Question 1

The nurse is aware that the use of false reassurance is harmful to the nurse-patient relationship, because this communication block:

Accepted Answer

Giving false reassurance is a block to effective communication in which the patient's feelings are negated and in which the patient may be given false hope, which, if things turn out differently, can destroy trust in the nurse.

Question 2

While interviewing a Native American man for the admission history, the nurse should expect to:

Accepted Answer

Native Americans use long pauses in their conversation to better consider their answer and consider the question. The culturally sensitive nurse would wait quietly through the pauses.

Question 3

When a nurse is conducting an assessment interview, the most efficient technique would be:

Accepted Answer

Closed questions have a definite place when the nurse wants to obtain specific essential data. Closed questions force the patient to stick to the topic.

Question 4

To convey the intervention of active listening, the nurse would:

Accepted Answer

An active listener maintains eye contact without staring, gives the patient full attention, and makes a conscious effort to block out other sounds and distractions.

Question 5

A patient who has had a stroke is unable to speak clearly and has right sided hemiplegia. The nurse will design the approach to the assessment interview by:

Accepted Answer

Speaking slowly recognizes that the patient may process (if able) information more slowly.

Question 6

The nurse is caring for a patient who has just had a mastectomy (breast removal). The patient expresses concern that her husband will no longer find her attractive because of her mastectomy. The nurse appropriately responds:

Accepted Answer

This is an example of restatement, which allows the patient to know her message was understood and encourages the patient to continue about her concerns on the topic.

Question 7

An example of a nurse communicating with a patient using open-ended questions would be:

Accepted Answer

An open-ended question is broad, indicating only the topic, and it requires an answer of more than a word or two. Use of an open-ended question or statement allows the patient to elaborate on a subject or to choose aspects of the subject to be discussed. Open-ended questions or statements are helpful to open up the conversation or to proceed to a new topic. They usually cannot be answered with one word or just "yes" or "no."

Question 8

When a patient states, "My son hasn't been to see me in months," the nurse's best verbal response is:

Accepted Answer

Restating in different words what the patient said encourages further communication on that topic.

Question 9

The practical nursing student who is engaged in a therapeutic communication with a patient will have the most difficulty with the technique of:

Accepted Answer

The use of silence is the hardest for most students to develop because it makes them uncomfortable, so they tend to end it prematurely.

Question 10

When the nurse enters the room, the patient is laughing out loud at something on TV. The patient stops and apologizes for the laughter, saying, "I guess I ought not be laughing at all since I am stuck here with two broken legs." The nurse can use evidence-based information when she responds:

Accepted Answer

Hasen and Hasen (2009) found that laughter and appropriate use of humor decreased stress and anxiety and had a positive effect on the immune system.

Question 11

When a patient states, "I don't feel like walking today," the nurse's most therapeutic verbal response would be:

Accepted Answer

Reflection is a way to restate the message. The idea is simply reflected back to the speaker in a statement to encourage continued dialogue on the topic.

Question 12

The nurse chooses to use touch in the nurse-patient relationship because touch:

Accepted Answer

Touch is a powerful and supportive nonverbal communication in many situations. It is appropriate for all ages, but not in some situations. Careful assessment of the patient's situation and cultural values should determine its use, but it should not be avoided because of stereotypes.

Question 13

A home health patient with a bleeding ulcer informs the nurse that she ate a bowl of chili with jalapenos. An inappropriate communication block with a judgmental tone by the nurse would be:

Accepted Answer

Judgmental response is a block to effective communication in which the nurse is judging the patient's action. It implies that the patient must take on the nurse's values and is demeaning to the patient.

Question 14

When interacting with an older adult patient, the nurse would enhance communication by:

Accepted Answer

When interacting with an older adult, the nurse should try not to speak too quickly or expect an immediate answer because the older adult may take more time to process the message. Do not use baby talk or speak to them as if they were children.

Question 15

When the nurse observes a resident in a long-term facility pounding his fists on his legs and grinding his teeth, the nurse will validate her perception of the patient's nonverbal expression of anger by:

Accepted Answer

All perceptions based on the observation of nonverbal behavior should be validated by consulting the patient.

Question 16

The nurse is aware that the purpose of therapeutic communication is to:

Accepted Answer

Therapeutic communication is a conversation that is focused on the patient and promotes understanding between the sender and the receiver.

Question 17

The nurse is caring for a patient who states, "I tossed and turned last night." The nurse responds to the patient, "You feel like you were awake all night?" This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Restatement is a therapeutic communication technique in which the nurse restates in different words what the patient said. This encourages further communication on that topic.

Question 18

When the nurse makes the statement, "We can come back to that later-right now I need to know about when your symptoms started," the nurse is:

Accepted Answer

Refocusing is often necessary to accomplish data collection. It does not block communication and is not used to close a conversation or stop an inappropriate topic.

Question 19

A patient states, "I'm so worried that I might have cancer." The nurse responds, "It is time for you to eat breakfast." The nurse's response is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Changing the subject is a block to effective communication in which the patient is deprived of the chance to verbalize concerns.

Question 20

The nurse tells a patient, "For the last 2 days we have talked about whether to notify your daughter of your upcoming surgery in 2 days. You have indicated you do not want to be a burden to her, but you also would like to have her here. You may have to decide rather quickly because of the time constraint." The nurse is using the technique of:

Accepted Answer

Summarizing presents the problem and possible solutions with the attendant difficulties. This technique "unclutters" the problem and presents it back to the patient for his or her choice of a solution.

Quiz 8: Communication and the Nurse Patient Relationship