During a group session, a patient expresses anger at the nurse. The nurse sits tensely with arms and legs crossed while verbally agreeing that the patient's point of view is correct. What message is being sent by the nurse?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

3. The nurse's nonverbal communication is incongruent with the verbal message; the nurse's closed body position conflicts with the open verbal statements. Because nonverbal cues help individuals judge the reliability of verbal messages, any incongruence between the nurse's verbal and nonverbal communication may confuse the patient. Tolerance, compassion, and empathy are positive messages that are typically expressed by using open body language.

During a Group Session, a Patient Expresses Anger at the Nurse