed using the SBAR format.Which information did the nurse convey to the primary health care provider?

A) Situation, background, assessment, recommendation
B) STAT, background, assessment, requirement
C) Status, background, analysis, recommendation
D) Setting, belief, assessment, requirement

Question 17

A 9-year-old patient who is hospitalized for bowel surgery appears very frightened.To appear less threatening to the child,which action should the nurse take?

A) Stand over the bed when talking to the patient.
B) Sit in a chair next to the bed when talking to the patient.
C) Maintain constant eye contact with the patient at all times.
D) Stay within 12 inches of the patient when talking to the patient.

Question 18

A nurse is working in a busy emergency department of an urban hospital.The family of a patient brought in by ambulance asks the nurse what the doctor meant when he or she said that the patient was coding.In this situation,the word coding is an example of which of the following?

A) Denotative meaning
B) Connotative meaning
C) Intonation
D) Pacing

Question 19

A patient is being cared for by a nurse.The patient has questions regarding what time the surgery is scheduled.When the nurse responds to the question,the nurse is assuming which communication role?

A) Channel
B) Receiver
C) Message
D) Sender

Question 20

A registered nurse is a new nurse manager who needs to council an employee regarding attendance.Because the nurse manager is new to the position,the nurse is rehearsing what is planning to say to the employee before the meeting.The nurse is using which form of communication?

A) Interpersonal
B) Intrapersonal
C) Public
D) Private

Question 21

A nurse has just admitted a 5-year-old child for suspected appendicitis.Which therapeutic communication techniques should the nurse use while communicating with this child? (Select all that apply.)

A) Avoid sudden movements or gestures.
B) Use simple, direct language.
C) Sit at the child's eye level.
D) Tell the child exactly what can do.
E) Use drawing or toys as needed.

Question 22

Which technique by the nurse will facilitate communication with an older adult?

A) Have the TV play lightly in the background.
B) Ask several questions in a row.
C) Allow reminiscing.
D) Use long sentences.

Question 23

While a patent is being interviewed by the nurse,a family member states,"What my father really means is that he doesn't know for sure what the physician meant about the medical diagnosis." Which communication technique did the family member use?

A) Focusing
B) Clarifying
C) Summarizing
D) Sharing observations

Question 24

Which technique should the nurse use when providing information to a patient with a health literacy level of fifth grade?

A) Use the passive voice of language.
B) Present the most important information first.
C) Shift from subject to subject until the patient responds.
D) Explain using jargon so the patient will understand others on the health care team.

Question 25

A nurse enters a patient's room and sees the patient grimacing with each movement.When the nurse asks in a normal tone of voice how the patient is feeling,the patient states that he or she "feels fine." Which finding will the nurse classify as nonverbal communication?

A) The nurse's tone of voice is normal.
B) The patient states that he or she "feels fine."
C) The nurse asks how the patient is feeling.
D) The patient grimaces with each movement.