Nurse's Touch: Professional Communication Practice Assessment

​A nurse is preparing to demonstrate how to change an ostomy bag to a client who has a new ostomy. Which of the following client statements indicates a readiness to learn?

"I will need the information written down". (The client's statements of needing the information written down displays knowledge readiness to learn.)

A nurse uses self-disclosure to respond to a client who states that she is afraid to have a scheduled surgical procedure. Which of the following statements by the nurse is appropriate?

"I hear your concern. I felt the same way before having the same surgery myself" (The nurse maintains a therapeutic relationship with the client by acknowledging the client and using minimal disclosure to ease the client's concerns about surgery)

A nurse is providing teaching about the prevention of pneumonia to a client who is postoperative and is being discharged home. Which of the following statements by the nurse demonstrates the best method of conveying information to the client?

"Let's talk about pneumonia and what you can do to prevent it." (Messages delivered in a direct manner facilitate a clearer understanding of the information)

A 16-year-old client is recovering from a motor vehicle crash involving alcohol. Which of the following statements by the nurse displays an effective therapeutic relationship with the client?

"What can I do to help you at this time?" (This technique is offering presence. This response expresses a sincere interest and accessibility, which can provide the client with a sense of comfort)

A nurse is using the SBAR communication tool to report the condition of a client to a provider. The nurse should include the client's most recent vital signs in which component of the communication?

Assessment (Vital signs are a component of assessment. The nurse should report the client's most recent vital signs in this component of the SBAR communication tool)

A staff nurse tells the nurse manager that one of her coworkers does not work as many holidays as the other nurses. The nurse manager acknowledges the problem, thanks the nurse, and tells her that he appreciates her dependability. Which of the following conflict resolution strategies is the nurse manager demonstrating?

Avoiding (When avoiding is used, the nurse manager acknowledges the conflict but does not attempt to resolve the problem. The nurse manager is demonstrating this type of conflict resolution strategy)

A nurse is caring for a client who is deaf. Which of the following is a barrier to communication?

Avoiding facial expressions

A nurse manager is reviewing communication styles with the nurses on the unit. The nurse manager explains that which of the following are characteristics of passive communication? (Select all that apply.)

Avoids confrontation (uncomfortable in difficult situations); Displays dishonesty (they fail to express their true feelings)

A staff nurse is unable to resolve a concern reported by a client regarding his room assignment. When reporting the concern, which of the following individuals is next in the chain of command?

Charge nurse (The staff nurse should report the concern directly to the charge nurse, who is next in line when following the nursing chain of command)

A nurse is caring for a client who is from a Native American cultural background. Which of the following should the nurse consider when communicating with clients of this cultural background?

Client may prefer less talk and is comfortable with silence

Grapevine communication

Communicating information randomly without regard for the hierarchy of the nursing organization. it is often distorted or contains errors because the sender has little accountability for the message

Horizontal communication

Communicating with other managers on the same level in the hierarchy of the nursing organization

A nurse is preparing a prenatal education program for the clients who are first time parents. Once the clients have basic knowledge of the subject the nurse should be aware that the levels of cognitive behavior occur in what order?

Comprehensive Application Analysis Synthesis Evaluation

A nurse is preparing discharge instructions for a client who speaks minimal English. His adult daughter is in the room, and she is bilingual and speaks fluent English. Which of the following is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take?

Contact a medical interpreter to translate the discharge instructions. (A medical interpreter can speak both languages fluently and has skills in medical terminology. Medical interpreters are also required to maintain client confidentiality)

A nurse is meeting with several coworkers and the unit's nurse manager to attempt to resolve a staff conflict about the unit's float policy. Which of the following strategies should the nurse use to help promote a positive outcome for the group?

Demonstrate self-confidence (during conflict negotiation the parties involved should portray self confidence, listen attentively, and stay assertive honest and flexible)

A nurse is caring for a client who lives in a rural area and has a prescription for telemonitoring. Which of the following is an appropriate action for the nurse to take?

Determine the availability of internet capabilities. (The nurse should determine the availability of internet capabilities because telemonitoring transmits data from the client to the provider electronically).

A nurse is reviewing newly transcribed medication prescriptions. Which of the following prescriptions is written correctly?

Diazepam 10mg PO q8h (Includes medication, strength, frequency, and route, and it does not use error-prone abbreviations)

A staff nurse on a burn unit informs the nurse manager that another nurse on the unit falsified information on a client's medication administration record. Which of the following actions by the nurse manager is appropriate?

Discuss the incident in private with the nurse who falsified the records (nurse manager should meet in private w/ the nurse and give her the opportunity to explain the situation. nurse manager should provide negative feedback in private.)

The postanesthesia care unit (PACU) unit manager tells the PACU nursing staff, "Next week, our goal is to transfer each surgical client to the medical units within one hour." Which of the following communication patterns is displayed by the PACU unit manager?

Downward communication (the PACU unit manager displayed downward communication by relaying vital information and activities to subordinates in the hierarchy of the nursing organization)

The nurse manager is reviewing the advantages of electronic medical records with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the following statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates a need for further review?

Electronic medical records inhibit continuity of care (Electronic medical records are readily available to any provider who has access to the electronic medical record system. Therefore, they promote continuity of care)

A nurse is caring for a 17-year-old client newly diagnosed with a heart murmur. To facilitate communication, the nurse should recognize which of the following as a developmental milestone for this client?

Embraces independence (This is an adolescent characteristic. At this age, adolescents typically have poor impulse control.)

A nurse is presenting preoperative cardiac surgery education to a small group of clients. Which of the following strategies is effective with a group?

Encouraging participants to share information about the topic is an effective strategy used to focus a group

A nurse in an acute care facility is providing care to a group of clients. Which of the following actions by the nurse is the best defense against malpractice?

Ensuring documentation is complete and accurate

A nurse manager is observing a newly licensed nurse interact with several older adult clients. Which of the following actions by the newly licensed nurse requires intervention by the nurse manager?

Exaggerating lip movements (Not appropriate means of communication with older adults)

A nurse is planning care for a client who has expressive aphasia by assessing the client's cognitive abilities. Which of the following communication strategies should the nurse use during the assessment?

Face the client directly when asking a question. (The nurse should face the client directly when asking a question)

Interpersonal relationship

Focused on the nurse-client interaction and is not a part of a work group

A nurse is working as a member of an interprofessional team and suggests each member have a turn to speak when a conflict arises. Which of the following maintenance roles did the nurse display?

Gatekeeper (one who encourages all members to have a voice in the discussion)

A nurse manager is planning to involve a mediator to assist with conflict resolution efforts between the units charge nurses. The nurse manager should inform the nurses that a mediator

Gathers facts about the conflict from the involved parties (A mediator gathers facts to help the involved parties find a solution to the conflict)

A nurse working with a child who has been verbally abused. The nurse should make which of the following comments to seek clarification from the client?

Give me an example of a time you felt afraid (asking for an example is a way of seeking clarification. seeking clarification helps the client to explain thoughts and feelings, thus promoting a mutual understanding between the client and nurse)

A nurse is providing care for a client who is sharing her feelings about a recent unpleasant interaction with her sibling. Which of the following is a barrier to effective communication between the nurse and client?

Giving advice (The inference could be that the nurse does not view the client as capable of making effective decisions. It may undermine the client's feelings of adequacy and competence, foster dependence on the nurse, and shift problem-solving responsibility from the client to the nurse.)

A director of nursing encourages nurse managers to serve as mentors to staff nurses who show potential for progressing within the organization. Which of the following types of power is the director of nursing displaying?

Influential (Influential power comes from the ability of those with formal power to influence and encourage others)

Disagreeing response

Insinuates the client's statements is not how the client should feel or think

A nurse is resolving a conflict about client care during a meeting with members from different departments. Which of the following types of conflict is displayed?

Intergroup conflict (Involves members from different departments)

A nurse manager creates mutual trust and respect when planning care for a client. The nurse manager says, "Thank you for gathering today. I see we have members from respiratory therapy, dietary, and nursing." Which of the following examples of work relationships is exhibited in creating the plan of care?

Interprofessional relationship (The nurse manager used an interprofessional relationship work group, which gathers members from speciality departments to collaboratively create a client's plan of care)

Interpersonal conflict

Involves two or more coworkers who disagree due to different values, ambitions, or belief systems.

A nurse is educating a client who is preparing for open-heart surgery. The client continuously talks about a friend's recent open-heart surgery. Which of the following nursing statements is therapeutic?

Lets go back to discussing your concerns about having surgery. (By refocusing the client to her own concerns about surgery and the need for further education)

A nurse is communicating with a client who has a hearing impairment. Which of the following techniques should the nurse use to promote communication with the client?

Maintain voice in a low pitch (clients with a hearing impairment have difficulty when a high pitch is used)

A nurse is collecting information concerning a client's response to incisional pain. Which of the following actions should assist the nurse in gathering this information?

Make direct eye contact with the client

A nurse manager is attempting to resolve a conflict between two nurses that is affecting delivery of client care. Which of the following actions is appropriate for the nurse manager to take?

Meet with each nurse individually to gather information (collecting more data about the conflict aid in facilitating a resolution to the conflict and is an appropriate action for the nurse manager to take)

​After a client shares feelings about the death of her grandmother, the nurse says, "Everyone's grandparents die sometime." Which of the following nontherapeutic techniques was displayed by the nurse?

Minimizing feelings (The nurse minimized the client's feelings by using a belittling remark that displayed lack of empathy and understanding)

Intrapersonal conflict

One's own personal and internal values and wants are in conflict

A nurse is providing information on a new procedure to the nursing staff and has discovered that several of the staff members have a kinesthetic learning preference. Which of the following methods of learning should the nurse implement?

Practice the new procedure, and have the staff members perform a return demonstration. (Staff members who have a kinesthetic learning preference would learn from this method of teaching.)

​A nurse includes foot care education when developing a plan of care for an older adult client who has diabetes mellitus. Which of the following strategies should the nurse use when implementing the teaching?

Present large-print educational materials

A nurse is educating group members at a conference. Which of the following educational strategies addresses only one domain of learning?

Presenting the information to an audience (Lecture addresses only one domain of learning, which is the cognitive domain)

A nurse is preparing to educate a client on self-administration of a subcutaneous medication. In which of the following environments should the nurse provide the education?

Private room (The appropriate environment for client education is in a private room where confidentiality can be maintained)

​A nurse is monitoring a client who lives in a rural area via telecommunication. The nurse should understand that this method of communication has which of the following advantages?

Promotes client self-reporting (an advantage to monitoring through telecommunication provides the opportunity for the client to self-report to the nurse)

A nurse is providing discharge teaching for a client who speaks English as a second language. Which of the following is an appropriate action for the nurse to take?

Provide written information in both of the clients languages. (to increase successful understanding of written information)

A client who speaks English as a second language tells the home health nurse, "I do not want to go to that big clinic. They won't be able to understand me." Which of the following actions by the nurse is appropriate to ensure a smooth transition for the client?

Speak with a nurse at the clinic ahead of time regarding the clients concerns.(demonstrates respect for clients individuality)

A nurse is expressing concern to the nurse manager about a coworker who uses passive-aggressive communication. Which of the following is an example of passive-aggressive communication?

The coworker voices her concerns to anyone who will listen (passive aggressive communication avoids honest, direct communication and expresses her concerns to others in an attempt to make other people look bad)

A nurse is a team leader of a group. Which of the following is a disruptive role of a member of the group?

The member who asks for recognition from the team for personal accomplishments

​A nurse is reinforcing the information a provider shared with a client who had surgery for colon cancer. Which of the following is the appropriate nursing statement for reinforcing the information?

The surgeon removed the part of your colon connected to your rectum (nurse should use simple and appropriate terms when reinforcing information from the provider)

A nurse is implementing education on range-of-motion exercises for a client who had a total hip arthroplasty. The client performs a return demonstration. Which of the following defines the cognitive domain?

Thinking Ability necessary to perform the skill (intellectual thinking abilities are cognitive)

A client who received pain medication 1 hr ago reports a pain level of 8 on a scale of 0 to 10. The nurse responds, "Your pain should be getting better soon. Don't worry." Which of the following nontherapeutic communication responses did the nurse display?

Using an automatic response. (The nurse displayes the use of an automatic response, which conveys that the nurse is not taking the client's concerns seriously.)

Defensive response

When taking sides with another individual to solve problems and implies the client does not have the right to express feelings or opinions

A client tells a nurse that she is upset because she is not going to be discharged from the hospital today. Which of the following responses by the nurse demonstrates therapeutic communication?

You are frustrated because you want to go home? (paraphrasing to give the client opportunity to evaluate if communication is mutually understood)

A nurse providing care for a client refuses the client's request for hugs when leaving the room. Which of the following actions is the nurse displaying?

​Setting clear professional boundaries

A nurse is explaining to a client who has a new prescription for an antihypertensive that the medication can have a serious adverse effect, and that coughing is a warning sign of this effect. Which of the following statements by the nurse demonstrates the verbal communication attributes of brevity and clarity?

"Call us immediately if you start coughing." (Brevity means that the communication is brief, so this statement does illustrate brevity. Clarity means the communication is clear and this message is clear, and direct, and conveys the nurse's meaning. The nurse should provide an explanation to help reinforce the importance of this directive.)

Intraprofessional relationship

One group of health care workers who are of the same profession to create a client's plan of care

Observer

One who keeps records and reports to the leader and members

Standard setter

One who maintains the professional standards for the group and decisions agreed upon)