C HAPTER 24: C OMMUNICATION
Fundamentals of Nursing 10th Edition; Potter Perry
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following is the single most negative factor affecting a
nurses credibilit y?
A. Deficient technical skills
B. Unethical or illegal behavior
C. Lack of caring and empathy
D. Poor nurse-client communication
ANS: D
Breakdown in communication is a t op contributor to errors in the
workplace and threatens professional credibilit y. The remaining
options affect credibilit y but not to the extent that poor communication
does.
DIF: C REF: 340 OBJ: Anal ysis TOP: Nursing Process:
Planning MSC: NC LEX test plan designation: Safe, Effective
Care Environment
2. The best communicator is the nurse who:
A. Thinks criticall y
B. Is a good listener
C. Is comfortable talking
, D. Empathizes with the client
ANS: A
Nurses who develop good critical thinking skills make the best
communicators. The remaining options identify components of good
communication.
DIF: C REF: 340-341 OBJ: Anal ysis TOP: Nursing Process:
Assessment MSC: NC LEX test plan designation: Safe, Effective
Care Environment
3. Which of the following statements shows the best attempt by a nurse to
overcome personal biases?
A. So how does that make you feel?
B. Most people reall y like Dr. Jones.
C. I know how that must frighten you.
D. How much did the medication help your pain?
ANS: A
People often assume that others think, feel, act , react, and behave as
they would in similar circumstances. They tend to distort or ignore
information that goes against their expectations, preconceptions, or
stereot ypes. This statement clearl y shows the nurse attempting to assist
the client in expressin g his or her personal feelings. The remaining
options all make a presumption about the clients feelings or attitudes.
, DIF: C REF: 341 OBJ: Anal ysis TOP: Nursing Process:
Assessment MSC: NC LEX test plan designation: Safe, Effective
Care Environment
4. A close, effective nurse-client relationship impacts interpersonal
communication most by facilitating:
A. Client education regarding health -related issues
B. The accurate interpretation of shared information
C. A free exchange of information between client and nurse
D. The clients expression of physical and emotional needs
ANS: B
The more the sender and receiver have in common and the closer the
relationship, the more likel y they will accuratel y perceive one anothers
meaning and respond accordingl y. The remaining options are outcomes
of an effective nurse -client relationship but they do not impact
communication as directl y.
DIF: C REF: 340 OBJ: Anal ysis TOP: Nursing Process:
Planning MSC: NC LEX test plan designation: Safe, Effective
Care Environment
5. Mentall y reviewing the steps of a complicated nursing procedure before
entering the clients room is an example of:
A. Nonverbal communication
B. Interpersonal communication
C. Intrapersonal communication
D. Transpersonal communication
, ANS: B
A t ype of intrapersonal communication, sel f-instructions, provides a
mental rehearsal for difficult tasks or situations so individuals are able
to deal with them more effectivel y. Interpersonal communication is
one-to-one interaction between the nurse and another person that often
occurs face to f ace while transpersonal communication is interaction
that occurs within a persons spiritual domain. Nonverbal
communication includes all five senses and everything that does not
involve the spoken or written word.
DIF: A REF: 342 OBJ: Comprehension TOP: Nursing
Process: Planning MSC: NC LEX test plan designation: Safe,
Effective Care Environment
6. The nurse can best detect that a client needs clarification of the
information provided on a special diet by:
A. Asking the client frequentl y if they have any quest ions
B. Assessing the clients nonverbal cues that suggest confusion
C. Providing the client with written supportive materials on the diet
D. Requesting that the client rephrase the information in his or her own
words
ANS: B
You determine the need for clarificatio n by watching the listener for
nonverbal cues that suggest confusion or misunderstanding. The
remaining options are means of reinforcing or evaluating the listeners
understanding of the information.
Fundamentals of Nursing 10th Edition; Potter Perry
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following is the single most negative factor affecting a
nurses credibilit y?
A. Deficient technical skills
B. Unethical or illegal behavior
C. Lack of caring and empathy
D. Poor nurse-client communication
ANS: D
Breakdown in communication is a t op contributor to errors in the
workplace and threatens professional credibilit y. The remaining
options affect credibilit y but not to the extent that poor communication
does.
DIF: C REF: 340 OBJ: Anal ysis TOP: Nursing Process:
Planning MSC: NC LEX test plan designation: Safe, Effective
Care Environment
2. The best communicator is the nurse who:
A. Thinks criticall y
B. Is a good listener
C. Is comfortable talking
, D. Empathizes with the client
ANS: A
Nurses who develop good critical thinking skills make the best
communicators. The remaining options identify components of good
communication.
DIF: C REF: 340-341 OBJ: Anal ysis TOP: Nursing Process:
Assessment MSC: NC LEX test plan designation: Safe, Effective
Care Environment
3. Which of the following statements shows the best attempt by a nurse to
overcome personal biases?
A. So how does that make you feel?
B. Most people reall y like Dr. Jones.
C. I know how that must frighten you.
D. How much did the medication help your pain?
ANS: A
People often assume that others think, feel, act , react, and behave as
they would in similar circumstances. They tend to distort or ignore
information that goes against their expectations, preconceptions, or
stereot ypes. This statement clearl y shows the nurse attempting to assist
the client in expressin g his or her personal feelings. The remaining
options all make a presumption about the clients feelings or attitudes.
, DIF: C REF: 341 OBJ: Anal ysis TOP: Nursing Process:
Assessment MSC: NC LEX test plan designation: Safe, Effective
Care Environment
4. A close, effective nurse-client relationship impacts interpersonal
communication most by facilitating:
A. Client education regarding health -related issues
B. The accurate interpretation of shared information
C. A free exchange of information between client and nurse
D. The clients expression of physical and emotional needs
ANS: B
The more the sender and receiver have in common and the closer the
relationship, the more likel y they will accuratel y perceive one anothers
meaning and respond accordingl y. The remaining options are outcomes
of an effective nurse -client relationship but they do not impact
communication as directl y.
DIF: C REF: 340 OBJ: Anal ysis TOP: Nursing Process:
Planning MSC: NC LEX test plan designation: Safe, Effective
Care Environment
5. Mentall y reviewing the steps of a complicated nursing procedure before
entering the clients room is an example of:
A. Nonverbal communication
B. Interpersonal communication
C. Intrapersonal communication
D. Transpersonal communication
, ANS: B
A t ype of intrapersonal communication, sel f-instructions, provides a
mental rehearsal for difficult tasks or situations so individuals are able
to deal with them more effectivel y. Interpersonal communication is
one-to-one interaction between the nurse and another person that often
occurs face to f ace while transpersonal communication is interaction
that occurs within a persons spiritual domain. Nonverbal
communication includes all five senses and everything that does not
involve the spoken or written word.
DIF: A REF: 342 OBJ: Comprehension TOP: Nursing
Process: Planning MSC: NC LEX test plan designation: Safe,
Effective Care Environment
6. The nurse can best detect that a client needs clarification of the
information provided on a special diet by:
A. Asking the client frequentl y if they have any quest ions
B. Assessing the clients nonverbal cues that suggest confusion
C. Providing the client with written supportive materials on the diet
D. Requesting that the client rephrase the information in his or her own
words
ANS: B
You determine the need for clarificatio n by watching the listener for
nonverbal cues that suggest confusion or misunderstanding. The
remaining options are means of reinforcing or evaluating the listeners
understanding of the information.
