Question 1

Based on a patient's perception of professional competence and caring, the nurse should wear:

Accepted Answer

A)   large, dangling, hoop earrings
B)   bright red, acrylic fingernails
C)   a clean, neatly pressed uniform
D)   offensive tattoos that cannot be covered C

Question 2

What would be an acceptable personal space distance for most English-speaking persons?

Accepted Answer

A)   14 inches
B)   18 inches
C)   21 inches
D)   24 inches B

Question 3

A female patient is admitted to the emergency department after being raped by a neighbor. The patient refuses to discuss the circumstances surrounding the event with the sexual assault nurse examiner. This patient is most likely using the defense mechanism of:

Accepted Answer

A)   suppression
B)   sublimation
C)   displacement
D)   rationalization A

Question 4

A mother of a young child kicks a trashcan in anger and says to the nurse, "You just don't understand! Why can't the doctor find out what is wrong with my child?" This behavior is most likely an example of:

Accepted Answer

A)   suppression
B)   sublimation
C)   displacement
D)   rationalization

Question 5

A patient with an inoperable brain tumor says to the nurse, "I just want to die now. It's going to happen soon anyway." Which of the following would be the most appropriate response?

Accepted Answer

A)   "Don't worry about that right now. It'll be OK."
B)   "I disagree with what you just said!"
C)   "Honey, now don't you talk like that."
D)   "Tell me why you are saying that."

Question 6

A helping relationship develops through ongoing, purposeful interaction between a nurse and a patient. Nurse-patient relationships focus on: (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)   building trust.
B)   demonstrating empathy.
C)   tearing down boundaries.
D)   developing a plan of care.

Question 7

A patient calls the nurse to report the smell of cigarette smoke in the bathroom. The event which triggers this communication process is referred to as the:

Accepted Answer

A)   channel.
B)   referent.
C)   message.
D)   feedback.

Question 8

The nurse is caring for a patient scheduled for a partial mastectomy resulting from advanced cancer. The patient tells the nurse, "I'm sure when the surgeon operates on me, he will not find any cancer in my breast. It looks just fine." The patient is using which defense mechanism to cope with the medical diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

A)   Suppression
B)   Sublimation
C)   Displacement
D)   Denial

Question 9

The nurse is caring for an adult patient with a recent below-the-knee amputation. During shift report, the nurse reports that the patient has urinated in the bed multiple times since the surgery. Which defense mechanism best describes this behavior?

Accepted Answer

A)   compensation
B)   denial
C)   rationalization
D)   regression

Question 10

The nurse is performing an abdominal assessment on a postoperative surgical patient. The nurse notes that the dressing needs to be changed twice a day and discusses when the patient would like to have it done. The nurse then plans to change the dressing at that time. In which phase of the nurse-patient helping relationship would this process occur?

Accepted Answer

A)   Introductory phase
B)   Orientation phase
C)   Working phase
D)   Termination phase

Question 11

The nursing student is writing a report on the use of nonverbal techniques to encourage therapeutic communication. Which examples should be included in the report? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)   Providing a backrub
B)   Remaining silent
C)   Avoiding distracting body movements
D)   Facing the patient
E)   Nodding

Question 12

Several nurses on a medical-surgical unit have been asked by the nurse manager to form a group and gather data regarding patient complaints of late meals. The nurses meet and establish ground rules. This phase of group development is called:

Accepted Answer

A)   forming.
B)   storming.
C)   norming.
D)   performing.

Question 13

The nurse is administering a bath to a hearing-impaired patient. The nurse should: (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)   speak very loudly into the patient's right ear.
B)   control background noise as much as possible.
C)   turn away when responding to a question.
D)   adjust the lighting in the room.
E)   be wary of consistent affirmative answers.

Question 14

The nurse is admitting a patient with a foul smelling leg wound. Which behavior by the nurse indicates an understanding of appropriate body language?

Accepted Answer

A)   Using hand gestures to enhance verbal communication
B)   Standing at the end of the bed with arms crossed
C)   Facial grimacing at the sight of the wound
D)   Gentle touching of the patient's shoulder

Question 15

A nurse has been working with a patient for the entire shift. Which action by the nurse is unacceptable?

Accepted Answer

A)   Sharing a personal mobile phone number
B)   Touching the patient's hand during a painful procedure
C)   Standing 6 feet away from the patient when conversing
D)   Using the SBAR method of hand-off communication

Question 16

The nurse is collaborating with a patient to determine interventions to ensure compliance with medication administration after his pending discharge. The goals and nursing interventions would be agreed upon in the:

Accepted Answer

A)   Preinteraction phase.
B)   Orientation phase.
C)   Working phase.
D)   Termination phase.

Question 17

A patient complains that several staff members entered the room during the morning bath without knocking. Which component of professional nursing communication has been violated in this scenario?

Accepted Answer

A)   Collaboration
B)   Advocacy
C)   Assertiveness
D)   Respect

Question 18

The nurse is conducting a presurgical screening interview with a patient at a local surgical center. When performing a health assessment, the primary source of information should be:

Accepted Answer

A)   the spouse.
B)   the medical record.
C)   a close relative.
D)   the patient.

Question 19

The nurse manager sends an e-mail to the nursing staff as a reminder for a scheduled monthly meeting. In doing so, the nurse manager understands that e-mail:

Accepted Answer

A)   is usually slower than other methods to disseminate knowledge.
B)   has the potential for miscommunication.
C)   cannot be used to deliver vital information.
D)   is especially effective because of the use of nonverbal cues.

Question 20

The nurse is assisting a co-worker who is preparing to change a deep wound dressing on a patient's abdomen. Several of the patient's out-of-town friends are at the bedside watching a football game. Which action is most appropriate for the nurse to consider prior to the dressing change?

Accepted Answer

A)   Ask the friends to leave the room.
B)   Pull the curtain around the bed.
C)   Allow visitors to stay in the room during the procedure.
D)   Ask the patient to turn up the volume on the television.

Exam 3: Communication