Deck 6: Therapeutic Communication

Question 1

The nurse uses a variety of therapeutic communication skills when working with patients. Which of the following is a therapeutic goal that can be accomplished through the use of therapeutic communication skills?

A) Inform the patient of priority problems
B) Assess the patient's perception of a problem
C) Assist the patient to control emotions
D) Provide the patient with a plan of action

Answer 1

Assess the patient's perception of a problem

Question 2

Which one of the following goals of therapeutic communication would the nurse strive to attain first?

A) Facilitate the client's expression of emotions.
B) Establish a therapeutic nurseñclient relationship.
C) Teach the client and family necessary self-care skills.
D) Implement interventions designed to address the client's needs.

Answer 2

Facilitate the client's expression of emotions.

Question 3

Which of the following statements is true of empathy? Select all that apply.

A) It is the ability to place oneself into the experience of another for a moment in time.
B) It involves interjecting the nurse's personal experiences and interpretations of the situation.
C) It is developed by gathering information from the client.
D) It results in negative therapeutic outcomes.
E) The client must learn to develop empathy for the nurse.

Answer 3

It is the ability to place oneself into the experience of another for a moment in time.
It is developed by gathering information from the client.

Question 4

The nurse asks the patient what he would like to talk about. This is an example of

A) broad opening.
B) encouraging expression.
C) focusing.
D) offering self.

Question 5

A patient says, Its' been so long since I've been with my family. Which statement by the nurse is an example of restating?

A) You say you haven't seen your family in a while.
B) Tell me when you last saw your family.
C) Go on. Tell me more.
D) When was the last time you saw your family?

Question 6

The patient expresses frustration that the doctor does not spend enough time with the patient when making rounds. The nurse replies, The doctors are very busy. What can I help you with? The nurse incorporated which nontherapeutic technique in this response?

A) Belittling
B) Defending
C) Disagreeing
D) Introducing an unrelated topic

Question 7

A patient asks the nurse what she should do about her cheating husband. The nurse replies, You should divorce him. You deserve better than that. The nurse used which communication technique?

A) Giving information
B) Verbalizing the implied
C) Giving advice
D) Agreeing

Question 8

The nurse asks the client what that experience was like. Which communication skill is the nurse using?

A) Encouraging expression
B) Encouraging description of perceptions
C) Exploring
D) Requesting an explanation

Question 9

Which of the following are nontherapeutic techniques? Select all that apply.

A) Silence
B) Voicing doubt
C) Agreeing
D) Challenging
E) Giving approval
F) Accepting

Question 10

Which of the following statements would be an empathetic response in a client interaction?

A) You must have been embarrassed when your father yelled at you in the grocery store.
B) You really should find your own housing and get out of the situation with your father.
C) Well, it sounds like your father has difficulty controlling his temper.
D) Why do you think your father chose that time and place to yell at you?

Question 11

The nurse says to the client, You become very anxious when we start talking about your drinking. Which of the following techniques is the nurse using?

A) Confronting behavior
B) Making an observation
C) Translating into feelings
D) Verbalizing the implied

Question 12

The nurse is sitting down with a patient to begin a conversation. Which of the following positions should the nurse take to convey acceptance of the patient?

A) Leaning forward with arms on the table sitting directly across for the patient
B) Turned slightly to the side of the patients with arms folded across the chest
C) Leaning back in the chair next to the patient with legs crossed at the knees
D) Sitting upright facing the patient with both feet on the floor

Question 13

A patient states, I feel fine. It's a good day. The nurse notes the patient looking away, and a decreasing pitch in his voice while speaking. Which of the following is the most therapeutic response by the nurse?

A) I'm glad you are feeling good today.
B) I'm not sure I believe you.
C) Tell me what is good about today.
D) You say you feel fine, but you don't really sound fine.

Question 14

Which of the following statements about verbal and nonverbal communication skills is accurate?

A) One third of meaning is transmitted nonverbally and two thirds is communicated verbally.
B) Nonverbal communication is as important, if not more than, verbal communication.
C) Verbal communication is most important because it is what the patient says.
D) Verbal communication involves the unconscious mind.

Question 15

The nurse must be alert to the nonverbal expressions of the client. Because the meaning attached to nonverbal behavior is subjective, it is important for the nurse to

A) increase the client's awareness of nonverbal behavior.
B) investigate the source of nonverbal behavior.
C) validate the client's feelings.
D) validate the meaning of the nonverbal behavior.

Question 16

A nurse has invited a patient to sit down and have a conversation. The patient takes the first seat. The nurse pulls up another chair to sit with the patient. Approximately how far from the patient should the nurse place her chair?

A) 1 to 2 feet
B) 3 to 4 feet
C) 6 to 8 feet
D) 8 to 10 feet

Question 17

The nurse is sitting with a patient who is crying. After a few minutes the nurse places one hand on the patient's shoulder. Which of the following best describes the purpose of the nurse's touch with this patient?

A) To express sympathy to the patient
B) To assess the patient's skin temperature and circulation status
C) To offer comfort and support for the patient
D) To extend an offer of friendship to the patient

Question 18

Which of the following is the best reason that many psychiatric care units have policies against clients touching one another or staff?

A) Because some clients with mental illness have difficulty knowing when touch is or is not appropriate
B) Because clients often perceive being touched as a threat and may attempt to protect himself or herself by striking the staff person
C) Because it can be threatening to both the client and the nurse
D) Because touching always leads to more touching

Question 19

A client has been making sexual comments when communicating with the nurse. The nurse wants to spend some time talking to the patient while respecting the patient's right to privacy. Which setting would be the most appropriate setting for the nurse to talk with the client?

A) In the patient's room when the patient's roommate is present and 3 feet away
B) At the nurse's station when other clients and visitors are less than 4 feet away
C) In an interview room in a remote section of the unit with the nurse 1 foot away from the patient
D) In a quiet corner of the dayroom at least 4 feet away from others

Question 20

Which of the following distance zones is acceptable for people who mutually desire personal contact?

A) Social
B) Intimate
C) Personal
D) Public

Question 21

The nurse should use clear concrete messages when working with patients displaying which of the following conditions? Select all that apply.

A) Anxiety
B) Anorexia
C) Dementia
D) Schizophrenia
E) Hypochondriasis

Question 22

Which statements are true of concrete and abstract messages? Select all that apply.

A) Abstract messages include figures of speech that are difficult to interpret.
B) Abstract messages are important for accurate information exchange.
C) Concrete messages require the listener to interpret what the speaker says.
D) Concrete messages are clear, direct, and easy to understand.
E) Abstract messages are best used for persons who are anxious.

Question 23

The nurse asks the patient, What was it like for you when you first knew you had no place to go? The patient looks down and pauses for quite some time. Which action by the nurse is most therapeutic?

A) Change the subject to something the patient will discuss
B) Encourage the patient to express any unpleasant feelings
C) Apologize for asking such a personal question
D) Sit quietly until the patient responds

Question 24

A patient remarks, You know, it's the same thing every time. The nurse should respond by stating,

A) I understand.
B) I'm sure everyone is doing their best.
C) I'm not sure what you mean. Please explain.
D) It's the same thing every time?

Question 25

A patient states, Right before I got here I was doing alright. My job was going well, my wife and I were happy, and we just moved into a new apartment. The nurse responds, You said you and your wife were happy. Tell me more about that. This is an example of which therapeutic technique?

A) Encouraging comparison
B) General lead
C) Restating
D) Exploring

Question 26

A patient is sitting alone, slouched, with eyes closed. The nurse approaches. Which statement is most likely to encourage the patient to talk?

A) If you are sleepy, would you like me to help you back to your room?
B) You look like you are deep in thought.
C) Is something wrong?
D) Why are you sitting with your eyes closed?

Question 27

A patient yells, All the nurses here are so mean. None of you really care about us! The most therapeutic response would be,

A) I cannot allow you to yell like that.
B) We care about you.
C) Oh, really?
D) You seem very irritated.

Question 28

Patient says to the nurse, I wonder what's playing at the movie tonight. The most therapeutic response would be,

A) Are you telling me you would like to go to the movies?
B) Why don't you look in the newspaper.
C) There's nothing worth watching.
D) Do you like to go to the movies?

Question 29

The client says to the nurse, I have special powers because I am the mother of God. I can heal everyone in the hospital. The nurse's best response would be,

A) That sounds interesting. What can you do?
B) It would be unusual for anyone to have that kind of power.
C) You could not heal everyone. No one has that much power.
D) Well, you can certainly try.

Question 30

During the admission interview, the nurse asks the client what led to his hospitalization. The client responds, They lied about me. They said I murdered my mother. You're the killers. You all killed my mother. She died before I was born. The best initial response by the nurse would be,

A) I just saw your mother. She's fine.
B) You're having very frightening thoughts.
C) We'll put you in a private room until you're in better control.
D) If your mother died before you were born, you wouldn't be here.

Question 31

The client stated, I was so upset about my sister ignoring me when I was talking about being ashamed. Which nontherapeutic communication technique would the nurse be using if the nurse would state, How are your stress reduction classes going?

A) Changing the subject
B) Offering advice
C) Challenging
D) Disapproving

Question 32

During the mental status assessment, the client expresses the belief that the CIA is stalking him and plans to kidnap him. The best response by the nurse would be,

A) That makes no sense at all.
B) You can tell me about that after I finish asking these questions.
C) What kinds of things have been happening?
D) Why would the CIA be interested in you?

Question 33

The nurse is trying to obtain some information about family relationships from the client. Which of the following statements is best?

A) Is it upsetting for you to talk about your family?
B) Is your family ready for you to come home?
C) So, how is your family?
D) Tell me your feelings about your family situation.

Question 34

A client is fearful and reluctant to talk. Which of the following techniques is most effective when trying to engage the client in interaction?

A) Broad opening
B) Focusing
C) Giving information
D) Silence