BSN 235 Final Exam (2026) Question
Practice Exam with Answers & Rationales
Nightingale College | BSN 235: Nursing
Communication and Informatics
Comprehensive Final
Section 1: Therapeutic Communication Foundations (Questions 1–15)
1. Which type of communication includes body language, facial
expressions, and eye contact?
A) Verbal communication
B) Nonverbal communication
C) Written communication
D) Electronic communication
Answer: B
Rationale: ** Nonverbal communication encompasses all the ways we
communicate without words, including body language, facial expressions,
eye contact, posture, gestures, and tone of voice. Verbal communication
(A) involves spoken or written words. Written communication (C) uses
written symbols, and electronic communication (D) uses digital platforms.
,2. A nurse tells a patient, "I understand you are frustrated." This is an
example of:
A) False reassurance
B) Empathy
C) Sympathy
D) Criticism
Answer: B
Rationale: ** Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings
of another person. By acknowledging the patient's frustration, the nurse
demonstrates empathic understanding. False reassurance (A) would
minimize the patient's feelings with statements like "You'll be fine."
Sympathy (C) involves feeling pity for the patient rather than
understanding their perspective.
3. Which communication technique involves restating the patient's
message in the nurse's own words?
A) Reflecting
B) Paraphrasing
C) Clarifying
D) Summarizing
Answer: B
Rationale: ** Paraphrasing is restating the patient's basic message in
similar, usually fewer, words to ensure the nurse has understood correctly.
2
,Reflecting (A) directs the patient's feelings back to them. Clarifying (C)
seeks clarification of unclear statements. Summarizing (D) condenses the
main points of an entire conversation.
4. A patient states, "I don't want to take this medication." The nurse
responds, "Tell me more about your concerns." This is an example of:
A) Closed-ended question
B) Open-ended question
C) False reassurance
D) Changing the subject
Answer: B
Rationale: ** Open-ended questions invite the patient to elaborate and
provide descriptive information rather than simple yes/no answers. "Tell
me more about your concerns" encourages the patient to express their
feelings and reasoning. Closed-ended questions (A) yield limited
responses.
5. Which communication barrier occurs when a nurse tells a patient,
"Everything will be fine" without knowing the outcome?
A) False reassurance
B) Empathy
C) Therapeutic silence
3
, D) Active listening
Answer: A
Rationale: ** False reassurance is a non-therapeutic communication
barrier because it discounts the patient's concerns and may give
unrealistic hope. Empathy (B), therapeutic silence (C), and active listening
(D) are therapeutic techniques.
6. The SBAR tool is used for handoff communication. What does the
"S" stand for?
A) Summary
B) Situation
C) Safety
D) Symptom
Answer: B
Rationale: ** SBAR stands for Situation, Background, Assessment, and
Recommendation. The "S" represents Situation, where the nurse identifies
themselves, the patient, and the current reason for communication or the
immediate concern.
7. Which statement is an example of a "blocking" or nontherapeutic
communication technique?
A) "Tell me what happened."
4
Practice Exam with Answers & Rationales
Nightingale College | BSN 235: Nursing
Communication and Informatics
Comprehensive Final
Section 1: Therapeutic Communication Foundations (Questions 1–15)
1. Which type of communication includes body language, facial
expressions, and eye contact?
A) Verbal communication
B) Nonverbal communication
C) Written communication
D) Electronic communication
Answer: B
Rationale: ** Nonverbal communication encompasses all the ways we
communicate without words, including body language, facial expressions,
eye contact, posture, gestures, and tone of voice. Verbal communication
(A) involves spoken or written words. Written communication (C) uses
written symbols, and electronic communication (D) uses digital platforms.
,2. A nurse tells a patient, "I understand you are frustrated." This is an
example of:
A) False reassurance
B) Empathy
C) Sympathy
D) Criticism
Answer: B
Rationale: ** Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings
of another person. By acknowledging the patient's frustration, the nurse
demonstrates empathic understanding. False reassurance (A) would
minimize the patient's feelings with statements like "You'll be fine."
Sympathy (C) involves feeling pity for the patient rather than
understanding their perspective.
3. Which communication technique involves restating the patient's
message in the nurse's own words?
A) Reflecting
B) Paraphrasing
C) Clarifying
D) Summarizing
Answer: B
Rationale: ** Paraphrasing is restating the patient's basic message in
similar, usually fewer, words to ensure the nurse has understood correctly.
2
,Reflecting (A) directs the patient's feelings back to them. Clarifying (C)
seeks clarification of unclear statements. Summarizing (D) condenses the
main points of an entire conversation.
4. A patient states, "I don't want to take this medication." The nurse
responds, "Tell me more about your concerns." This is an example of:
A) Closed-ended question
B) Open-ended question
C) False reassurance
D) Changing the subject
Answer: B
Rationale: ** Open-ended questions invite the patient to elaborate and
provide descriptive information rather than simple yes/no answers. "Tell
me more about your concerns" encourages the patient to express their
feelings and reasoning. Closed-ended questions (A) yield limited
responses.
5. Which communication barrier occurs when a nurse tells a patient,
"Everything will be fine" without knowing the outcome?
A) False reassurance
B) Empathy
C) Therapeutic silence
3
, D) Active listening
Answer: A
Rationale: ** False reassurance is a non-therapeutic communication
barrier because it discounts the patient's concerns and may give
unrealistic hope. Empathy (B), therapeutic silence (C), and active listening
(D) are therapeutic techniques.
6. The SBAR tool is used for handoff communication. What does the
"S" stand for?
A) Summary
B) Situation
C) Safety
D) Symptom
Answer: B
Rationale: ** SBAR stands for Situation, Background, Assessment, and
Recommendation. The "S" represents Situation, where the nurse identifies
themselves, the patient, and the current reason for communication or the
immediate concern.
7. Which statement is an example of a "blocking" or nontherapeutic
communication technique?
A) "Tell me what happened."
4
