ATI RN
Communication in Nursing Practice Questions Questions
Question 1 of 9
The nurse greets a patient who is admitted to the hospital. Which action by the nurse displays warmth and concern?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because using a soft and relaxed tone of voice conveys warmth and concern, making the patient feel welcomed and cared for. It helps build rapport and comfort. Maintaining a distance of 6 to 8 feet (B) may create a sense of coldness and detachment. Avoiding attentive behaviors (C) will make the patient feel neglected and uncared for. Engaging in verbal exchange without physical contact (D) lacks the personal touch needed to show warmth and concern.
Question 2 of 9
The nurse plans to delegate a client's personal hygiene to a nursing assistant. Which statement if made by the nurse to the nursing assistant is assertive?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct Answer: C Rationale: 1. The statement in choice C is assertive because it clearly states the task, timeline, and expectation without being aggressive or demeaning. 2. It communicates the need for assistance with the client's bath and sets a clear priority. 3. It provides a specific instruction for the nursing assistant to assist the client immediately and then take a break. 4. This approach demonstrates effective delegation and ensures the client's needs are met promptly and respectfully. Summary: A: This choice is not assertive as it presents a conditional statement and implies a personal sacrifice by the nurse if the task is not completed. B: This choice is aggressive and threatening, which is not appropriate in a professional setting. D: This choice is directive but lacks consideration for the nursing assistant's well-being and does not communicate the urgency of the task for the client.
Question 3 of 9
The nurse greets a patient who is admitted to the hospital. Which action by the nurse displays warmth and concern?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because using a soft and relaxed tone of voice conveys warmth and concern, making the patient feel welcomed and cared for. It helps build rapport and comfort. Maintaining a distance of 6 to 8 feet (B) may create a sense of coldness and detachment. Avoiding attentive behaviors (C) will make the patient feel neglected and uncared for. Engaging in verbal exchange without physical contact (D) lacks the personal touch needed to show warmth and concern.
Question 4 of 9
According to the ANA's Standards of Clinical Nursing Practice, there are several steps within the nursing process that surround patient care. However, one of the most important steps is the one in which the nurse partners with the patient, family, and other caregivers to create an acceptable path that meets the patient's needs and is specific to the disease process. This important step is identified as:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Planning. In the nursing process, planning is a crucial step where the nurse collaborates with the patient, family, and caregivers to develop a comprehensive care plan tailored to the patient's needs and specific disease process. This step involves setting goals, determining interventions, and creating a roadmap for the patient's care. Planning ensures that the care provided is individualized, evidence-based, and addresses the patient's unique circumstances. Evaluation (A) comes after planning to assess the effectiveness of interventions. Implementation (C) involves carrying out the planned interventions. Nursing diagnosis (D) is an earlier step where the nurse identifies the patient's health problems and needs. Planning stands out as the most important step as it guides the entire care process.
Question 5 of 9
Which demonstrates the nurse's genuine concern for clients?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because informing the patient about a medication error and symptoms to report shows transparency, honesty, and prioritizes patient safety. This action also promotes trust in the nurse-patient relationship. A: Choice A is incorrect because falsely reassuring a terminally ill patient does not demonstrate genuine concern and lacks honesty. B: Choice B is incorrect because delaying important information about the death of a dependent child is unethical and can cause unnecessary distress to the patient. C: Choice C is incorrect because providing a placebo without informed consent violates ethical principles and does not prioritize the patient's well-being.
Question 6 of 9
The nurse cares for a patient with a terminal illness. Which way would be the most therapeutic for the nurse to communicate with this patient?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Demonstrate understanding with empathy. This approach is the most therapeutic as it shows the nurse's genuine care and support for the patient, fostering a sense of trust and emotional connection. By empathizing, the nurse validates the patient's feelings and provides comfort without judgment. A: Using an honest, judgmental attitude can be harmful and create a barrier in the nurse-patient relationship. C: Acknowledging hope by expressions of sympathy is important but may not address the patient's immediate emotional needs. D: Consistently evaluating the patient's feelings is important, but without demonstrating empathy, it may come across as clinical and detached. In summary, choice B is the best approach as it prioritizes empathy and understanding, essential components in providing effective therapeutic communication.
Question 7 of 9
A Hispanic patient approaches the Asian nurse and, standing very close, touches the nurse's shoulder during their conversation. The nurse begins to step back to 18 to 24 inches, while smiling and nodding to the patient. This situation is most likely an example of:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: a difference in culturally learned personal space of the nurse and the patient. This is because different cultures have varying norms regarding personal space. In this scenario, the Hispanic patient touching the Asian nurse's shoulder and standing very close suggests a cultural difference in personal space expectations. The nurse stepping back to establish a distance of 18 to 24 inches is a respectful response to accommodate the patient's cultural norm. It demonstrates cultural competence and understanding. Explanation for why the other choices are incorrect: A: the nurse's need to maintain a professional role rather than a social role - This choice does not address the cultural aspect of personal space and assumes the nurse's response is solely professional. B: a patient's attempt to keep the nurse's attention - This choice does not consider the cultural factor influencing the patient's behavior. C: a nurse's need to establish a more appropriate location for conversation - This choice does not acknowledge the cultural difference in personal space as the primary reason for the nurse
Question 8 of 9
The first-semester nursing student tells the team leader that her clinical assignment for the day is to take vital signs and obtain a client history that will take about 1 or 2 hours to complete. Which clients would the leader recommend that she approach to fulfill her assignment? (Select all that apply.)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because Mr. L, who has a tracheostomy and partial laryngectomy, will likely require vital signs monitoring and a detailed client history due to his complex respiratory and communication needs. This assignment will provide the student with valuable experience in caring for clients with specialized needs. Incorrect choices: A: Mr. N (non-Hodgkin lymphoma) - While Mr. N may require vital signs monitoring, his condition does not necessarily involve complex care needs that would warrant a 1-2 hour history-taking session. C: Mr. B (bladder cancer) - Vital signs monitoring and history-taking for a client with bladder cancer may not require as much time as the scenario suggests, as the care needs may not be as complex as those of a client with a tracheostomy and laryngectomy. D: Ms. C (bowel resection and colostomy) - While Ms. C may require vital signs monitoring and history-taking
Question 9 of 9
One study of Italian primary care physicians caring for diabetic patients showed that those scoring highest on the empathy test had patients with:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Statistically fewer acute diabetic complications. This is because the study found a correlation between high empathy scores of physicians and lower occurrences of acute diabetic complications in their patients. The use of the term "statistically" implies a significant and reliable relationship between physician empathy and patient outcomes. Choice A is incorrect because the study did not specify "significantly" fewer complications, only a correlation with high empathy scores. Choice C is incorrect as there was no evidence of higher rates of chronic complications associated with physician empathy. Choice D is incorrect as the study did not find statistically higher poor outcomes for patients with diabetes, but rather a relationship with fewer acute complications.