NCLEX Style Questions - Therapeutic Communication Exam Test
Questions with Answers Graded A+
Which therapeutic communication technique is
being used in this nurse-client interaction? A. Reflecting
Client: "When I get angry, I get into a fistfight with B. Making observations
my wife or I take it out on the kids." C. Formulating a plan of action
Nurse: "I notice that you are smiling as you talk D. Giving recognition - -ANS: C
about this physical violence." The nurse is using the therapeutic
communication technique of formulating a plan of
A. Encouraging comparison action to help the client explore alternatives to
B. Exploring drinking alcohol. The use of this technique, rather
C. Formulating a plan of action than direct confrontation regarding the client's
D. Making observations - -ANS: D poor coping choice, may serve to prevent anger
The nurse is using the therapeutic or anxiety from escalating.
communication technique of making
observations when noting that the client smiles
when talking about physical violence. The
technique of making observations encourages The nurse is interviewing a newly admitted
the client to compare personal perceptions with psychiatric client. Which nursing statement is an
those of the nurse. example of offering a "general lead"?
A. "Do you know why you are here?"
B. "Are you feeling depressed or anxious?"
Which therapeutic communication technique is C. "Yes, I see. Go on."
being used in this nurse-client interaction? D. "Can you chronologically order the events that
Client: "My father spanked me often." led to your admission?" - -ANS: C
Nurse: "Your father was a harsh disciplinarian." The nurse's statement, "Yes, I see. Go on." is an
example of the therapeutic communication
A. Restatement technique of a general lead. Offering a general
B. Offering general leads lead encourages the client to continue sharing
C. Focusing information.
D. Accepting - -ANS: A
The nurse is using the therapeutic
communication technique of restatement.
Restatement involves repeating the main idea of A nurse states to a client, "Things will look better
what the client has said. The nurse uses this tomorrow after a good night's sleep." This is an
technique to communicate that the client's example of which communication technique?
statement has been heard and understood.
A. The therapeutic technique of "giving advice"
B. The therapeutic technique of "defending"
C. The nontherapeutic technique of "presenting
Which therapeutic communication technique is reality"
being used in this nurse-client interaction? D. The nontherapeutic technique of "giving false
Client: "When I am anxious, the only thing that reassurance" - -ANS: D
calms me down is alcohol." The nurse's statement, "Things will look better
Nurse: "Other than drinking, what alternatives tomorrow after a good night's sleep." is an
have you explored to decrease anxiety?" example of the nontherapeutic technique of
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, NCLEX Style Questions - Therapeutic Communication Exam Test
Questions with Answers Graded A+
giving false reassurance. Giving false stating, "You appear to be talking to someone I
reassurance indicates to the client that there is do not see." Making observations involves
no cause for anxiety, thereby devaluing the verbalizing what is observed or perceived. This
client's feelings. encourages the client to recognize specific
behaviors and make comparisons with the
nurse's perceptions.
A client diagnosed with post-traumatic stress
disorder is admitted to an inpatient psychiatric
unit for evaluation and medication stabilization. A nurse maintains an uncrossed arm and leg
Which therapeutic communication technique posture. This nonverbal behavior is reflective of
used by the nurse is an example of a broad which letter of the SOLER acronym for active
opening? listening?
A. "What occurred prior to the rape, and when A. S
did you go to the emergency department?" B. O
B. "What would you like to talk about?" C. L
C. "I notice you seem uncomfortable discussing D. E
this." E. R - -ANS: B
D. "How can we help you feel safe during your The nurse should identify that maintaining an
stay here?" - -ANS: B uncrossed arm and leg posture is nonverbal
The nurse's statement, "What would you like to behavior that reflects the "O" in the active-
talk about?" is an example of the therapeutic listening acronym SOLER. The acronym SOLER
communication technique of giving broad includes sitting squarely facing the client (S),
openings. Using a broad opening allows the open posture when interacting with the client (O),
client to take the initiative in introducing the topic leaning forward toward the client (L), establishing
and emphasizes the importance of the client's eye contact (E), and relaxing (R).
role in the interaction.
An instructor is correcting a nursing student's
A nurse is assessing a client diagnosed with clinical worksheet. Which instructor statement is
schizophrenia for the presence of hallucinations. the best example of effective feedback?
Which therapeutic communication technique
used by the nurse is an example of making A. "Why did you use the client's name on your
observations? clinical worksheet?"
B. "You were very careless to refer to your client
A. "You appear to be talking to someone I do not by name on your clinical worksheet."
see." C. "Surely you didn't do this deliberately, but you
B. "Please describe what you are seeing." breeched confidentiality by using the client's
C. "Why do you continually look in the corner of name."
this room?" D. "It is disappointing that after being told, you're
D. "If you hum a tune, the voices may not be so still using client names on your worksheet." -
distracting." - -ANS: A -ANS: C
The nurse is making an observation when The instructor's statement, "Surely you didn't do
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Questions with Answers Graded A+
Which therapeutic communication technique is
being used in this nurse-client interaction? A. Reflecting
Client: "When I get angry, I get into a fistfight with B. Making observations
my wife or I take it out on the kids." C. Formulating a plan of action
Nurse: "I notice that you are smiling as you talk D. Giving recognition - -ANS: C
about this physical violence." The nurse is using the therapeutic
communication technique of formulating a plan of
A. Encouraging comparison action to help the client explore alternatives to
B. Exploring drinking alcohol. The use of this technique, rather
C. Formulating a plan of action than direct confrontation regarding the client's
D. Making observations - -ANS: D poor coping choice, may serve to prevent anger
The nurse is using the therapeutic or anxiety from escalating.
communication technique of making
observations when noting that the client smiles
when talking about physical violence. The
technique of making observations encourages The nurse is interviewing a newly admitted
the client to compare personal perceptions with psychiatric client. Which nursing statement is an
those of the nurse. example of offering a "general lead"?
A. "Do you know why you are here?"
B. "Are you feeling depressed or anxious?"
Which therapeutic communication technique is C. "Yes, I see. Go on."
being used in this nurse-client interaction? D. "Can you chronologically order the events that
Client: "My father spanked me often." led to your admission?" - -ANS: C
Nurse: "Your father was a harsh disciplinarian." The nurse's statement, "Yes, I see. Go on." is an
example of the therapeutic communication
A. Restatement technique of a general lead. Offering a general
B. Offering general leads lead encourages the client to continue sharing
C. Focusing information.
D. Accepting - -ANS: A
The nurse is using the therapeutic
communication technique of restatement.
Restatement involves repeating the main idea of A nurse states to a client, "Things will look better
what the client has said. The nurse uses this tomorrow after a good night's sleep." This is an
technique to communicate that the client's example of which communication technique?
statement has been heard and understood.
A. The therapeutic technique of "giving advice"
B. The therapeutic technique of "defending"
C. The nontherapeutic technique of "presenting
Which therapeutic communication technique is reality"
being used in this nurse-client interaction? D. The nontherapeutic technique of "giving false
Client: "When I am anxious, the only thing that reassurance" - -ANS: D
calms me down is alcohol." The nurse's statement, "Things will look better
Nurse: "Other than drinking, what alternatives tomorrow after a good night's sleep." is an
have you explored to decrease anxiety?" example of the nontherapeutic technique of
1/9
, NCLEX Style Questions - Therapeutic Communication Exam Test
Questions with Answers Graded A+
giving false reassurance. Giving false stating, "You appear to be talking to someone I
reassurance indicates to the client that there is do not see." Making observations involves
no cause for anxiety, thereby devaluing the verbalizing what is observed or perceived. This
client's feelings. encourages the client to recognize specific
behaviors and make comparisons with the
nurse's perceptions.
A client diagnosed with post-traumatic stress
disorder is admitted to an inpatient psychiatric
unit for evaluation and medication stabilization. A nurse maintains an uncrossed arm and leg
Which therapeutic communication technique posture. This nonverbal behavior is reflective of
used by the nurse is an example of a broad which letter of the SOLER acronym for active
opening? listening?
A. "What occurred prior to the rape, and when A. S
did you go to the emergency department?" B. O
B. "What would you like to talk about?" C. L
C. "I notice you seem uncomfortable discussing D. E
this." E. R - -ANS: B
D. "How can we help you feel safe during your The nurse should identify that maintaining an
stay here?" - -ANS: B uncrossed arm and leg posture is nonverbal
The nurse's statement, "What would you like to behavior that reflects the "O" in the active-
talk about?" is an example of the therapeutic listening acronym SOLER. The acronym SOLER
communication technique of giving broad includes sitting squarely facing the client (S),
openings. Using a broad opening allows the open posture when interacting with the client (O),
client to take the initiative in introducing the topic leaning forward toward the client (L), establishing
and emphasizes the importance of the client's eye contact (E), and relaxing (R).
role in the interaction.
An instructor is correcting a nursing student's
A nurse is assessing a client diagnosed with clinical worksheet. Which instructor statement is
schizophrenia for the presence of hallucinations. the best example of effective feedback?
Which therapeutic communication technique
used by the nurse is an example of making A. "Why did you use the client's name on your
observations? clinical worksheet?"
B. "You were very careless to refer to your client
A. "You appear to be talking to someone I do not by name on your clinical worksheet."
see." C. "Surely you didn't do this deliberately, but you
B. "Please describe what you are seeing." breeched confidentiality by using the client's
C. "Why do you continually look in the corner of name."
this room?" D. "It is disappointing that after being told, you're
D. "If you hum a tune, the voices may not be so still using client names on your worksheet." -
distracting." - -ANS: A -ANS: C
The nurse is making an observation when The instructor's statement, "Surely you didn't do
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