Deck 17: Communicating With Patients Experiencing Communication Deficits

Question 1

The nurse while providing bedside care for an unconscious patient, is overheard stating, "I wouldn't want to live in this condition." What did this nurse not realize about the patient's capabilities?

A) The patient has the right to respect regardless of condition.
B) Hearing can remain acute in patients who are not fully alert.
C) The nurse has a duty to act as the patient's advocate.
D) The standard of care has not been met with regards to this nurse's actions.

Answer 1

Hearing can remain acute in patients who are not fully alert.

Question 2

Which statement is true concerning communication deficits?

A) Communication deficits occur primarily because of physical disabilities.
B) Communication deficits can arise from sensory deprivation.
C) Individuals who are equally impaired are equally disabled.
D) The primary nursing goal is to minimize the patient's independence.

Answer 2

Communication deficits can arise from sensory deprivation.

Question 3

When caring for a nonverbal patient, the nurse should implement what intervention to maintain communication?

A) Insisting the patient communicate in a two-way mode.
B) Continuing to initiate communication in a one-way mode.
C) Refraining from explaining procedures to avoid stressing the patient.
D) Limiting orienting cues in order to reduce environmental stimuli.

Answer 3

Continuing to initiate communication in a one-way mode.

Question 4

The nurse is caring for a patient who has experienced global aphasia secondary to a stroke. Which intervention is most appropriate for this patient?

A) Refraining from exploiting any language skills that are preserved.
B) Frequently reminding the patient they cannot be understood.
C) Encouraging short, positive sessions that focus on communicate.
D) Spending long periods of time talking with the patient to provide stimulation.

Question 5

When caring for a hearing-impaired patient, the nurse should implement what intervention to facilitate communication?

A) Face the interpreter when speaking to the patient.
B) Use gestures that reinforce verbal content.
C) Speak distinctly while exaggerating words.
D) Communicate in a dimly-lit room.

Question 6

The nurse is caring for a patient who has experienced a stroke resulting in aphasia. What type of deficit should the nurse assess for?

A) Neurological linguistic
B) Cognitive comprehension
C) Sensory deprivation
D) Social withdrawal

Question 7

A patient will which diagnosis will most benefit from the use of touch during a therapeutic encounter?

A) Vision-impairment
B) Moderate hearing loss
C) Mentally illness
D) Schizophrenia

Question 8

When attempting to communicate a procedure to a hearing-impaired patient, what strategy would not facilitate client understanding?

A) Speaking distinctly but without exaggerating words.
B) Attempting to use sign language.
C) Using an assisted listening device.
D) Explaining complex terms last.

Question 9

The nurse understands that as patients age, they are more likely to have vision problems that may interfere with the communication process, including the lens of the eyes becoming less flexible, making it difficult to accommodate shifts from far to near vision. The nurse recognizes that this condition is known by what term?

A) Receptive aphasia.
B) Autism.
C) Presbycusis.
D) Presbyopia.

Question 10

When caring for the patient with macular degeneration, the nurse facilitates communication by implementing which action?

A) Facing the patient directly.
B) Standing to the patient's side.
C) Speak distinctly while exaggerating words.
D) Refrain from touching the patient.

Question 11

When communicating with a patient diagnosed with a serious mental disorder, it is important for the nurse to recognize which fact about these patients?

A) They seldom have intact sensory channels.
B) Those with a "flat affect" are easier to understand.
C) Such patients are typically very talkative.
D) Social isolation is communing demonstrated.

Question 12

The nurse is caring for an older adult patient who is recovering from a stroke. When the nurse speaks to the patient, the patient nods and responds using incoherent words. Which type of aphasia does this patient exhibit?

A) Expressive
B) Receptive
C) Global
D) Cognitive

Question 13

The nurse is caring for a patient who is hearing-impaired and legally blind in the right eye and has just returned from cataract surgery on the left eye. The nurse recognizes that what statement is relevant to the patient's safety when being ambulated?

A) The patient's arm should be held when walking to provide direction.
B) Verbal speech is ineffective in this situation and should not be relied upon by the staff.
C) Signals should be developed to indicate changes in pace or direction while walking.
D) The patient should be discouraged from dependence on reading lips especially while ambulating.

Question 14

The nurse is caring for an older adult patient who has recently withdrawn from relationships, appears depressed, and appears reluctant to seek information from the nurse due to a hearing loss. What assessment should the nurse focus on to help minimize additional dysfunction?

A) Willingness to seek help when needed.
B) Tendency to hide hearing related deficits
C) Alterations to personal conversational style.
D) Impairment related to consonant discrimination.