Deck 6: Communication and Relationships

Question 1

A nurse is caring for a patient who has end-stage renal disease and will require dialysis three times per week. The patient states, "I'm upset that I didn't visit all the places I'd like to see. Now that I'm on dialysis, I won't be able to." The most therapeutic response by the nurse is:

A) "You are upset that it's too late to visit places that you would like to see?"
B) "There are many people who feel exactly the same as you do."
C) "Don't worry. You can still visit all of the places that you would like to see."
D) "I think you should visit the places you would like to see before it's too late."

Answer 1

"You are upset that it's too late to visit places that you would like to see?"

Question 2

While obtaining a patient health history, a nurse recognizes that the personal space-distance zone that he or she is in when standing within 3 feet of the patient is

A) Public.
B) Intimate.
C) Casual-personal.
D) Social-consultative.

Answer 2

Casual-personal.

Question 3

While bathing a patient, a nurse recognizes that the personal space-distance zone that he or she is in when physically touching the patient is

A) Public.
B) Intimate.
C) Casual-personal.
D) Social-consultative.

Answer 3

Intimate.

Question 4

When teaching, a nursing instructor stands 15 feet from the class of nursing students. The personal space-distance zone that the nursing instructor is in is

A) Public.
B) Intimate.
C) Casual-personal.
D) Social-consultative.

Question 5

When interacting with a physician, a nurse recognizes that the personal space-distance zone that he or she is in when standing within 5 feet of the physician is

A) Public.
B) Intimate.
C) Casual-personal.
D) Social-consultative.

Question 6

A nurse is caring for a patient who requires assistance with feeding. The nurse delegates this task to the certified nursing assistant (CNA). This type of communication is called

A) Upward.
B) Bilateral.
C) Horizontal.
D) Downward.

Question 7

A nurse is conducting a type of interview that is structured and conducted to find out specific information by using close-ended questions to request specific data from a patient. This type of interview is known as a

A) Directive interview.
B) Passive interview.
C) Nondirective interview.
D) Aggressive interview.

Question 8

A nurse is caring for a patient who was admitted to the hospital for a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) resulting in difficulty understanding speech. The nurse recognizes that the patient is experiencing

A) Receptive aphasia.
B) Expressive aphasia.
C) Receptive dysphagia.
D) Expressive dysphagia.

Question 9

An instructor is teaching students about anger and hostility in communication. The instructor explains that the by-product of anger projected outward toward others is

A) Guilt.
B) Conflict.
C) Sarcasm.
D) Resentment.

Question 10

A nursing instructor teaches a class of student nurses that the most effective communication style for nurses to practice is

A) Passive.
B) Avoidant.
C) Assertive.
D) Aggressive.

Question 11

A patient who appears to be in pain does not ask the nurse for pain medication because he feels it would upset the nurse. The style of communication that the patient is demonstrating is

A) Passive.
B) Assertive.
C) Aggressive.
D) Demeaning.

Question 12

A patient throws his urinal at the nurse and tells the nurse that he thinks she is terrible at her job. The nurse informs the patient that his behavior is inappropriate. The style of communication that the nurse is demonstrating is

A) Passive.
B) Assertive.
C) Aggressive.
D) Demeaning.

Question 13

When interacting with patients, a nurse demonstrates a willingness to communicate by

A) Standing over seated patients.
B) Slumping while talking to patients.
C) Folding arms while talking to patients.
D) Leaning slightly forward toward patients.

Question 14

For nurses to be able to give care to patients, they must quickly establish a trusting relationship with them. Nurses can establish a trusting relationship with their patients by

A) Conveying that they are confident and competent when providing care.
B) Communicating that they are approachable and ready to listen.
C) Communicating empathy to their patients.
D) All of the above.

Question 15

A nurse observes a student nurse caring for a hearing-impaired patient. The nurse will intervene if the student nurse

A) Speaks clearly without shouting.
B) Speaks directly to the patient's interpreter.
C) Positions himself or herself in front of the patient when speaking.
D) Turns down the radio volume when speaking to the patient.

Question 16

A nurse is caring for a patient who has just been diagnosed with a brain tumor. The patient asks the nurse if she should choose to have surgery. The nurse's most therapeutic response is:

A) "Tell me what you know about the surgery."
B) "I would never decide against having surgery."
C) "If I were you, I would definitely have the surgery."
D) "Don't worry. You will be fine if you don't have surgery."

Question 17

A nurse uses the DESC (Describe, Explain, State, Consequences) communication method to promote the

A) Passive style.
B) Aggressive style.
C) Assertive style.
D) Avoidant style.

Question 18

A nurse is caring for a patient who develops dyspnea that does not improve with oxygen therapy and nebulizer treatment. The nurse immediately calls the patient's primary health-care provider. This type of communication is called

A) Upward.
B) Bilateral.
C) Horizontal.
D) Downward.

Question 19

A nurse recognizes that to effectively meet the goal of shared meaning in communication, verbal and nonverbal language should be

A) Absent.
B) Congruent.
C) Equally direct.
D) Incongruent.

Question 20

When a nurse educates a patient about his medications, the patient tells the nurse that he should go back to nursing school because he does not know very much about medications. The style of communication that the patient is demonstrating is

A) Passive.
B) Avoidant.
C) Assertive.
D) Aggressive.

Question 21

A nurse demonstrates active listening when doing which of the following?

A) Ignoring nonverbal cues
B) Tuning out intrusions and distractions
C) Using all of the senses to interpret verbal messages
D) Using all of the senses to interpret nonverbal messages
E) Paying attention to both what the speaker is saying and not saying

Question 22

A nurse is caring for a patient from Germany. The nurse must keep in mind to respect the comfort levels of people from different cultures regarding

A) Touch.
B) Body position.
C) Personal space.
D) Both 1. and 3.

Question 23

A nurse is caring for a patient with Wernicke's aphasia. While communicating with the patient, the nurse should do which of the following?

A) Speak slowly.
B) Use long sentences.
C) Ask yes-or-no questions.
D) Avoid interrupting the patient.
E) Speak in a normal tone of voice.

Question 24

A nursing instructor is educating a class of nursing students about effective communication. The nursing instructor teaches that which of the following is true about effective communication?

A) It is essential in proper documentation practices.
B) It is the foundation of nurse-patient relationships.
C) It helps establish proper transfer of health-care information.
D) It is something that nurses often feel prepared to do in clinical situations.
E) It is a key element when reporting information to other health-care members.

Question 25

When performing an admission assessment, a nurse assesses a patient's verbal communication. The nurse recognizes that verbal communication includes which of the following?

A) The patient's tense posture
B) The patient's written words
C) The patient's facial grimacing
D) The patient's vocalization of pain
E) The patient's disheveled appearance

Question 26

Ineffective communication is a major cause of medical errors. Hand-off or ____________________ reporting has been identified as an area in patient care that is vulnerable to ineffective communication.

Question 27

A nurse must have the ability to intellectually, not emotionally, identify with or experience the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of others. This is known as ____________________.

Question 28

When performing an admission assessment, a nurse assesses a patient's nonverbal communication. The nurse recognizes that nonverbal communication includes which of the following?

A) The patient's rigid posture
B) The patient's written words
C) The patient's brow tightening
D) The patient's vocalization of anxiety
E) The patient's manicured appearance

Question 29

A nurse is confronted by an angry patient who begins to scream. To positively resolve the conflict, the nurse should do which of the following?

A) Apologize for any misunderstandings.
B) Make jokes and personal insults.
C) Be specific about what he or she perceives the problem to be.
D) Ask the patient for ideas on how to resolve the conflict.
E) Speak privately with the patient.

Question 30

A nurse understands that when communicating with a patient face-to-face, communication is which of the following?

A) An active process
B) As simple as telling
C) A passive, one-sided event
D) Completed when the receiver offers feedback
E) Involves both parties sending and receiving messages simultaneously

Question 31

To complete the process of active listening, a nurse should do which of the following?

A) Share perceptions.
B) Avoid confrontation.
C) Exhibit a superior attitude.
D) Refrain from sharing feelings.
E) Respond and provide feedback to the content heard in the message.

Question 32

A nurse is caring for a patient who is having trouble communicating because of involuntary muscle movements. The nurse suspects the condition may be caused by a problem or malfunction in the patient's

A) Left frontal lobe.
B) Occipital lobe.
C) Left parietal lobe.
D) Cerebral cortex.

Question 33

When communicating with a patient, a nurse recognizes that patient-centered communication is defined as which of the following?

A) Communication focused primarily on the nurse
B) Communication that empowers patients to participate in their care
C) Communication that discourages patients from participating in their care
D) Communication that discourages patients from participating in decisions
E) Communication essential to establishing a positive nurse-patient relationship

Question 34

While working with both patients and coworkers, a nurse needs to use a concept referred to as ____________________, or the distance or personal space that people place between themselves and others.

Question 35

While working with elderly patients, a nurse must use all of his or her senses to interpret verbal and nonverbal messages using a technique known as

A) Aggressive style.
B) Active listening.
C) Intimate communication.
D) Upward communication.
Multiple Response
Identify one or more choices that best complete the statement or answer the question.