The Concept of Communication Pearson
Practice Questions
A patient states, "I've been having stomach pain, nausea, headache, and diarrhea for the past 3
days." The nurse intently nods while writing the patient's symptoms.
Which part of the communication process is the nurse demonstrating?
a) Receiver
b) Sender
c) Response
d) Message - ANS c (response; The nurse intently nodding while writing the patient's
complaints implies that the nurse is responding. Response, also called feedback, is the fourth
part of the communication process, where the receiver returns to sender. It can be verbal or
nonverbal or both. The other options are parts of the communication process that lead to the
response. The sender is an individual or group who wishes to convey a message to another.
The receiver is the listener, who must listen and observe. The message is the words actually
spoken or written, the body language that accompanies the words, and how the words are
transmitted.)
The nurse prepares to assess an older adult patient who has a hearing deficit.
Which action by the nurse indicates the need for training in effective communication?
a) Closing the door to the room
b) Facing the patient when speaking
c) Turning down the volume on the television set
d) Asking the family to wait in the hall - ANS d (asking the family to wait in the hall; The family
does not necessarily need to wait in the hall until the assessment is complete. Closing the door
and turning down the volume of the television both help minimize distractions while conversing
with the patient. Facing the patient may assist in communication, especially if the patient lip
reads.)
, An older adult patient who is postoperative will be discharged in 1 day. The patient expresses
concern to the nurse regarding the things that need to be done. The nurse tells the patient, "To
better attain your goals and functioning, being discharged to home is better for you."
Which barrier to communication is being used here?
a) Giving common advice
b) Probing
c) Unwarranted reassurance
d) Stereotyping - ANS a (giving common advice; The nurse is giving common advice to the
patient, which does not clearly communicate things that the patient may or may not do,
considering the patient's home situation. The statement, "To better attain your goals and
functioning and ROM, being discharged to home is better for you," is also not appropriate
because the patient would not really know the goals, because they differ from patient to patient.
The patient may not understand the word "ROM" and would not know how it relates to
rehabilitation. Probing is asking patient questions just to find out information out of curiosity.
Unwarranted reassurance is using comforting statements or clichés as advice that may not be
appropriate. Stereotyping is a barrier to communication that offers generalized and
oversimplified beliefs and attitudes and is not appropriate for this scenario.)
The nurse is conducting an assessment on a newly admitted patient. The nurse explains the
procedures that will be done during the assessment.
Which type of distance is the nurse interacting at with the patient?
a) Personal distance
b) Intimate distance
c) Public distance
d) Social distance - ANS a (personal distance; Most communication between nurses and
patients, especially during an assessment when a procedure that will be followed is discussed,
is at personal distance. Intimate distance occurs with body contact. Public distance is
exemplified by a presentation to a large audience. Social distance occurs with a visual
encounter.)
A hearing-impaired patient presents with an eye infection. The nurse is tasked to instruct the
patient for home treatments.
Practice Questions
A patient states, "I've been having stomach pain, nausea, headache, and diarrhea for the past 3
days." The nurse intently nods while writing the patient's symptoms.
Which part of the communication process is the nurse demonstrating?
a) Receiver
b) Sender
c) Response
d) Message - ANS c (response; The nurse intently nodding while writing the patient's
complaints implies that the nurse is responding. Response, also called feedback, is the fourth
part of the communication process, where the receiver returns to sender. It can be verbal or
nonverbal or both. The other options are parts of the communication process that lead to the
response. The sender is an individual or group who wishes to convey a message to another.
The receiver is the listener, who must listen and observe. The message is the words actually
spoken or written, the body language that accompanies the words, and how the words are
transmitted.)
The nurse prepares to assess an older adult patient who has a hearing deficit.
Which action by the nurse indicates the need for training in effective communication?
a) Closing the door to the room
b) Facing the patient when speaking
c) Turning down the volume on the television set
d) Asking the family to wait in the hall - ANS d (asking the family to wait in the hall; The family
does not necessarily need to wait in the hall until the assessment is complete. Closing the door
and turning down the volume of the television both help minimize distractions while conversing
with the patient. Facing the patient may assist in communication, especially if the patient lip
reads.)
, An older adult patient who is postoperative will be discharged in 1 day. The patient expresses
concern to the nurse regarding the things that need to be done. The nurse tells the patient, "To
better attain your goals and functioning, being discharged to home is better for you."
Which barrier to communication is being used here?
a) Giving common advice
b) Probing
c) Unwarranted reassurance
d) Stereotyping - ANS a (giving common advice; The nurse is giving common advice to the
patient, which does not clearly communicate things that the patient may or may not do,
considering the patient's home situation. The statement, "To better attain your goals and
functioning and ROM, being discharged to home is better for you," is also not appropriate
because the patient would not really know the goals, because they differ from patient to patient.
The patient may not understand the word "ROM" and would not know how it relates to
rehabilitation. Probing is asking patient questions just to find out information out of curiosity.
Unwarranted reassurance is using comforting statements or clichés as advice that may not be
appropriate. Stereotyping is a barrier to communication that offers generalized and
oversimplified beliefs and attitudes and is not appropriate for this scenario.)
The nurse is conducting an assessment on a newly admitted patient. The nurse explains the
procedures that will be done during the assessment.
Which type of distance is the nurse interacting at with the patient?
a) Personal distance
b) Intimate distance
c) Public distance
d) Social distance - ANS a (personal distance; Most communication between nurses and
patients, especially during an assessment when a procedure that will be followed is discussed,
is at personal distance. Intimate distance occurs with body contact. Public distance is
exemplified by a presentation to a large audience. Social distance occurs with a visual
encounter.)
A hearing-impaired patient presents with an eye infection. The nurse is tasked to instruct the
patient for home treatments.
