RNSG 1126 ASSESSMENT EXAM WITH IN-DEPTH QUESTIONS &
MODEL ANSWERS (2025 NEWEST UPDATE VERSION
The nurse is admitting a patient to the medical/surgical unit. Which communication
technique would be considered appropriate for this interaction?
a. "I've also had traumatic life experiences. Maybe it would help if I told you about
them."
b. "Why do you think you had so much difficulty adjusting to this change in your
life?"
c. "You will feel better after getting accustomed to how this unit operates."
d. "I'd like to sit with you for a while to help you get comfortable talking to me."
CORRECT ANSWER>>>>ANS: D
Because the patient is newly admitted to the unit, allowing the patient to become
comfortable with the setting is a technique that can assist in establishing the nurse-patient
relationship. It helps build trust and conveys that the nurse cares about the patient. The nurse
should not reveal their life experiences as this is not therapeutic. Asking why the patient is
having difficulty may provide insight; however, this would be best saved for an established
relationship with the patient. Assuring the patient that they will feel better may not be true
depending on the reason for the admission.
The nurse is seeking clarification of a statement that was made by a patient. What is the best
,way for the nurse to seek clarification?
a. "What are the common elements here?"
b. "Tell me again about your experiences."
c. "Am I correct in understanding that ..."
d. "Tell me everything from the beginning." CORRECT ANSWER>>>>ANS: C
Clarification ensures that both the nurse and the patient share mutual understanding of the
communication. The distracters encourage comparison rather than clarification and present
implied questions that suggest the nurse was not listening.
A nurse is conducting a therapeutic session with a patient in the inpatient psychiatric
facility. Which remark by the nurse would be an appropriate way to begin an interview
session?
a. "How shall we start today?"
b. "Shall we talk about losing your privileges yesterday?"
c. "Let's get started discussing your marital relationship."
d. "What happened when your family visited yesterday?" CORRECT ANSWER>>>>ANS:
A
The interview is patient centered; thus, the patient chooses issues. The nurse assists the
patient by using communication skills and actively listening to provide opportunities for the
patient to reach goals. In the distracters, the nurse selects the topic.
The nurse and the patient are conversing face to face. What communication technique is
being demonstrated?
,a. Linguistic
b. Paralinguistic
c. Explicit
d. Metacommunication CORRECT ANSWER>>>>ANS: A
Conversing face to face, reading newspapers and books, and even texting are all common
forms of linguistic communication. Paralinguistics include less recognizable but important
means of transmitting messages such as the use of gestures, eye contact, and facial
expressions. Explicit communication is not a therapeutic communication technique.
Metacommunication factors that affect how messages are received and interpreted would
include internal personal states (such as disturbances in mood), environmental stimuli
related to the setting of the communication, and contextual variables (such as the
relationship between the people in the communication episode).
The nurse is working with a patient diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder related to
childhood sexual abuse. The patient is crying and states, "I should be over this by now; this
happened years ago." Which response(s) by the nurse will facilitate communication? (Select
all that apply.)
a. "Why do you think you are so upset?"
b. "I can see that this situation really bothers you."
c. "The abuse you endured is very painful for you.
d. "Crying is a way of expressing the hurt you're experiencing."
e. "Let's talk about something else, since this subject is upsetting you." CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>ANS: B, C, D
, Reflecting and giving information are therapeutic techniques. "Why" questions often imply
criticism or seem intrusive or judgmental. They are difficult to answer. Changing the subject
is a barrier to communication.
Which key element is included in the scope of professional practice identity?
a. Adhering to a fixed level of practice
b. Finding out ways to get done faster with assigned tasks as the key focus of care
c. Maintaining professional boundaries
d. Remaining at the level of practice upon graduating from nursing school CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>ANS: C
The scope of professional identity includes five attributes, doing, and being, acting ethically,
flourishing and changing identities. By maintaining professional boundaries, the nurse
would be acting ethically. Adhering to a fixed level of practice would not be prudent for it
would not allow the nurse to achieve attributes. Finding out ways to get done faster with
assigned tasks would be in opposition to the attribute of "being" as the key focus is to do the
right thing even when no one is looking. A nurse who remains at the level of practice upon
graduation from nursing school would be in opposition to the attribute of flourishing.
A new registered nurse asks the registered nurse (RN) preceptor what could be done to
become more professional. What is the preceptor's best response?
a. "Attend nursing educational meetings."
b. "Listen to other nurses."
c. "Read the agency newsletter."
MODEL ANSWERS (2025 NEWEST UPDATE VERSION
The nurse is admitting a patient to the medical/surgical unit. Which communication
technique would be considered appropriate for this interaction?
a. "I've also had traumatic life experiences. Maybe it would help if I told you about
them."
b. "Why do you think you had so much difficulty adjusting to this change in your
life?"
c. "You will feel better after getting accustomed to how this unit operates."
d. "I'd like to sit with you for a while to help you get comfortable talking to me."
CORRECT ANSWER>>>>ANS: D
Because the patient is newly admitted to the unit, allowing the patient to become
comfortable with the setting is a technique that can assist in establishing the nurse-patient
relationship. It helps build trust and conveys that the nurse cares about the patient. The nurse
should not reveal their life experiences as this is not therapeutic. Asking why the patient is
having difficulty may provide insight; however, this would be best saved for an established
relationship with the patient. Assuring the patient that they will feel better may not be true
depending on the reason for the admission.
The nurse is seeking clarification of a statement that was made by a patient. What is the best
,way for the nurse to seek clarification?
a. "What are the common elements here?"
b. "Tell me again about your experiences."
c. "Am I correct in understanding that ..."
d. "Tell me everything from the beginning." CORRECT ANSWER>>>>ANS: C
Clarification ensures that both the nurse and the patient share mutual understanding of the
communication. The distracters encourage comparison rather than clarification and present
implied questions that suggest the nurse was not listening.
A nurse is conducting a therapeutic session with a patient in the inpatient psychiatric
facility. Which remark by the nurse would be an appropriate way to begin an interview
session?
a. "How shall we start today?"
b. "Shall we talk about losing your privileges yesterday?"
c. "Let's get started discussing your marital relationship."
d. "What happened when your family visited yesterday?" CORRECT ANSWER>>>>ANS:
A
The interview is patient centered; thus, the patient chooses issues. The nurse assists the
patient by using communication skills and actively listening to provide opportunities for the
patient to reach goals. In the distracters, the nurse selects the topic.
The nurse and the patient are conversing face to face. What communication technique is
being demonstrated?
,a. Linguistic
b. Paralinguistic
c. Explicit
d. Metacommunication CORRECT ANSWER>>>>ANS: A
Conversing face to face, reading newspapers and books, and even texting are all common
forms of linguistic communication. Paralinguistics include less recognizable but important
means of transmitting messages such as the use of gestures, eye contact, and facial
expressions. Explicit communication is not a therapeutic communication technique.
Metacommunication factors that affect how messages are received and interpreted would
include internal personal states (such as disturbances in mood), environmental stimuli
related to the setting of the communication, and contextual variables (such as the
relationship between the people in the communication episode).
The nurse is working with a patient diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder related to
childhood sexual abuse. The patient is crying and states, "I should be over this by now; this
happened years ago." Which response(s) by the nurse will facilitate communication? (Select
all that apply.)
a. "Why do you think you are so upset?"
b. "I can see that this situation really bothers you."
c. "The abuse you endured is very painful for you.
d. "Crying is a way of expressing the hurt you're experiencing."
e. "Let's talk about something else, since this subject is upsetting you." CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>ANS: B, C, D
, Reflecting and giving information are therapeutic techniques. "Why" questions often imply
criticism or seem intrusive or judgmental. They are difficult to answer. Changing the subject
is a barrier to communication.
Which key element is included in the scope of professional practice identity?
a. Adhering to a fixed level of practice
b. Finding out ways to get done faster with assigned tasks as the key focus of care
c. Maintaining professional boundaries
d. Remaining at the level of practice upon graduating from nursing school CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>ANS: C
The scope of professional identity includes five attributes, doing, and being, acting ethically,
flourishing and changing identities. By maintaining professional boundaries, the nurse
would be acting ethically. Adhering to a fixed level of practice would not be prudent for it
would not allow the nurse to achieve attributes. Finding out ways to get done faster with
assigned tasks would be in opposition to the attribute of "being" as the key focus is to do the
right thing even when no one is looking. A nurse who remains at the level of practice upon
graduation from nursing school would be in opposition to the attribute of flourishing.
A new registered nurse asks the registered nurse (RN) preceptor what could be done to
become more professional. What is the preceptor's best response?
a. "Attend nursing educational meetings."
b. "Listen to other nurses."
c. "Read the agency newsletter."
