Communication NCLEX Style
Questions with Correct Answers
A nurse is collecting data for an admission nursing history. Which question by the nurse
is best to open the discussion?
1. "What brought you to the hospital?"
2. "Would it help to discuss your feelings?"
3. "Do you want to talk about your concerns?"
4. "Would you like to talk about why you are here?" - ANSWERS1. "What brought you to
the hospital?"
A nurse must conduct a focused interview to complete an admission history. Which
interviewing technique should the nurse use?
1. Probing
2. Clarification
3. Direct Questions
4. Paraphrasing statements - ANSWERS3. Direct Questions
Which statement about communication should the nurse consider to be accurate?
1. Verbal communication is essential for human relationships
2. Hands are the most expressive part of the body
3. Behavior clearly reflects feelings
4. Communication is inevitable - ANSWERS4. Communication is inevitable
A patient is extremely upset and mentions something about a work-related issue that
the nurse cannot understand. Which is the nurses best response?
1. "It's natural to worry about your job"
2. "Your job must be very important to you"
3. "Calm down so that I can understand what you are saying"
4. "I'm not quite sure I heard what you were saying about your work" - ANSWERS4. "I'm
not quite sure I heard what you were saying about your work"
Which is the purpose of the use of humor by a nurse when interacting with a patient?
1. Diminish feelings of anger
2. Refocus the patient's attention
3. Maintain a balanced perspective
4. Delay dealing with the inevitable - ANSWERS3. Maintain a balanced perspective
, A nurse is caring for a patient who is blind in the left eye and visually impaired in the
right eye. Which actions should the nurse employ to promote communication with this
patient?
1. Touch the patient's left arm before initiating a conversation.
2. Ensure that the door to the patient's room is on the patient's left side.
3. Close the window curtains and dim the lights before speaking with the patient.
4. Knock on the door and request permission to enter before approaching the patient. -
ANSWERS4. Knocking on the door and request permission to enter before approaching
the patient
A patient is admitted to the hospital with cirrhosis of the liver caused by long-term
alcohol abuse. Which is the best response by the nurse when the patient says, "I really
don't believe that my drinking a couple of beers a day has anything to do with my liver
problem"?
1. " You find it hard to believe that beer can hurt the liver."
2. "How long is it that you have been drinking several beers a day?"
3. "Each beer is equivalent to one shot of liquor so it's just as damaging to the liver as
hard liquor."
4. " Do you believe that beer is not harmful even though research shows that it is just as
bad for you as hard liquor?" - ANSWERS1. "You find it hard to believe that beer can
hurt the liver."
Which is being communicated when the nurse leans forward during a patient interview?
1. Aggression
2. Anxiety
3. Interest
4. Privacy - ANSWERS3. Interest
Which statement describes the following proverb? What you do speaks so loudly I
cannot hear what you say
1. Hearing ability is an important factor in communicating
2. Nonverbal messages are often more meaningful than words
3. Listening to what people say requires attention to what is being said
4. When people talk too loudly it is hard to understand what is being said - ANSWERS2.
Nonverbal messages are often more meaningful than words
A mother whose young daughter has died of leukemia is crying and is unable to talk
about her feelings. Which is the best response by the nurse?
1. "Everyone will remember her because she was so cute. She was one of our
favorites."
Questions with Correct Answers
A nurse is collecting data for an admission nursing history. Which question by the nurse
is best to open the discussion?
1. "What brought you to the hospital?"
2. "Would it help to discuss your feelings?"
3. "Do you want to talk about your concerns?"
4. "Would you like to talk about why you are here?" - ANSWERS1. "What brought you to
the hospital?"
A nurse must conduct a focused interview to complete an admission history. Which
interviewing technique should the nurse use?
1. Probing
2. Clarification
3. Direct Questions
4. Paraphrasing statements - ANSWERS3. Direct Questions
Which statement about communication should the nurse consider to be accurate?
1. Verbal communication is essential for human relationships
2. Hands are the most expressive part of the body
3. Behavior clearly reflects feelings
4. Communication is inevitable - ANSWERS4. Communication is inevitable
A patient is extremely upset and mentions something about a work-related issue that
the nurse cannot understand. Which is the nurses best response?
1. "It's natural to worry about your job"
2. "Your job must be very important to you"
3. "Calm down so that I can understand what you are saying"
4. "I'm not quite sure I heard what you were saying about your work" - ANSWERS4. "I'm
not quite sure I heard what you were saying about your work"
Which is the purpose of the use of humor by a nurse when interacting with a patient?
1. Diminish feelings of anger
2. Refocus the patient's attention
3. Maintain a balanced perspective
4. Delay dealing with the inevitable - ANSWERS3. Maintain a balanced perspective
, A nurse is caring for a patient who is blind in the left eye and visually impaired in the
right eye. Which actions should the nurse employ to promote communication with this
patient?
1. Touch the patient's left arm before initiating a conversation.
2. Ensure that the door to the patient's room is on the patient's left side.
3. Close the window curtains and dim the lights before speaking with the patient.
4. Knock on the door and request permission to enter before approaching the patient. -
ANSWERS4. Knocking on the door and request permission to enter before approaching
the patient
A patient is admitted to the hospital with cirrhosis of the liver caused by long-term
alcohol abuse. Which is the best response by the nurse when the patient says, "I really
don't believe that my drinking a couple of beers a day has anything to do with my liver
problem"?
1. " You find it hard to believe that beer can hurt the liver."
2. "How long is it that you have been drinking several beers a day?"
3. "Each beer is equivalent to one shot of liquor so it's just as damaging to the liver as
hard liquor."
4. " Do you believe that beer is not harmful even though research shows that it is just as
bad for you as hard liquor?" - ANSWERS1. "You find it hard to believe that beer can
hurt the liver."
Which is being communicated when the nurse leans forward during a patient interview?
1. Aggression
2. Anxiety
3. Interest
4. Privacy - ANSWERS3. Interest
Which statement describes the following proverb? What you do speaks so loudly I
cannot hear what you say
1. Hearing ability is an important factor in communicating
2. Nonverbal messages are often more meaningful than words
3. Listening to what people say requires attention to what is being said
4. When people talk too loudly it is hard to understand what is being said - ANSWERS2.
Nonverbal messages are often more meaningful than words
A mother whose young daughter has died of leukemia is crying and is unable to talk
about her feelings. Which is the best response by the nurse?
1. "Everyone will remember her because she was so cute. She was one of our
favorites."
