Communication Test Questions Test Questions & Answers Ch.2

Chapter 2. Communication – Test Questions

1. Communication is the:

2. Part of the communication process is:

3. The person who interprets the message is called the:

4. A form of verbal communication is:

5. A professional appearance by the health care worker can communicate:

6. Which of the following behaviors by your patient indicates a willingness to communicate?

7. Which of the following describes nonverbal behavior? Select all that apply.

8. Periods of silence during the communication process allow the health care worker to:

9. The communication style that serves to empower the individual is:

10. Therapeutic communication:

11. Active listening requires an active mind and:

12. Being yourself as well as being open and truthful describes:

13. Understanding the patient’s feelings and viewing the world as the patient does describe:

14. Agreement between spoken words and body language describes:

15. Gaining insight into your personal feelings is an example of:

16. You observe Sally communicating with 80-year-old Gerry, who is hearing impaired. The technique used is satisfactory if Sally:

17. You overhear Jane telling her mother that she is afraid to ride over the bridge, and Jane’s mother responds, “Don’t be silly. Let’s go.” This is an example of:

18. Mary, an elderly patient in the nursing home, states, “They are not doing anything to help me.” Your best response would be:

19. John, age 54, is admitted for day surgery and is anxious and tense prior to the procedure. How would you respond?

20. After completing morning care for Sarah, an 83-year-old patient in the nursing home, she states, “You are the only one who takes the time to care for me.” Your best response would be:

21. Which of the following questions is open-ended and would best help a person describe his or her pain?

22. The caregiver notices that one of her patients is in her room crying. The caregiver’s best response is:

23. Your patient is usually very verbal. Today, you note that she is withdrawn and quiet. The best caregiver action is to:

24. The caregiver says, “I’m not sure of the answer to your question.” This response indicates that the caregiver is:

25. Touching a client suddenly without warning may be interpreted as:

26. Telling a client that you know exactly what the client is going through is an example of:

27. When a health care worker changes the subject during a patient interaction, the result may:

28. Which of the following influence(s) how a message is interpreted when a nurse is communicating with a patient? (Select all that apply.)

a. Age

b. Feelings

c. Gender

d. Attitude

e. Past experience

29. Which of the following comments would be nontherapeutic? (Select all that apply.)

30. A nurse promotes effective communication with patients by using principles of:

a. Empathy

b. Submissiveness

c. Power

d. Control

31. A nurse is utilizing the best techniques of therapeutic communication with a patient experiencing a stressful event when she:

a. Asks her to explain why she is behaving like that

b. Sits with the client in quiet support

c. Asks her to be quiet and thoughtful

d. Isolates the patient from others

32. A nurse has achieved the highest level of practice in the art of therapeutic communication when he (select all that apply):

a. Supports the client’s coping skills

b. Explores his feelings

c. Asks family members to keep the patient calm

d. Shares his feelings with the patient

e. Feels his goals and needs are met

33. Touch is a powerful tool that a nurse can use in many situations; it can be used to (select all that apply):

a. Complement verbal communication

b. Demonstrate caring

c. Show empathy

d. Offer reassurance

e. Restrain an anxious patient

Chapter 2. Communication – Test Questions With Answers and Rationales

1. Communication is the:

Rationale: Communication is the basic exchange of ideas and information between individuals.

Nursing Process: Assessment

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

2. Part of the communication process is:

Rationale: Feedback is the part of the communication process in which a response is given to the message.

Nursing Process: Planning

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

3. The person who interprets the message is called the:

Rationale: The receiver is the person to whom the message is sent.

Nursing Process: Assessment

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

4. A form of verbal communication is:

Rationale: Verbal communication uses words in speech or in writing.

Nursing Process: Assessment

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

5. A professional appearance by the health care worker can communicate:

Rationale: A person’s appearance sends a message about how one feels about oneself.

Nursing Process: Planning

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

6. Which of the following behaviors by your patient indicates a willingness to communicate?

Rationale: Facing a person when communicating with him or her indicates that you are listening and focused on the person you are speaking to.

Nursing Process: Evaluation

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

7. Which of the following describes nonverbal behavior?

Rationale: Nonverbal behavior uses gestures, body language, and tone of voice to convey thoughts or feelings.

Nursing Process: Evaluation

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

8. Periods of silence during the communication process allow the health care worker to:

Rationale: Periods of silence during communication can be useful, in that they allow the person to think over what was said or what he or she is feeling.

Nursing Process: Implementation

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

9. The communication style that serves to empower the individual is:

Rationale: Assertive individuals are able to express their feelings with confidence.

Nursing Process: Planning

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

10. Therapeutic communication:

Rationale: Therapeutic communication promotes trust by using honesty.

Nursing Process: Planning

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

11. Active listening requires an active mind and:

Rationale: Active listening requires a posture indicating that you are focused on the patient and on what he or she is saying.

Nursing Process: Implementation

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

12. Being yourself as well as being open and truthful describes:

Rationale: Genuineness implies that the person is honest and sincere.

Nursing Process: Implementation

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

13. Understanding the patient’s feelings and viewing the world as the patient does describe:

Rationale: Empathy suggests that you can put yourself in the other person’s shoes.

Nursing Process: Implementation

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

14. Agreement between spoken words and body language describes:

Rationale: Congruence occurs when the verbal and nonverbal messages are in harmony.

Nursing Process: Assessment

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

15. Gaining insight into your personal feelings is an example of:

Rationale: Self-awareness, or insight, allows a person to understand the ways in which he or she feels, thinks, or acts.

Nursing Process: Implementation

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

16. You observe Sally communicating with 80-year-old Gerry, who is hearing impaired. The technique used is satisfactory if Sally:

Rationale: Seeking clarification, or feedback, makes certain that the person understood what was said.

Nursing Process: Implementation

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

17. You overhear Jane telling her mother that she is afraid to ride over the bridge, and Jane’s mother responds, “Don’t be silly. Let’s go.” This is an example of:

Rationale: Belittling tends to make light of a person’s fears or beliefs.

Nursing Process: Assessment

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

18. Mary, an elderly patient in the nursing home, states, “They are not doing anything to help me.” Your best response would be:

Rationale: The technique that uses clarification attempts to seek information necessary to better understand what is said.

Nursing Process: Implementation

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

19. John, age 54, is admitted for day surgery and is anxious and tense during the procedure. How would you respond?

Rationale: Using reflection, you can state your perception of the patient’s message.

Nursing Process: Implementation

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

20. After completing morning care for Sarah, an 83-year-old patient in the nursing home, she states, “You are the only one who takes the time to care for me.” Your best response would be:

Rationale: Communication is the best when it attempts to clarify what the person is really saying.

Nursing Process: Implementation

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

21. Which of the following questions is open-ended and would best help a person describe his or her pain?

Rationale: Open-ended questions help individuals describe their feelings.

Nursing Process: Evaluation

Client Needs: Physiological Integrity

22. The caregiver notices that one of her patients is in her room crying. The caregiver’s best response is:

Rationale: Listening is a valuable tool that helps individuals express their feelings.

Nursing Process: Implementation

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

23. Your patient is usually very verbal. Today, you note that she is withdrawn and quiet. The best caregiver action is to:

Rationale: Observation while spending time with an individual values the person.

Nursing Process: Implementation

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

24. The caregiver says, “I’m not sure of the answer to your question.” This response indicates that the caregiver is:

Rationale: Genuineness is being open and truthful.

Nursing Process: Implementation

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

25. Touching a client suddenly without warning may be interpreted as:

Rationale: Sudden, unexpected touch may be interpreted as invasive or aggressive.

Nursing Process: Implementation

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

26. Telling a client that you know exactly what the client is going through is an example of:

Rationale: Stereotyping offers an insincere, superficial statement that is based on the belief that all individuals have the same feelings.

Nursing Process: Implementation

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

27. When a health care worker changes the subject during a patient interaction, the result may:

Rationale: Changing the subject during a client interaction may block communication and reduce the caregiver’s anxiety.

Nursing Process: Implementation

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

28. Which of the following influence(s) how a message is interpreted when a nurse is communicating with a patient? (Select all that apply.)

a. Age

b. Feelings

c. Gender

d. Attitude

e. Past experience

Rationale: A message is best interpreted when all these factors are used.

Nursing Process: Assessment

Client Needs: Psychological Integrity

29. Which of the following comments would be nontherapeutic? (Select all that apply.)

Rationale: Belittling, changing the subject, agreeing, and asking closed-ended questions are all considered blocks or nontherapeutic techniques.

Nursing Process: Implementation

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

30. A nurse promotes effective communication with patients by using principles of:

1. Empathy
2. Submissiveness
3. Power
4. Control

Rationale: For communication to be effective, the health care worker must show warmth, empathy, and interest and be attentive to what the patient is saying and feeling.

Nursing Process: Implementation

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

31. A nurse is utilizing the best techniques of therapeutic communication with a patient experiencing a stressful event when she:

1. Asks her to explain why she is behaving like that
2. Sits with the client in quiet support
3. Asks her to be quiet and thoughtful
4. Isolates the patient from others

Rationale: In a stressful event where words are not enough, a nurse supports a patient by offering themselves.

Nursing Process: Evaluation

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

32. A nurse has achieved the highest level of practice in the art of therapeutic communication when he (select all that apply):

1. Supports the client’s coping skills
2. Explores his feelings
3. Asks family members to keep the patient calm
4. Shares his feelings with the patient
5. Feels his goals and needs are met

Rationale: A nurse has attained the highest level of communication when they follow the six principles of therapeutic communication: Listening, attentiveness, warmth, genuineness, empathy, and positive regard.

Nursing Process: Implementation

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

33. Touch is a powerful tool that a nurse can use in many situations; it can be used to (select all that apply):

1. Complement verbal communication
2. Demonstrate caring
3. Show empathy
4. Offer reassurance
5. Restrain an anxious patient

Rationale: Touch can evoke positive responses and can be used to place emphasis on the verbal message, demonstrate caring, show empathy, and offer reassurance.

Nursing Process: Assessment

Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity