2026 Fundamentals of Nursing Communication Study
Guide: Practice Questions, Answer Explanations,
Therapeutic Communication, Patient Relationships,
Cultural Competence, Documentation, Clinical
Scenarios Review
SECTION 1: THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES
(Questions 1–25)
1. A nurse is communicating with a client who is anxious about surgery. Which
response demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. "Don't worry, everything will be fine."
B. "You seem anxious. Can you tell me what's concerning you?"
C. "You shouldn't be anxious about this."
D. "Let's talk about something else to distract you."
Rationale: Acknowledging the client's feelings and encouraging expression
demonstrates therapeutic communication. Offering false reassurance or dismissing
feelings is non-therapeutic.
2. A nurse is using active listening with a client. Which action demonstrates active
listening?
A. Interrupting the client to ask questions
B. Maintaining eye contact and nodding appropriately
C. Looking at the computer while the client speaks
D. Changing the subject frequently
Rationale: Active listening involves maintaining eye contact, nodding, and
providing verbal and nonverbal cues that indicate the nurse is fully present and
engaged.
,3. A nurse is communicating with a client who is crying. Which action is most
appropriate?
A. Sit quietly with the client and offer presence
B. Tell the client to stop crying
C. Leave the room to give privacy
D. Distract the client with television
Rationale: Offering presence and sitting quietly with a crying client demonstrates
empathy and support. Leaving or distracting may make the client feel abandoned
or dismissed.
4. A nurse is using the technique of reflection. Which statement demonstrates
reflection?
A. "You should try to relax."
B. "You feel that no one understands what you're going through?"
C. "I know exactly how you feel."
D. "Let's focus on the positive."
Rationale: Reflection involves restating the client's feelings or thoughts to
encourage further expression and demonstrate understanding.
5. A nurse is using the technique of clarification. Which statement demonstrates
clarification?
A. "You're not making sense."
B. "I'm not sure I understand. Can you explain that again?"
C. "That's not important right now."
D. "Let's move on to something else."
Rationale: Clarification helps the nurse understand the client's message and
ensures accurate communication.
6. A nurse is using the technique of silence. Which action is appropriate?
A. Allowing the client time to think and reflect
B. Filling the silence with questions
C. Leaving the room during silence
D. Telling the client to hurry up
Rationale: Silence allows the client time to think, reflect, and organize thoughts. It
can be a powerful therapeutic technique when used appropriately.
,7. A nurse is using the technique of restating. Which statement demonstrates
restating?
A. "You shouldn't feel that way."
B. "You said you're feeling overwhelmed?"
C. "I know how you feel."
D. "Let's talk about something else."
Rationale: Restating involves repeating the client's main message to confirm
understanding and encourage further discussion.
8. A nurse is using the technique of offering self. Which statement demonstrates
offering self?
A. "I'm too busy to talk right now."
B. "I'll stay with you until you feel better."
C. "You should talk to your family."
D. "I don't have time for this."
Rationale: Offering self involves making oneself available to the client,
demonstrating genuine interest and presence.
9. A nurse is using the technique of open-ended questions. Which question is open-
ended?
A. "Do you have pain?"
B. "Can you tell me about your pain?"
C. "Is your pain sharp?"
D. "Does the pain radiate?"
Rationale: Open-ended questions encourage the client to provide more
information and express feelings. Closed-ended questions elicit short, specific
answers.
10. A nurse is using the technique of focusing. Which statement demonstrates
focusing?
A. "Let's talk about your entire life history."
B. "Let's focus on your feelings about the upcoming surgery."
C. "That's not relevant to your care."
D. "We can talk about that later."
, Rationale: Focusing helps the client concentrate on a specific topic or feeling that
is important to their care.
11. A nurse is using the technique of summarizing. Which statement demonstrates
summarizing?
A. "We've talked about a lot of things today."
B. "So far, we've discussed your pain, your fears about surgery, and your
concerns about recovery."
C. "I don't remember what we talked about."
D. "Let's start over."
Rationale: Summarizing involves reviewing the main points of the conversation to
ensure understanding and provide closure.
12. A nurse is using the technique of confrontation. Which statement demonstrates
therapeutic confrontation?
A. "You're not making any sense."
B. "You said you want to quit smoking, but you're still smoking two packs a
day."
C. "You're being difficult."
D. "You should know better."
Rationale: Therapeutic confrontation involves pointing out inconsistencies in the
client's behavior or statements in a non-judgmental way to promote self-awareness.
13. A nurse is using the technique of empathy. Which statement demonstrates
empathy?
A. "I know exactly how you feel."
B. "It sounds like this has been very difficult for you."
C. "You shouldn't feel that way."
D. "Let's talk about something else."
Rationale: Empathy involves understanding and acknowledging the client's
feelings without claiming to have had the same experience.
14. A nurse is using the technique of hope. Which statement demonstrates hope?
A. "There's nothing more we can do."
B. "There are many treatment options we can explore together."
Guide: Practice Questions, Answer Explanations,
Therapeutic Communication, Patient Relationships,
Cultural Competence, Documentation, Clinical
Scenarios Review
SECTION 1: THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES
(Questions 1–25)
1. A nurse is communicating with a client who is anxious about surgery. Which
response demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. "Don't worry, everything will be fine."
B. "You seem anxious. Can you tell me what's concerning you?"
C. "You shouldn't be anxious about this."
D. "Let's talk about something else to distract you."
Rationale: Acknowledging the client's feelings and encouraging expression
demonstrates therapeutic communication. Offering false reassurance or dismissing
feelings is non-therapeutic.
2. A nurse is using active listening with a client. Which action demonstrates active
listening?
A. Interrupting the client to ask questions
B. Maintaining eye contact and nodding appropriately
C. Looking at the computer while the client speaks
D. Changing the subject frequently
Rationale: Active listening involves maintaining eye contact, nodding, and
providing verbal and nonverbal cues that indicate the nurse is fully present and
engaged.
,3. A nurse is communicating with a client who is crying. Which action is most
appropriate?
A. Sit quietly with the client and offer presence
B. Tell the client to stop crying
C. Leave the room to give privacy
D. Distract the client with television
Rationale: Offering presence and sitting quietly with a crying client demonstrates
empathy and support. Leaving or distracting may make the client feel abandoned
or dismissed.
4. A nurse is using the technique of reflection. Which statement demonstrates
reflection?
A. "You should try to relax."
B. "You feel that no one understands what you're going through?"
C. "I know exactly how you feel."
D. "Let's focus on the positive."
Rationale: Reflection involves restating the client's feelings or thoughts to
encourage further expression and demonstrate understanding.
5. A nurse is using the technique of clarification. Which statement demonstrates
clarification?
A. "You're not making sense."
B. "I'm not sure I understand. Can you explain that again?"
C. "That's not important right now."
D. "Let's move on to something else."
Rationale: Clarification helps the nurse understand the client's message and
ensures accurate communication.
6. A nurse is using the technique of silence. Which action is appropriate?
A. Allowing the client time to think and reflect
B. Filling the silence with questions
C. Leaving the room during silence
D. Telling the client to hurry up
Rationale: Silence allows the client time to think, reflect, and organize thoughts. It
can be a powerful therapeutic technique when used appropriately.
,7. A nurse is using the technique of restating. Which statement demonstrates
restating?
A. "You shouldn't feel that way."
B. "You said you're feeling overwhelmed?"
C. "I know how you feel."
D. "Let's talk about something else."
Rationale: Restating involves repeating the client's main message to confirm
understanding and encourage further discussion.
8. A nurse is using the technique of offering self. Which statement demonstrates
offering self?
A. "I'm too busy to talk right now."
B. "I'll stay with you until you feel better."
C. "You should talk to your family."
D. "I don't have time for this."
Rationale: Offering self involves making oneself available to the client,
demonstrating genuine interest and presence.
9. A nurse is using the technique of open-ended questions. Which question is open-
ended?
A. "Do you have pain?"
B. "Can you tell me about your pain?"
C. "Is your pain sharp?"
D. "Does the pain radiate?"
Rationale: Open-ended questions encourage the client to provide more
information and express feelings. Closed-ended questions elicit short, specific
answers.
10. A nurse is using the technique of focusing. Which statement demonstrates
focusing?
A. "Let's talk about your entire life history."
B. "Let's focus on your feelings about the upcoming surgery."
C. "That's not relevant to your care."
D. "We can talk about that later."
, Rationale: Focusing helps the client concentrate on a specific topic or feeling that
is important to their care.
11. A nurse is using the technique of summarizing. Which statement demonstrates
summarizing?
A. "We've talked about a lot of things today."
B. "So far, we've discussed your pain, your fears about surgery, and your
concerns about recovery."
C. "I don't remember what we talked about."
D. "Let's start over."
Rationale: Summarizing involves reviewing the main points of the conversation to
ensure understanding and provide closure.
12. A nurse is using the technique of confrontation. Which statement demonstrates
therapeutic confrontation?
A. "You're not making any sense."
B. "You said you want to quit smoking, but you're still smoking two packs a
day."
C. "You're being difficult."
D. "You should know better."
Rationale: Therapeutic confrontation involves pointing out inconsistencies in the
client's behavior or statements in a non-judgmental way to promote self-awareness.
13. A nurse is using the technique of empathy. Which statement demonstrates
empathy?
A. "I know exactly how you feel."
B. "It sounds like this has been very difficult for you."
C. "You shouldn't feel that way."
D. "Let's talk about something else."
Rationale: Empathy involves understanding and acknowledging the client's
feelings without claiming to have had the same experience.
14. A nurse is using the technique of hope. Which statement demonstrates hope?
A. "There's nothing more we can do."
B. "There are many treatment options we can explore together."
