Chapter 8 fundamentals

A nurse is caring for a client who is newly diagnosed with terminal cancer. The nurse enters the client's room and finds the client sitting in the dark crying. Which statement conveys empathy by the nurse?

"I know this is hard for you. Is there any way I can help?"

A nurse is caring for a client experiencing biliary colic from uncomplicated cholelithiasis. The client asks, "My doctor says I should have surgery to remove my gallbladder. Do you think it is really necessary?" What is the nurse's best response?

"Share with me the advantages and disadvantages of your options as you see them."

Which is an open-ended question?

"Why did the health care provider prescribe this medication for you?"

A nurse is assessing vital signs on a pregnant client during a routine prenatal visit. The client states, "I know labor will be so painful, it sounds awful. I am sure I will not be able to stand the pain; I really dread going into labor." What is the best response from the nurse?

"You're worried about how you will tolerate the pain associated with labor."

What nursing care behavior by the nurse engenders a client's trust in the nurse?

A nurse answers the client's questions about an upcoming test in a calm gentle voice while making eye contact with the client.

In which situation would the SBAR technique of communication be most appropriate?

A nurse is calling a physician to report a client's new onset of chest pain.

The nurse is caring for a client who is a victim of sexual assault. Which action would the nurse take to develop a trusting rapport with the client?

Approach the client with empathy and understanding and allow the client to share feelings without being judged.

A nurse is completing a health history on a client who has a hearing impairment. Which action should the nurse take first to enhance communication?

Assess how the client would like to communicate

Which quality in a nurse helps the nurse to become effective in providing for a client's needs while remaining compassionately detached?

Empathy

A nurse is discharging a client and thus terminating the nurse-client relationship. Which action should the nurse perform in this phase?

Examine goals of the relationship to determine whether they were achieved

A home care nurse discusses with a client when visits will occur and how long they will last. In what phase of the nurse-client relationship is this type of agreement established?

Orientation phase

The nurse makes a contract with the client during which phase of the nurse-client relationship?

Orientation phase

A unit-based infection control task force was developed in an attempt to reduce catheter-acquired infections. The group consists of 10 team members. During the past three meetings, one person dominated the meeting and did not allow other members ample time to speak. The best way to address the team dysfunction is to:

have group members confront the dominant member to promote the needed team work.

A nurse is on lunch break in the hospital cafeteria and sits at a table near a group of physicians eating their lunch. One of the physicians, who is in charge of the nurse's clients, points at the nurse and states, "That guy needs to get fired." The best response by the nurse would be to:

ask to speak to the physician in private and address the disrespectful remark.

The nurse communicates with a newly admitted client. Which nonverbal behavior will the nurse note?

client's gestures

Each of the following facilitates a therapeutic nurse-client relationship except:

closed-ended questions.

A nurse is caring for a client admitted to the hospital for dehydration. Which physical findings should the nurse acknowledge as nonverbal communication concerning this diagnosis?

easy wrinkling of the skin and sunken eyes.

Paramedics arrive in the emergency department with a client who was in a motor vehicle collision. The paramedic reports that the driver was restrained, the car was traveling about 30 miles per hour (48 km/hr), and the air bags were not deployed. The paramedic continues to report that the car was struck from behind and that all individuals in the car were able to self-extricate. Which statement made by the nurse is verifying the report from the paramedic?

"All of the people got themselves out of the car?"

A client has just been given a diagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver. Which statements by the nurse should be avoided because they could impede communication? Select all that apply.

"Cheer up. Tomorrow is another day." "Your doctor knows best." "Don't worry. You will be just fine in another day or two." "Everything will be all right."

A nurse is obtaining a history from an adult female client. When the nurse asks how many times the client has been pregnant, the client answers, "I have four kids." Which statement, made by the nurse, seeks clarification of the original question?

"I understand you have four kids; how many times have you actually been pregnant?"

A client reports to a primary care physician with aggravated chest pain. The physician orders a stress test. The client tells the nurse that the client does not want to take the test and would prefer instead to continue taking medication a little longer. Understanding that the client is anxious, what is the most appropriate response by the nurse?

"Tell me more about how you are feeling."

When the preoperative client tells the nurse that the client cannot sleep because the client keeps thinking about the surgery, an appropriate reflection of the statement by the nurse is:

"The thought of having surgery is keeping you awake."

A nurse is completing a health history with a client being admitted for a mastectomy. During the interview the client states, "I do not know what to do. I am not sure if I really need this surgery." Which response by the nurse demonstrates active listening?

"You seem unsure. Tell me your concerns about your surgery."

Which nurse would most likely be the best communicator?

A nurse who easily develops a rapport with clients

A nurse is planning care for an adult client with severe hearing impairment who uses sign language and lip reading for communication and who has a new diagnosis of cancer. Which nursing action is most appropriate when establishing the plan of care for this client?

Arrange for a sign language interpreter when discussing treatment.

A nurse and an older adult client with chronic back pain are beginning to communicate. What activity should the nurse focus on at this point?

Being sensitive to the client's emotional barriers

A client has cancer, but the significant other does not want the client to know the diagnosis. The nurse demonstrates sensitivity to the significant other and works with the couple to achieve desired outcomes. What kind of behavior is the nurse exhibiting?

Empathy

The nurse is visiting a hospice client in the client's home. The client is explaining difficulties with a home infusion pump. By making statements such as "I see" and "go on" during the conversation, the nurse is using which therapeutic nurse-client communication technique?

Encouraging elaboration

While assessing a client, the nurse notices that the client seems to be distracted from the questions being asked. The nurse attempts to identify factors that may be affecting the communication. What would the nurse identify as an internal influencing factor?

Experience

When assessing a client's nonverbal communication, the nurse should assess which aspect as being the most expressive?

Facial expressions

The nurse is providing care to an older adult client who has visual and hearing deficits. What action by the nurse is appropriate to help with communication?

Identify oneself by name and title with each entry into the client's room.

The nurse is reporting to an oncoming nurse about the care of a client using the SBAR format. The nurse informs the oncoming nurse that the client should continue to have neurological checks every 2 hours and the nurse should report any alterations to the health care provider. In which section should this information be relayed?

Recommendation

The community health nurse is preparing a campaign to educate the public about heart health. Which form(s) of verbal communication would be effective to use in this campaign? Select all that apply.

Television Radio A public speech

The nurse meets with the client to teach self-administration of low molecular weight heparin. During the initial part of the training the client shakes the head and asks the nurse to repeat the instructions. What action demonstrates that the nurse has assessed the client's communication abilities?

The nurse faces the client, speaks slowly and clearly, and demonstrates the procedure using a needleless syringe.

A dialysis nurse is educating a client on caring for the dialysis access that was inserted into the client's right arm. The nurse assesses the client's fears and concerns related to dialysis, the dialysis access, and care of the access. This information is taught over several sessions during the course of the client's hospitalization. Which phase of the working relationship is best described in this scenario?

The working phase

A nurse is caring for a client who presents with a skin infection. While obtaining the client's medical history, it is determined that the client is an intravenous drug user. To foster effective communication, the nurse should:

remain honest, open, and frank.

A nurse is at the end of a busy shift on a medical-surgical unit. The nurse enters a room to empty the client's urinary catheter and the client says, "I feel like you ignored me today." In response to the statement, the nurse should:

sit at the bedside and allow the client to explain the statement.

A nurse is preparing to enter a client's room to perform wound care. The shift report revealed that this client has a tunneling wound in the sacral area that cannot be staged. The wound was also documented as having a foul odor. The nurse is nervous because the nurse has not often performed wound care on a complex wound. Using effective intrapersonal communication, this nurse should:

Tell oneself to "remain calm" and remember that the nurse was trained to perform this skill.

The nurse is communicating with a client who begins to cry. The nurse places a hand on the client's arm and sits quietly at the client's beside. What mode of communication is the nurse using to offer caring and comfort for the client?

Kinesthetic

A client with a cardiac dysrhythmia was recently prescribed metoprolol and is at a follow-up appointment at the cardiologist's office. The client tells the nurse, "I feel depressed, tired, and I have no desire to exercise." To determine a cause-and-effect relationship, the nurse should ask:

"Were you tired and depressed before starting the new medication?"