Question 1

What is the primary focus of communication during the nurse-client relationship?

Accepted Answer

The primary focus of communication during the nurse-client relationship is the client and their needs. The nurse is responsible for facilitating communication and creating a therapeutic relationship that meets the client's needs. A client-centered approach is essential for effective communication and positive outcomes. While time available, nursing activity, and environment are important considerations, they are secondary to the needs of the client.

Question 2

A nurse is educating a home care client on how to administer a topical medication. The client is watching television while the nurse is talking. What might be the result of this interaction?

Accepted Answer

If the client is not fully engaged in the communication, there is a higher likelihood that the message being conveyed will not be fully understood or retained. Watching television while receiving important information can be a distraction and can lead to misunderstandings or missed details.

Question 3

What is the goal of the nurse in a helping relationship with a client?

Accepted Answer

The goal of the nurse in a helping relationship with a client is to assist the client to identify and achieve their goals. This involves providing emotional support, guidance, and education to help the client make decisions and take action towards their desired outcome. While physical care and safety are important aspects of nursing care, they are not the primary goal in a helping relationship. Facilitating the client's interactions with others may also be important, but it is not the primary focus of a helping relationship.

Question 4

A nurse is sitting near a client while conducting a health history. The client keeps edging away from the nurse. What might this mean in terms of personal space?

Accepted Answer

The client is edging away from the nurse, which suggests that the nurse is encroaching on the client's personal space. The client may feel uncomfortable or threatened by the nurse's proximity.

Question 5

A nursing student caring for an unconscious client knows that communication is important even if the client does not respond. Which nonverbal action by the nursing student would communicate caring?

Accepted Answer

Holding the client's hand while talking communicates care and empathy without relying on verbal communication, allowing the nursing student to offer comfort and support to the unconscious client. Constant eye contact might be overwhelming for the client, and waving or sighing are not effective ways to communicate caring without verbal communication.

Question 6

The nurse has entered a client's room and observes that the client is hunched over and appears to be breathing rapidly. What type of question should the nurse first implement in this interaction?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse has entered a client's room...

Question 7

A group of nursing students is working together on a presentation for their clinical instructor. One student in the group participates by arguing and attempting to block each step of the process of this presentation. The student's behavior is causing frustration for the others and slowing their progress. Which of the following best describes the role this individual student is playing in relationship to the group dynamics?

Accepted Answer

This individual student is only concerned with their own interests and is not co-operating with the rest of the group. They are impeding progress and causing frustration. This behavior is self-serving and not task-oriented or group-building.

Question 8

The daughter of an older adult female client has asked the nurse why a urine specimen was collected from her mother earlier that morning. How can the nurse best respond to the daughter's query?

Accepted Answer

This answer provides a clear and concise reason for collecting the urine specimen, while also reassuring the daughter that the healthcare team is taking steps to ensure her mother's health. The other options are either too technical (B), vague (C), or inaccurate (D).

Question 9

A nurse uses the SBAR method to hand off the communication to the health care team. Which of the following might be listed under the "B" of the acronym?

Accepted Answer

The "B" in SBAR stands for background information, which includes the client's mental status, medical history, and current medications. Vital signs may be included under the "S" for situation, client requests may be part of the "A" for assessment, and further testing may be part of the "R" for recommendation.

Question 10

A nurse touches a client's hand to indicate caring and support. What channel of communication is the nurse using?

Accepted Answer

The nurse is using the kinesthetic channel of communication by touching the client's hand to convey care and support. Kinesthetic communication involves the sense of touch and physical gestures.

Question 11

Which of the following statements is true of factors that influence communication?

Accepted Answer

Culture and lifestyle can have a significant impact on the communication process. Different cultural backgrounds may influence a client's perception of health and illness, as well as their preferences for communication styles. Lifestyle factors, such as education level or socioeconomic status, may also impact how a client communicates with their healthcare provider. It is important for nurses to be aware of these factors and adapt their communication approach accordingly. The other options (A, B, and D) are not true statements about factors that influence communication.

Question 12

The nurse is caring for a client who speaks Chinese, and the nurse does not speak Chinese. An appropriate approach for communication with this client includes what?

Accepted Answer

Using a caring voice and repeating messages can help convey empathy and patience, which are crucial in a healthcare setting, especially when there's a language barrier. It helps in making the client feel understood and cared for, even if the words are not fully understood.

Question 13

Which of the nursing roles is primarily performed during the working phase of the helping relationship?

Accepted Answer

During the working phase of the helping relationship, the nurse primarily acts as an educator and counselor, providing information, emotional support, and guidance to help the patient learn about their health condition and make informed decisions about their care.

Question 14

A nurse has drafted an SBAR communication before contacting the primary care provider of a client whose condition has worsened suddenly. How should the nurse best conclude this communication?

Accepted Answer

Concluding by asking the primary care provider to come and assess the client would be the best choice, as this would prompt the provider to take appropriate action to manage the worsening condition. Simply providing vital signs or asking if the provider is familiar with the client may not fully convey the seriousness of the situation. Providing a diagnosis may also not be appropriate, as it is the provider's responsibility to make the diagnosis and develop a treatment plan.

Question 15

The family of a client in a burn unit asks the nurse for information. The nurse sits with the family and discusses their concerns. What type of communication is this?

Accepted Answer

Interpersonal communication is defined as a one-on-one conversation between two individuals, in this case, the nurse and the family. The nurse is communicating with the family members to understand their concerns and provide accurate information related to their loved one's burn care.

Question 16

Which term describes a nurse who is sensitive to the client's feelings, but remains objective enough to help the client achieve positive outcomes?

Accepted Answer

Empathic nurses are able to understand and share the feelings of their clients while maintaining the professional objectivity needed to support positive outcomes.

Question 17

Which of the following is an example of nonverbal communication?

Accepted Answer

The contorted facial expression is a form of nonverbal communication, indicating the client's pain without them having to verbally express it. Choice A involves verbal communication, Choice B involves a presentation or lecture-style communication, and Choice D involves verbal communication as well.

Question 18

The nurse has entered a client's room after receiving a morning report. The nurse rapidly assessed the client's airway, breathing, and circulation and greeted the client by saying "Good morning." The client has made no reciprocal response to the nurse. How should the nurse best respond to the client's silence?

Accepted Answer

The nurse should attempt to understand the reason for the client's silence by asking appropriate questions. The client may be experiencing discomfort or pain, feeling fearful or anxious, or simply not in the mood to converse in the morning. The nurse's priority should be to assess the client's needs and address any concerns. Apologizing or assuming the client is angry or fearful without evidence would not be appropriate. Documenting the client's mood is also necessary, but should not be the only response to the client's lack of response.

Question 19

Why is communication important to the "assessing" step of the nursing process?

Accepted Answer

Communication, both verbal and nonverbal, is essential in gathering information during the assessment phase. Nurses must be able to communicate effectively with patients, family members, and other healthcare professionals to collect accurate and comprehensive data about the patient's health status. Without effective communication, the nurse may miss important information that could impact the patient's care plan.

Question 20

What action by the nurse will facilitate the helping relationship during the orientation phase?

Accepted Answer

Introducing oneself to the client by name is a key action in establishing a helping relationship during the orientation phase. It helps to establish trust and rapport between the nurse and client. Providing assistance with activities of daily living is an important task, but it is not directly related to the establishment of the helping relationship. Designing a specific teaching plan of care and preparing for termination of the relationship are actions that occur in later phases of the helping relationship.

Quiz 20: Communicator