Question 1

A patient is being discharged from the hospital.Which statement by the nurse is appropriate for the termination phase of the nurse-patient relationship?
A) "You must be happy to be going home. Here are the written diet and medication instructions."
B) "It has been wonderful getting to know you. The best of luck when you get home."
C) "During the past 3 days, you have learned how to inject insulin and how to make appropriate food choices. Remember that you have the unit telephone number if you have any questions."
D) "You have done well learning a lot of new material and should be able to do well at home."

Accepted Answer

This statement reinforces the patient's newly acquired knowledge, provides a resource for further questions, and acknowledges the patient's progress towards self-care. A and B lack specific information and may not be helpful for the patient's continued care plan. D is a general statement and does not provide any specific information or resources for the patient.

Question 2

A patient demonstrates obvious regression in ability to perform self-care during the working phase.Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?
A) Frustration because the patient does not appear to be motivated to achieve goals
B) Persistence in demonstrating the importance of achieving goals
C) Patience and understanding because regression is a defense mechanism
D) Ignoring it because the nurse realizes the patient is exhibiting childlike behavior

Accepted Answer

Patience and understanding are the most appropriate responses when a patient demonstrates regression in ability to perform self-care during the working phase. Regression is a defense mechanism wherein the patient may revert to childlike behavior due to fear, anxiety, or stress. It is important for the nurse to support the patient and help them cope with their emotions until they are ready to resume the recovery process. Frustration or ignoring the behavior can make the patient feel unsupported and result in further regression. Persistence is important, but must be balanced with empathy and understanding.

Question 3

Which behaviors help patients develop trust in the nurse?
A) Answering questions with authority
B) Sharing personal information to indicate openness
C) Conveying acceptance of the patient and a nonjudgmental attitude
D) Meeting with the patient spontaneously because that indicates caring

Accepted Answer

Conveying acceptance and a nonjudgmental attitude can help patients feel comfortable enough to open up and share their concerns with the nurse, which can help build trust. Sharing personal information may not always be appropriate and can potentially damage the professional nurse-patient relationship. Answering questions with authority may come across as dismissive or patronizing, whereas meeting with a patient spontaneously may not always be feasible or appropriate.

Question 4

Which of the following best illustrates nonjudgmental acceptance by the nurse?
A) Using professional influence to change a patient's morality to be more in keeping with societal norms
B) Changing your assignment if you discover that you have negative feelings toward your patient's lifestyle
C) Demonstrating caring behavior in spite of negative feelings
D) Avoiding all negative feelings about the patient

Accepted Answer

Nonjudgmental acceptance means that the nurse acknowledges and accepts the patient's feelings, beliefs, and behaviors without imposing their own values and beliefs. Demonstrating caring behavior in spite of negative feelings involves accepting the patient's values and behaviors while providing them with a caring and supportive environment. Using professional influence to change a patient's morality or avoiding all negative feelings about the patient goes against the principles of nonjudgmental acceptance. Changing your assignment if you discover that you have negative feelings toward your patient's lifestyle is not always feasible or necessary, and it does not necessarily imply acceptance of the patient.

Question 5

Which of the following is most important in order for a new staff nurse to communicate therapeutically with patients?
A) Focusing interactions on educating patients about their treatments
B) Becoming aware of own feelings about illness and death
C) Sharing information about the intimate details of one's own life
D) Presenting himself or herself as a knowledgeable and experienced clinician

Accepted Answer

Becoming aware of one's own feelings about illness and death is essential for a nurse to communicate therapeutically with patients. This self-awareness helps the nurse empathize and validate the patient's experience, which can lead to increased trust and a stronger therapeutic relationship. Focusing on educating patients about their treatments, sharing personal information, or presenting oneself as knowledgeable and experienced are not necessarily therapeutic communication techniques and may not be appropriate in all situations.

Question 6

Which of the following is an effective way to maintain safe professional boundaries?
A) Never accepting small gifts from patients
B) Finding ways to satisfy your needs through personal relationships outside of nursing
C) Avoiding caring for patients who ask personal questions about you
D) Sharing your personal stories so that patients will feel understood and trusting

Accepted Answer

Maintaining safe professional boundaries involves ensuring that personal needs are met outside of the professional environment, thus preventing dependency on patient relationships for emotional or social fulfillment. This helps in keeping the professional relationship focused on the patient's needs.

Question 7

The nurse says to a newly diagnosed diabetic patient,"I will be working with you during your 3-day stay to help you practice insulin injections and to review your new diet.I'm wondering if we could find a time of day to begin the teaching sessions that is good for us." This conversation would occur in which phase of the nurse-patient relationship?
A) Acquaintance phase
B) Orientation phase
C) Working phase
D) Termination phase

Accepted Answer

This conversation occurs in the Orientation phase of the nurse-patient relationship, which is focused on establishing rapport, identifying problems, setting goals, and creating a plan of care. In this phase, the nurse gathers information about the patient's health status, needs, and preferences and begins to provide education and support. During this phase, the nurse and patient work together to establish a trusting relationship and set the foundation for further collaboration in the working phase.

Question 8

Which is true of verbal and nonverbal communication?
A) Verbal messages are more important than nonverbal cues.
B) Individuals can exercise more control over nonverbal communication.
C) Verbal and nonverbal communication always match.
D) The nonverbal communication may be a more reliable message.

Accepted Answer

Nonverbal communication may provide more reliable clues to a person's state of mind, emotions or attitudes than verbal communication. It is because nonverbal cues are often involuntary and genuine, whereas verbal communication can be scripted, rehearsed or manipulated.

Question 9

Therapeutic use of self involves
A) forming a relationship based on the nurse's knowledge, attitudes, and skills to communicate effectively.
B) providing a safe environment based on the use of environmental manipulation and verbal limit setting.
C) evaluation of nurse-patient interactions and the creation of social alliances.
D) determining whether it is necessary to listen to the patient and provide feedback.

Accepted Answer

Therapeutic use of self involves the nurse utilizing their knowledge, attitudes, and skills to form a relationship with the patient in a way that facilitates effective communication and promotes the patient's well-being. This includes the nurse being self-aware of their own biases and values and how they may impact the relationship with the patient. Providing a safe environment, social alliances, and listening and providing feedback can all be components of therapeutic use of self, but the foundation is the nurse-patient relationship.

Question 10

What is the most important information the nurse should share with the patient during the orientation phase?
A) Name, credentials, extent of responsibility
B) Plan for the day, times the nurse will be unavailable, how to contact the nurse
C) Nurse's name, physician's name, possible discharge date
D) Plan for discharge, teaching needs, goals for the day

Accepted Answer

During the orientation phase of the nurse-patient relationship, it is most important for the nurse to share their name, credentials, and extent of responsibility to establish trust and clarify the role they will play in the patient's care.

Question 11

A newly diagnosed diabetic patient states "I have very definite likes and dislikes when it comes to food.Am I going to have to eat only certain foods,or will I have some choice?" The nurse responds,"Why don't you give me a list of your likes and dislikes? I will consult with the dietitian about how to include your preferences and still come up with a good diet for you." What phase of the nurse-patient relationship is this?
A) Relationship phase
B) Orientation phase
C) Working phase
D) Termination phase

Accepted Answer

This is the working phase of the nurse-patient relationship, where the nurse is collaborating with the patient to develop a plan of care that takes their needs and preferences into account.

Question 12

Which of the following suggests that a successful contract has been established between the nurse and patient in the orientation phase of the nurse-patient relationship?
A) Patient has agreed to learn to change his colostomy bag.
B) Patient ambulates in the hall without assistance.
C) Patient allows the nurse to inject his daily insulin.
D) Patient asks the charge nurse to verify that the staff nurse's teaching is correct.

Accepted Answer

The establishment of a contract in the orientation phase involves setting goals that are agreed upon by both the nurse and the patient. In this case, the patient has agreed to learn how to change his colostomy bag, indicating a willingness to participate in the care plan and work towards achieving the established goals. Choice B indicates the patient's physical ability to ambulate, but does not necessarily indicate the establishment of a contract. Choice C suggests compliance with medication administration, but not necessarily an agreement between the nurse and patient. Choice D demonstrates a desire for verification of information, but does not necessarily indicate the establishment of a contract between the nurse and patient.

Question 13

Which of the following could be considered congruent communication?
A) The nurse manager states, "Come by my office anytime." Then she keeps her door closed and does not answer phone calls.
B) As a co-worker hurries down the hall, he asks, "Is there anything you need help with?"
C) As she drops a stack of charts loudly on the desk, a co-worker states, "This is going to be a wonderful day."
D) The nurse manager sits with you in the nurse's lounge and asks, "Is there anything you would like to talk about?"

Accepted Answer

Congruent communication involves aligning verbal communication with nonverbal cues, such as body language and tone of voice. Choice D is the only option that aligns verbal communication with nonverbal cues, as the nurse manager's words match her action of sitting down and making herself available for conversation. The other options involve incongruent communication, where the verbal and nonverbal cues do not align.

Question 14

A nurse comments in private about a patient: "That lady with six kids is pregnant again! It makes me sick to see these people on welfare taking away from our tax dollars.I don't know how she can continue to do this." The best response by a nurse peer is to
A) ignore the biased statements.
B) accept the comments as self-disclosure.
C) offer neutral responses.
D) convey acceptance of the patient.

Accepted Answer

The best response is to convey acceptance of the patient, as it promotes a nonjudgmental and professional attitude towards patient care, which is fundamental in nursing ethics. Ignoring biased statements, accepting them as self-disclosure, or offering neutral responses do not address the issue of maintaining a respectful and unbiased perspective towards patients.

Question 15

Using Hagerty and Patusky's theory of human relatedness (2003),the nurse-patient relationship has been reconceptualized by approaching
A) each patient contact as one step in a lengthy relationship-building process.
B) patients with a sense of the patient's autonomy, choice, and participation.
C) the relationship as one in which the nurse has the power.
D) the nurse-patient contact as an opportunity to streamline caregiving.

Accepted Answer

According to Hagerty and Patusky's theory of human relatedness (2003), the nurse-patient relationship should be approached with a sense of the patient's autonomy, choice, and participation. This means that the nurse should work to empower the patient and involve them in their own care, rather than approaching the relationship as one in which the nurse has all the power. Each patient contact should be seen as an opportunity to build a strong relationship based on respect, communication, and mutual trust. This approach can help to improve patient outcomes and overall satisfaction with care.

Question 16

Which of the following best describes Peplau's theory on therapeutic use of self?
A) Putting patients' needs ahead of your own
B) Providing excellent clinical skills to improve patients' health status
C) Using excellent interpersonal skills to help patients improve their health status
D) Self-protection through avoidance of a relationship with the patient

Accepted Answer

Peplau's theory emphasizes the importance of using excellent interpersonal skills, including active listening, empathy, and clear communication, as a means of building therapeutic rapport with patients. This allows nurses to understand their patients' perspectives, identify their needs and concerns, and work collaboratively with them to improve their health status. It does not involve putting patients' needs ahead of the nurse's own or avoiding a relationship with the patient. While clinical skills are important, Peplau's theory focuses specifically on the use of self in the therapeutic relationship.

Question 17

When should the preparation for the termination phase of the nurse-patient relationship begin?
A) In the orientation phase
B) During the working phase
C) As part of the termination phase
D) Right before termination

Accepted Answer

The preparation for the termination phase of the nurse-patient relationship should begin as early as the orientation phase. This allows the nurse to establish trust and provide education about the purpose and duration of the relationship, which can reduce feelings of abandonment when the relationship comes to an end.

Question 18

The nurse and patient may experience sadness during the termination phase.How can the nurse help the patient be successful in the termination phase of the nurse-patient relationship?
A) Providing personal contact information so the patient can contact the nurse if needed
B) Visiting the patient at home during off-duty time to help the transition to self-care
C) Emphasizing the achievements the patient has made, including the ability for self-care
D) Exchanging goodbye gifts as a sign that the relationship is terminated

Accepted Answer

Emphasizing the achievements the patient has made, including the ability for self-care, will help the patient feel empowered and successful during the termination phase. Providing personal contact information or visiting the patient at home during off-duty time may blur professional boundaries and is not appropriate. Exchanging goodbye gifts is not necessary and may not be appropriate depending on the healthcare facility's policies.

Question 19

One of the most important outcomes of the orientation phase of the nurse-patient relationship is the development of mutual
A) communication.
B) understanding.
C) acceptance.
D) trust.

Accepted Answer

Trust is the most important outcome of the orientation phase of the nurse-patient relationship because it lays the foundation for the therapeutic relationship. It enables patients to express their concerns and feelings honestly, and it helps nurses to provide care that is sensitive and effective. Without trust, effective communication, understanding and acceptance may not be possible.

Question 20

During report,a nurse complains about a 3-year-old boy,saying "He sure knows when to pour on the tears.There's nothing wrong until he sees you; then the tears start,but they stop as soon as you leave or his mother comes.He's just spoiled because they have a nanny at home who waits on him hand and foot." This is an example of
A) lack of understanding of child development.
B) frustration that the mother is not present.
C) assessment of the child's behavior.
D) stereotyping because the child has a nanny.

Accepted Answer

The answer of During report,a nurse complains about a 3-year-old...

Quiz 12: Communication and Collaboration in Professional Nursing Practice

A patient is being discharged from the hospital.Which statement by the nurse is appropriate for the termination phase of the nurse-patient relationship?

A patient demonstrates obvious regression in ability to perform self-care during the working phase.Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?

Which behaviors help patients develop trust in the nurse?

Which of the following best illustrates nonjudgmental acceptance by the nurse?

Which of the following is most important in order for a new staff nurse to communicate therapeutically with patients?

Which of the following is an effective way to maintain safe professional boundaries?

Which is true of verbal and nonverbal communication?

Therapeutic use of self involves

What is the most important information the nurse should share with the patient during the orientation phase?

Which of the following suggests that a successful contract has been established between the nurse and patient in the orientation phase of the nurse-patient relationship?

Which of the following could be considered congruent communication?

A nurse comments in private about a patient: "That lady with six kids is pregnant again! It makes me sick to see these people on welfare taking away from our tax dollars.I don't know how she can continue to do this." The best response by a nurse peer is to

Using Hagerty and Patusky's theory of human relatedness (2003) ,the nurse-patient relationship has been reconceptualized by approaching

Which of the following best describes Peplau's theory on therapeutic use of self?

When should the preparation for the termination phase of the nurse-patient relationship begin?

The nurse and patient may experience sadness during the termination phase.How can the nurse help the patient be successful in the termination phase of the nurse-patient relationship?

One of the most important outcomes of the orientation phase of the nurse-patient relationship is the development of mutual