Fundamentals of Nursing,
Communication Exam 2026 Questions
and Answers
What phase of the therapeutic relationship is characterized by gathering
information before meeting the client? - Correct answer-Phase 1 - Pre-Interaction
phase
What phase of the therapeutic relationship is characterized by meeting clients,
making conversation, and establishing rapport? - Correct answer-Phase 2 -
Orientation phase
What phase of the therapeutic relationship is characterized using techniques related
to therapeutic communication and allowing the client to clarify any concerns? -
Correct answer-Phase 3 - Working phase
What phase of the therapeutic relationship is characterized by finding healthy ways
to conclude a relationship? - Correct answer-Phase 4 - Termination phase
The main purpose of the working phase of a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship
is to:
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,1. Establish a formal or informal contract that addresses the patients problems
2. Implement nursing interventions designed to achieve expected patient outcomes.
3. Develop rapport and trust so the patient feels protected and an initial care plan
can be identified
4. Clearly identify the role of the nurse and establish parameters of the professional
relationship. - Correct answer-2. During the working phase of the therapeutic
relationship, nursing interventions have a two fold purpose: assisting patients to
explore and understand their thoughts and feelings and supporting patient decisions
and actions.
The nurse uses reflective technique when communicating with an anxious patient.
The nurse uses reflective technique in this situation because it focuses on:
1. Feelings
2. Content themes
3. Clarification of information
4. Summarization of the topics discussed - Correct answer-1. The reflective
technique requires active listening to identify the underlying emotional concerns or
feelings contained in a patient's messages. These feelings are then referred back to
the patients to promote a clearer understanding of what they have said.
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,A patient says, "I don't know if I'll make it through this surgery." Which response
by the nurse may block further communication by the patient?
1."You sound scared"
2."You think you will die"
3."Surgery can be frightening"
4."Everything will be alright" - Correct answer-4. This response is false
reassurance. It denies the patient's concerns about survival and does not invite the
patient to elaborate.
The patient states "My wife is going to be very upset that my prostate surgery
probably is going to leave me impotent." What is the best response by the nurse?
1.I'm sure your wife will be willing to make the sacrifice in exchange for your
well-being
2.The doctors are getting great results with nerve-sparing surgery today.
3.Your wife may not put as much emphasis on sex as you think.
4.Let's talk about how you feel about this surgery. - Correct answer-4. The patient
may be using projection to cope with the potential for impotence. This response
indicates that it is acceptable to talk about sexuality and invites the patient to
verbalize concerns.
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, The patient states " I think that I am dying" The nurse responds, "You feel as
though you are dying?". What interview approach did the nurse use?
1.Focusing
2. Reflecting
3.Validating
4. Paraphrasing - Correct answer-4. The nurses response is an example of
paraphrasing because it uses similar words to restate the patients message.
The nurse plans to foster a therapeutic relationship with a patient. It is most
important that the nurse:
1. Works on establishing a friendship with the patient.
2. Use humor to defuse emotionally charged topics of discussion.
3. Sympathize with the patient when the patient shares sad feelings.
4. Demonstrate respect when discussing emotionally charged topics. - Correct
answer-4. Emotionally charged topics should be approached with respectful,
sincere, interactions that are accepting and non-judgmental, which will promote
further verbalization.
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Communication Exam 2026 Questions
and Answers
What phase of the therapeutic relationship is characterized by gathering
information before meeting the client? - Correct answer-Phase 1 - Pre-Interaction
phase
What phase of the therapeutic relationship is characterized by meeting clients,
making conversation, and establishing rapport? - Correct answer-Phase 2 -
Orientation phase
What phase of the therapeutic relationship is characterized using techniques related
to therapeutic communication and allowing the client to clarify any concerns? -
Correct answer-Phase 3 - Working phase
What phase of the therapeutic relationship is characterized by finding healthy ways
to conclude a relationship? - Correct answer-Phase 4 - Termination phase
The main purpose of the working phase of a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship
is to:
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,1. Establish a formal or informal contract that addresses the patients problems
2. Implement nursing interventions designed to achieve expected patient outcomes.
3. Develop rapport and trust so the patient feels protected and an initial care plan
can be identified
4. Clearly identify the role of the nurse and establish parameters of the professional
relationship. - Correct answer-2. During the working phase of the therapeutic
relationship, nursing interventions have a two fold purpose: assisting patients to
explore and understand their thoughts and feelings and supporting patient decisions
and actions.
The nurse uses reflective technique when communicating with an anxious patient.
The nurse uses reflective technique in this situation because it focuses on:
1. Feelings
2. Content themes
3. Clarification of information
4. Summarization of the topics discussed - Correct answer-1. The reflective
technique requires active listening to identify the underlying emotional concerns or
feelings contained in a patient's messages. These feelings are then referred back to
the patients to promote a clearer understanding of what they have said.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,A patient says, "I don't know if I'll make it through this surgery." Which response
by the nurse may block further communication by the patient?
1."You sound scared"
2."You think you will die"
3."Surgery can be frightening"
4."Everything will be alright" - Correct answer-4. This response is false
reassurance. It denies the patient's concerns about survival and does not invite the
patient to elaborate.
The patient states "My wife is going to be very upset that my prostate surgery
probably is going to leave me impotent." What is the best response by the nurse?
1.I'm sure your wife will be willing to make the sacrifice in exchange for your
well-being
2.The doctors are getting great results with nerve-sparing surgery today.
3.Your wife may not put as much emphasis on sex as you think.
4.Let's talk about how you feel about this surgery. - Correct answer-4. The patient
may be using projection to cope with the potential for impotence. This response
indicates that it is acceptable to talk about sexuality and invites the patient to
verbalize concerns.
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, The patient states " I think that I am dying" The nurse responds, "You feel as
though you are dying?". What interview approach did the nurse use?
1.Focusing
2. Reflecting
3.Validating
4. Paraphrasing - Correct answer-4. The nurses response is an example of
paraphrasing because it uses similar words to restate the patients message.
The nurse plans to foster a therapeutic relationship with a patient. It is most
important that the nurse:
1. Works on establishing a friendship with the patient.
2. Use humor to defuse emotionally charged topics of discussion.
3. Sympathize with the patient when the patient shares sad feelings.
4. Demonstrate respect when discussing emotionally charged topics. - Correct
answer-4. Emotionally charged topics should be approached with respectful,
sincere, interactions that are accepting and non-judgmental, which will promote
further verbalization.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
