NUR 336 Study Guide Questions with Verified
Correct Answers
In which nurse interaction may SBAR be used?
a. Nurse to social worker
b. Nurse to doctor
c. Nurse to nurse
d. All of the above
D
A nurse tells a doctor a patient has diabetes. Which part of the SBAR model is this
statement?
a. Situation
b. Background
c. Assessment
d. Recommendation
B (Parts of a patient's background include what they were admitted for, their background
history, labs and tests pertinent to the reason for the call, their current therapy, and their
current vital signs.)
The nurse tells the doctor a patient felt warm when she checked him for a fever. What
part of the SBAR model is this statement?
a. Situation
b. Background
,c. Assessment
d. Recommendation
A (Parts of situation: Briefly state the issue, when it happened or began, how severe the
patient's response is--for example: changes in heart rate/rhythm, changes in vital signs, intake
and output, change in assessment, uncontrolled pain, or change in level of consciousness.)
Your interpretation of what is happening to the patient would fall in what category of
SBAR?
a. Situation
b. Background
c. Assessment
d. Recommendation
C (The assessment part of SBAR includes telling the health care provider what you think the
problem is.)
A nurse calls the health care provider for their patient and suggests that an EKG be
ordered for the patient. Which part of SBAR does this represent?
a. Situation
b. Background
c. Assessment
d. Recommendation
D (Recommendation involves suggesting/requesting that the HCP order certain tests, a
change in the patient's treatment, a higher level of care is needed (Ex. referral to a specialist)
and asking the HCP is they have any questions for you or if they need any other information.)
,The nurse asks a newly admitted client, "What can we do to help you?" What is the
purpose of this therapeutic communication technique?
a. To reframe the client's thoughts about mental health treatment
b. To put the client at ease
c. To explore a subject, idea, experience, or relationship
d. To communicate that the nurse is listening to the conversation
C (This is an example of the therapeutic communication technique of exploring. The purpose
of using exploring is to delve further into the subject, idea, experience, or relationship. This
technique is especially helpful with clients who tend to remain on a superficial level of
communication.)
Which nursing statement is a good example of the therapeutic communication
technique of focusing?
a. "Describe one of the best things that happened to you this week."
b. "I'm having a difficult time understanding what you mean."
c. "Your counseling session is in 30 minutes. I'll stay with you until then."
d. "You mentioned your relationship with your father. Let's discuss that further."
D (This is an example of the therapeutic communication technique of focusing. Focusing
takes notice of a single idea or even a single word and works especially well with a client
who is moving rapidly from one thought to another.)
During a nurse-client interaction, which nursing statement may belittle the client's
feelings and concerns?
, a. "Don't worry. Everything will be alright."
b. "You appear uptight."
c. "I notice you have bitten your nails to the quick."
d. "You are jumping to conclusions."
A (This nursing statement is an example of the nontherapeutic communication block of
belittling feelings. Belittling feelings occur when the nurse misjudges the degree of the
client's discomfort, thus a lack of empathy and understanding may be conveyed.)
A client on an inpatient psychiatric unit tells the nurse, "I should have died because I
am totally worthless." In order to encourage the client to continue talking about
feelings, which should be the nurse's initial response?
a. "How would your family feel if you died?"
b. "You feel worthless now, but that can change with time."
c. "You've been feeling sad and alone for some time now?"
d. "It is great that you have come in for help."
C (This nursing statement is an example of the therapeutic communication technique of
reflection. When reflection is used, questions and feelings are referred back to the client so
that they may be recognized and accepted.)
Which therapeutic communication technique should the nurse use when communicating
with a client who is experiencing auditory hallucinations?
a. "My sister has the same diagnosis as you and she also hears voices."
b. "I understand that the voices seem real to you, but I do not hear any voices."
Correct Answers
In which nurse interaction may SBAR be used?
a. Nurse to social worker
b. Nurse to doctor
c. Nurse to nurse
d. All of the above
D
A nurse tells a doctor a patient has diabetes. Which part of the SBAR model is this
statement?
a. Situation
b. Background
c. Assessment
d. Recommendation
B (Parts of a patient's background include what they were admitted for, their background
history, labs and tests pertinent to the reason for the call, their current therapy, and their
current vital signs.)
The nurse tells the doctor a patient felt warm when she checked him for a fever. What
part of the SBAR model is this statement?
a. Situation
b. Background
,c. Assessment
d. Recommendation
A (Parts of situation: Briefly state the issue, when it happened or began, how severe the
patient's response is--for example: changes in heart rate/rhythm, changes in vital signs, intake
and output, change in assessment, uncontrolled pain, or change in level of consciousness.)
Your interpretation of what is happening to the patient would fall in what category of
SBAR?
a. Situation
b. Background
c. Assessment
d. Recommendation
C (The assessment part of SBAR includes telling the health care provider what you think the
problem is.)
A nurse calls the health care provider for their patient and suggests that an EKG be
ordered for the patient. Which part of SBAR does this represent?
a. Situation
b. Background
c. Assessment
d. Recommendation
D (Recommendation involves suggesting/requesting that the HCP order certain tests, a
change in the patient's treatment, a higher level of care is needed (Ex. referral to a specialist)
and asking the HCP is they have any questions for you or if they need any other information.)
,The nurse asks a newly admitted client, "What can we do to help you?" What is the
purpose of this therapeutic communication technique?
a. To reframe the client's thoughts about mental health treatment
b. To put the client at ease
c. To explore a subject, idea, experience, or relationship
d. To communicate that the nurse is listening to the conversation
C (This is an example of the therapeutic communication technique of exploring. The purpose
of using exploring is to delve further into the subject, idea, experience, or relationship. This
technique is especially helpful with clients who tend to remain on a superficial level of
communication.)
Which nursing statement is a good example of the therapeutic communication
technique of focusing?
a. "Describe one of the best things that happened to you this week."
b. "I'm having a difficult time understanding what you mean."
c. "Your counseling session is in 30 minutes. I'll stay with you until then."
d. "You mentioned your relationship with your father. Let's discuss that further."
D (This is an example of the therapeutic communication technique of focusing. Focusing
takes notice of a single idea or even a single word and works especially well with a client
who is moving rapidly from one thought to another.)
During a nurse-client interaction, which nursing statement may belittle the client's
feelings and concerns?
, a. "Don't worry. Everything will be alright."
b. "You appear uptight."
c. "I notice you have bitten your nails to the quick."
d. "You are jumping to conclusions."
A (This nursing statement is an example of the nontherapeutic communication block of
belittling feelings. Belittling feelings occur when the nurse misjudges the degree of the
client's discomfort, thus a lack of empathy and understanding may be conveyed.)
A client on an inpatient psychiatric unit tells the nurse, "I should have died because I
am totally worthless." In order to encourage the client to continue talking about
feelings, which should be the nurse's initial response?
a. "How would your family feel if you died?"
b. "You feel worthless now, but that can change with time."
c. "You've been feeling sad and alone for some time now?"
d. "It is great that you have come in for help."
C (This nursing statement is an example of the therapeutic communication technique of
reflection. When reflection is used, questions and feelings are referred back to the client so
that they may be recognized and accepted.)
Which therapeutic communication technique should the nurse use when communicating
with a client who is experiencing auditory hallucinations?
a. "My sister has the same diagnosis as you and she also hears voices."
b. "I understand that the voices seem real to you, but I do not hear any voices."
