Deck 11: Communication

Question 1

When the nurse takes the patient's hand,the patient quickly pulls it back.How will the nurse interpret this patient's behavior?

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

Answer 1

The patient is uncomfortable with being touched.

Question 2

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 2

Use silence while the patient collects his or her thoughts.

Question 3

The nurse manager rehearses what to say to a nurse who made a serious medication error.Which form of communication is being used by the nurse manager?

A) Intonation
B) Nonverbal
C) Intrapersonal
D) Orientation

Answer 3

Intrapersonal

Question 4

Which is the best strategy for the nurse to use when communicating with a patient from different culture?

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 5

The emergency room nurse obtains report from the paramedics as the patient is on the way to the hospital.The nurse is in which phase of the therapeutic relationship?

A) Working
B) Orientation
C) Termination
D) Preinteraction

Question 6

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

A) Ask questions that require "yes" or "no" answers.
B) Avoid communication aids to prevent embarrassment.
C) Speak loudly and slowly to facilitate patient understanding.
D) Finish the patient's sentences when the patient is unable to.

Question 7

Which action by the nurse will help to reduce the fears of a hospitalized young child?

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 8

Which health care professional will be of most assistance to help the patient with aphasia following a stroke?

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

Question 9

Which action by the nurse demonstrates appropriate timing for effective communication?

A) The nurse sits in a chair next to the patient's bed to maintain eye contact.
B) The nurse waits to begin teaching until the patient's nausea has subsided.
C) The nurse speaks slowly and loudly for a patient who is hard of hearing.
D) The nurse maintains privacy during all conversations with the patient.

Question 10

Which assessment findings will the nurse communicate to the physician using the SBAR tool?

A) The patient is having difficulty breathing and the pulse oximetry is 75%.
B) The patient has not had a bowel movement since surgery eight hours ago.
C) The patient's family member initially refused to learn how to perform the dressing changes.
D) The patient sent the breakfast tray back to the kitchen because the food was cold.

Question 11

Which action communicates to the patient that the nurse wants to leave the patient's room to care for other patients?

A) Sitting in a chair next to the patient's bed
B) Making sure the door is completely shut for privacy
C) Repeatedly checking the clock to see what time it is
D) Holding the patient's hand when the patient starts to cry

Question 12

The nurse informs the patient that a code pink is paged overhead when an infant is abducted from the hospital.What is the best description of the use of the term code pink in this situation?

A) Denotative meaning
B) Perceptual stereotype
C) Emotional inflection
D) Sender territoriality

Question 13

A nurse is caring for a patient who is visually impaired.Which technique will 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 14

Which is the most appropriate nursing diagnosis to use for a patient with expressive aphasia following a stroke?

A) Impaired verbal communication related to inability to speak and reply
B) Readiness for enhanced comfort related to drooling and facial droop
C) Deficient diversional activity related to lack of stimuli in hospital room
D) Noncompliance related to inability to verbally answer questions

Question 15

The nurse educates the patient about what to expect during suctioning of the tracheostomy tube.Which term best describes the patient's communication role?

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

Question 16

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

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

Question 17

The nurse educates the patient about what to expect during insertion of a nasogastric tube.Which term best describes the nurse's communication role?

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

Question 18

Which behavior best demonstrates active listening by the nurse?

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

Question 19

The patient verbalized frustration to the nurse about the lengthy recovery time after surgery.The nurse's response was "I understand how you want to be feeling better already." Which communication technique was used by the nurse?

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

Question 20

Which statement by the nurse is an example of an SBAR recommendation?

A) "The patient has become increasingly short of breath over the last few hours."
B) "The patient has a history of chronic respiratory failure due to emphysema."
C) "The patient's pulse oximetry is 84% and crackles are heard over all lung fields."
D) "The patient needs oxygen titrated to maintain oximetry between 90% and 92%."

Question 21

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

A) Allow reminiscing.
B) Use long sentences.
C) Ask several questions in a row.
D) Play soft music in the background.

Question 22

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) Use medical terminology to explain the concepts.
D) Shift from subject to subject until the patient responds.

Question 23

Which therapeutic communication techniques should the nurse use while communicating with a small child?

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

Question 24

A nurse enters a patient's room and sees the patient grimacing with each movement.When the nurse asks how the patient is feeling,the patient states "I feel fine." Which finding will the nurse classify as nonverbal communication?

A) The patient states "I feel fine."
B) The nurse asks how the patient is feeling.
C) The patient grimaces with each movement.
D) The nurse is present at the patient's bedside.

Question 25

The patient reports using history of ibuprofen for arthritis pain after telling the nurse about a severe allergy to NSAID medications.The nurse asks the patient to further explain the allergy and use of ibuprofen.Which action is demonstrated by the nurse?

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