Deck 5: Developing Patient-Centered Communication Skills

Question 1

The nurse asks a newly admitted patient, "Can you tell me what brought you to the hospital today?" The purpose of an open-ended question is to

A) influence the direction of an acceptable response.
B) encourage the patient to answer the question with a one-word response.
C) allow patients latitude in telling their story.
D) allow the patient to engage in a passive relationship with the nurse.

Answer 1

allow patients latitude in telling their story.

Question 2

When communicating with a patient, the nurse recognizes that a barrier to effective communication is

A) cultural sensitivity.
B) thinking ahead to the next question.
C) completion of physical care in a nonhurried manner.
D) focusing on the current questions asked by the patient.

Answer 2

thinking ahead to the next question.

Question 3

The student nurse is working on an assignment in which she has to interview a fellow student nurse for 30 minutes. The fellow student nurse talks about career plans, possible jobs after graduation, and her part-time work. After 10 minutes, she has stopped talking and both student nurses sit in silence. Which of the following is the best response by the interviewing student nurse?

A) "Tell me more about how you selected your career goals."
B) "Who is the most significant person in your life?"
C) "What impact will these plans have on your life?"
D) Remain silent until the fellow student nurse breaks the silence.

Answer 3

"What impact will these plans have on your life?"

Question 4

When caring for a hospitalized patient, the nurse demonstrates effective communication when

A) presenting several ideas at a time.
B) using vocabulary that is unfamiliar to the patient.
C) stating key ideas only once.
D) putting ideas in a logical sequence of related material.

Question 5

When teaching a patient how to administer insulin, the nurse recognizes that the best method of communicating therapeutically with the patient is to

A) talk to the patient in the visitors' lounge.
B) talk to the patient within his personal space.
C) communicate with the patient using touch.
D) face the patient while leaning slightly forward.

Question 6

The nurse demonstrates understanding of the concept of metacommunication through

A) recognizing the impact of communication on others.
B) actively listening with good eye contact.
C) implementing barriers to effective communication.
D) ensuring that verbal and nonverbal messages are incongruent.

Question 7

As the nurse communicates with a patient, the feedback provided by the nurse should be

A) descriptive, general, and content focused.
B) patient focused and evaluative.
C) well-timed and general.
D) specific and focused on observed behavior.

Question 8

A nurse is conducting a medication education group for mentally ill patients. One of the patients states, "I don't think everyone needs medications. What about psychotherapy? Can you tell me about that?" What is an appropriate response by the nurse?

A) Talk to the group about the benefits of psychotherapy.
B) Tell the group that psychotherapy is ineffective and they need medication.
C) Acknowledge the question, but explain the time limitations and focus of that particular group.
D) Explain that it is the physician's decision what type of treatment modality is for each patient.

Question 9

Which of the following is the best questioning sequence during a patient interview in which the patient is communicative and not in an emergency situation?

A) Begin with focused questions and proceed to open-ended questions.
B) Begin with open-ended questions and proceed to focused questions.
C) Begin with closed questions and proceed to open-ended questions.
D) Begin with open-ended questions and proceed to closed questions.

Question 10

Which of the following is true in relation to the use of humor?

A) Humor is most effective when building rapport.
B) Humor should focus on the patient's personal characteristics.
C) Humor and laughter have healing purposes.
D) Humor should dominate the situation.

Question 11

A patient tells the nurse, "I am having a tough time and I am scared about the future." Which of the following responses by the nurse is the best feedback?

A) "I know what you mean."
B) "You should do something about it."
C) "I really don't think you are having a tough time."
D) "You are having a tough time and you are scared."

Question 12

When conducting an assessment interview, which of the following is the best communication technique for the nurse to use?

A) Ask multiple questions at the same time.
B) Offer limited time for the patient to respond to each question that is asked.
C) Use short, unambiguous listening responses focused on current health issues and patient concerns.
D) Ensure that all questions are answered immediately in order to avoid the need for related follow-up questions to clarify.

Question 13

A patient states, "I don't know about taking this medicine the doctor is putting me on. I've never had to take medication before, and now I have to take it twice a day." The nurse's response is, "It sounds like you don't know what to expect from taking the medication." The nurse's response is an example of which of the following?

A) Clarification
B) Paraphrasing
C) Restatement
D) Validation

Question 14

A patient states, "I can't sleep all night because the nurses are noisy." Which of the following responses by the nurse best represents the nurse's recognition of the patient's theme?

A) "I will speak to the supervisor about your complaint."
B) "You cannot sleep because of the noise level at night?"
C) "You need to understand that nurses communicate with other patients during the night."
D) "I will tell the night nurses that you complained."

Question 15

When communicating with patients, the nurse actively uses listening responses. Which of the following types of listening response should the nurse use?

A) Moralizing
B) Giving advice
C) False reassurance
D) Paraphrasing

Question 16

When therapeutically communicating with a patient who has just found out he is HIV-positive, the nurse should focus on

A) professional needs.
B) an unlimited time frame for communication.
C) verbal communication only between the patient and the nurse.
D) achieving identified health-related goals.

Question 17

A patient is admitted to the hospital for unsteady gait resulting in frequent falls. Which of the following is a circular question that the nurse could ask this patient?

A) "Tell me more about your falls at home."
B) "How will this hospitalization affect your family?"
C) "Have you experienced dizziness and imbalance before?"
D) "Can you tell me what brought you here?"

Question 18

The nurse enters a patient's room with the intent of allowing the patient to express feelings in relation to her new cancer diagnosis. The nurse notices that the patient is crying and guarding her incision site. After validating physical discomfort, the nurse should

A) administer an analgesic and postpone the interaction.
B) sit with the patient and hold her hand.
C) explain that pain is expected following surgery but that it is important to increase activity to avoid complications.
D) acknowledge the physical pain but state that it is a priority to immediately address the emotional pain.