Question 1

What are the expected outcomes of using assertive communication in the nursing workplace? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)   It enmeshes the person and the issue.
B)   It promotes positive relationships.
C)   It is clear and unequivocal.
D)   It respects the rights of oneself and others.
E)   It is focused on the personal needs of the nurse.F)  It guarantees the user will get his or her way. B, C, D

Question 2

A newly graduated LPN/LVN who is orienting to the unit tells a peer, "You should have seen that new associate degree RN trying to take care of three patients! She was so disorganized that it made me glad I'm an LPN/LVN." The LPN/LVN is demonstrating

Accepted Answer

A)   manipulation.
B)   assertiveness.
C)   projection.
D)   passiveness. C

Question 3

A nurse demonstrates assertive behavior by doing which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   When the physician yells at the nurse in front of the patient, the nurse is angry but refrains from speaking about it.
B)   The nurse plans on seeking new employment out of fear of approaching the supervisor to tell his or her side of what happened.
C)   When working with a patient who has had the call light on repeatedly, the nurse tells the patient, "Do not put your call light on again."
D)   When unexpected visitors arrive to visit the patient during breakfast, the nurse asks whether the patient would prefer to eat now or visit. D

Question 4

A nurse is appointed to a workplace committee to plan changes in the emergency department. The committee's task is to make recommendations that will provide an environment that deters violence. Which recommendations are consistent with this goal? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)   Install bullet-resistant glass in the nurses' station.
B)   Install security alarm devices in examining rooms.
C)   Institute a limited toleration of violence policy.
D)   Develop a minimum safe staffing policy.
E)   Change security officers' uniforms to shirt, tie, blazer, slacks.

Question 5

A nurse demonstrates nonassertive behavior by doing which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   When a patient asks about the nurse's personal life, the nurse responds to the patient's questions out of fear of not being liked by the patient.
B)   When a patient asks about the nurse's personal life, the nurse says that the information is personal and chooses not to discuss it.
C)   When a nurse feels the team leader has been unfair, the nurse approaches the team leader and asks to speak privately at a time that is convenient for the person.
D)   When pressured by staff members to help with their assignments, the nurse, who is too busy to help, refuses without feeling guilty but leaves the door open to help at a future date.

Question 6

A nurse demonstrates assertive behavior by doing which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   Assuming a patient would like to skip the bath when the patient's spouse comes to visit
B)   Being unable to continue suctioning a patient because she is concerned the patient will not like her for doing it
C)   Experiencing a feeling of devastation when the patient questions her ability to insert an intravenous catheter
D)   Requesting to speak with the physician privately when she feels that the physician has ordered an inappropriate treatment

Question 7

A nursing student's mother states, "I need you to watch your younger siblings while I play bingo." The nursing student had planned to prepare for a unit examination. An assertive approach would be to say

Accepted Answer

A)   "What you're asking isn't fair. I have an examination to study for. You never win at bingo anyway."
B)   "OK. If your bingo means more to you than my passing a big exam, I'll watch the kids."
C)   "I'll make a deal with you. I'll watch the kids if you'll cook my favorite meal tomorrow night."
D)   "I'm sorry, but I won't be able to babysit. I have an examination tomorrow. I need the time tonight to study."

Question 8

Which of the following measures are most helpful to the nurse who makes a personal commitment to practice violence prevention in the workplace? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)   Get to know coworkers and look out for them.
B)   Treat patients and coworkers with courtesy and respect.
C)   Become familiar with policies relating to violence and harassment.
D)   Assume individuals will not act on threats they make.
E)   Interject opinions while attempting to clarify issues.F)  Set clear, firm limits on unacceptable behavior.

Question 9

Which behavior should be considered an early sign that a coworker may have the potential for violence?

Accepted Answer

A)   Verbalization of a wish to harm someone
B)   A suicidal threat
C)   Destruction of agency property
D)   Lack of cooperation with supervisors

Question 10

The student nurse has a goal to become a more assertive person. To achieve this, the student nurse must be willing to

Accepted Answer

A)   keep a daily journal.
B)   be disliked by others.
C)   put down other people.
D)   take a positive stand.

Question 11

Which statement shows a personal commitment to work on the goal of devoting more time to coursework for the LPN/LVN program?

Accepted Answer

A)   "My friends have to stop asking me to do time-consuming favors for them."
B)   "My family needs to take on more responsibility for household tasks so I have more time to study."
C)   "The charge nurse should stop asking me to work overtime and instead ask other CNAs."
D)   "I will say 'no' when people ask me to do things that take time away from my studies."

Question 12

A staff nurse enters the room in which you're giving care to a patient in traction. She calls you aside and states, "I've watched you all morning. You don't seem to know how to do anything right. Look at you now! You're bathing the patient and it's almost time for lunch." An assertive approach would be to say

Accepted Answer

A)   "You're right. I am still bathing the patient. She was in pain earlier. I waited until her narcotic made her more comfortable."
B)   "I'm sorry you think I give poor care. I'm still pretty new, and I'm trying hard to learn."
C)   "I've watched you, too. You've criticized every student. Is this some game you play?"
D)   "I hope you won't report this to my instructor."

Question 13

Which statements about manipulation would be useful to the nurse who interacts with both patients and peers? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)   Manipulation usually disregards the feelings and needs of others.
B)   Manipulation exploits the weaknesses of others.
C)   A divide-and-conquer strategy is often used by those who manipulate.
D)   Firm limit setting rarely protects against manipulation.
E)   Manipulation often results in individuals being treated as objects.F)  Manipulation should be permitted if it is consistent with the nurse's needs.

Question 14

A student nurse is assigned to care for a patient who is known to be angry. During the caregiving process, the patient hits the student nurse. The action the student nurse should initially take is

Accepted Answer

A)   indicate that he does not like being hit and continue to provide care to the patient.
B)   leave the patient in a safe situation and immediately report the event to the instructor.
C)   immediately leave the room and call the patient's physician for an order to medicate the patient.
D)   go to the telephone and call the local police to report the incident.

Question 15

A nurse experiences potential danger from a patient who is highly suspicious and fears being harmed. Which behaviors by the nurse will help alleviate the threat of violence? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)   Stand in the doorway of the room.
B)   Maintain an open position with the hands in view.
C)   Occasionally touch the patient gently on the forearm.
D)   Turn away from the patient to demonstrate lack of fear.
E)   Speak in a quiet, controlled voice.

Question 16

The intervention that is most effective at reducing patient violence against nurses is

Accepted Answer

A)   teaching nurses to communicate respect for patients and confidence in themselves.
B)   requiring nurses to work in groups rather than alone.
C)   having security personnel stationed on all units.
D)   assigning only male nurses to care for psychiatric or chemical dependency patients.

Question 17

When a nurse tells a peer, "You have to watch out for the charge nurse. Sometimes she's OK, but sometimes she's just plain unreasonable. The best thing to do is to tell her off the first time she gets on your back about something. Keep me posted and I'll try to help you." An assertive reply would be

Accepted Answer

A)   "Thanks for the warning. I'll be careful."
B)   "You take care of yourself, and I'll watch out for myself."
C)   "I think it would be best for me to work on my relationship independently."
D)   "It seems to me that you're playing a manipulative game and giving out poor advice."

Question 18

Which nonverbal behavior is most congruent with a nurse's assertive verbal statement?

Accepted Answer

A)   Firm voice, erect posture, direct eye contact
B)   Soft voice, shoulders relaxed, eyes down
C)   Loud voice, back stiff, eyes glaring
D)   Smile while speaking, touch person's arm, eyes lowered

Question 19

The instructor tells a nursing student to hurry with the assignment in order to help a classmate who is behind with work. The student has promised a patient she'd return in 15 minutes to polish the patient's nails. Which response would be considered assertive?

Accepted Answer

A)   "Why me? I'm still busy with my own patients. Ask one of the others who are standing around at the nurses' station."
B)   "I suppose I can, if you insist."
C)   "I've promised one of my patients that I'll come back to polish her nails. I'd like to be able to keep that promise. Can you possibly ask someone else?"
D)   "I'll be glad to help." Then go and apologize to the patient, saying the instructor won't let you polish her nails.

Question 20

A nurse demonstrates assertive behavior by doing which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   When a patient asks the nurse to stop and feed the patient's cats on the way home, the nurse frowns but agrees to do so.
B)   The nurse feels the team leader's assignment is unfair, so the nurse drops hints to coworkers about feelings of unfairness.
C)   When the patient asks about the nurse's personal life, the nurse answers the questions out of fear of not being liked for not answering.
D)   When working with a patient who is critical of the nurse, the nurse sits down with the patient and listens attentively to the patient's concerns.

Exam 9: Assertiveness: Your Responsibility

What are the expected outcomes of using assertive communication in the nursing workplace? (Select all that apply.)

A newly graduated LPN/LVN who is orienting to the unit tells a peer, "You should have seen that new associate degree RN trying to take care of three patients! She was so disorganized that it made me glad I'm an LPN/LVN." The LPN/LVN is demonstrating

A nurse demonstrates assertive behavior by doing which of the following?

A nurse is appointed to a workplace committee to plan changes in the emergency department. The committee's task is to make recommendations that will provide an environment that deters violence. Which recommendations are consistent with this goal? (Select all that apply.)

A nurse demonstrates nonassertive behavior by doing which of the following?

A nurse demonstrates assertive behavior by doing which of the following?

A nursing student's mother states, "I need you to watch your younger siblings while I play bingo." The nursing student had planned to prepare for a unit examination. An assertive approach would be to say

Which of the following measures are most helpful to the nurse who makes a personal commitment to practice violence prevention in the workplace? (Select all that apply.)

Which behavior should be considered an early sign that a coworker may have the potential for violence?

The student nurse has a goal to become a more assertive person. To achieve this, the student nurse must be willing to

Which statement shows a personal commitment to work on the goal of devoting more time to coursework for the LPN/LVN program?

Which statements about manipulation would be useful to the nurse who interacts with both patients and peers? (Select all that apply.)

A student nurse is assigned to care for a patient who is known to be angry. During the caregiving process, the patient hits the student nurse. The action the student nurse should initially take is

A nurse experiences potential danger from a patient who is highly suspicious and fears being harmed. Which behaviors by the nurse will help alleviate the threat of violence? (Select all that apply.)

The intervention that is most effective at reducing patient violence against nurses is

Which nonverbal behavior is most congruent with a nurse's assertive verbal statement?

The instructor tells a nursing student to hurry with the assignment in order to help a classmate who is behind with work. The student has promised a patient she'd return in 15 minutes to polish the patient's nails. Which response would be considered assertive?

A nurse demonstrates assertive behavior by doing which of the following?