Therapeutic Communication Exam #2
with 152 complete solutions.
Therapeutic Communication Exam #2
with 152 complete solutions.
A non-Hispanic white nurse provides care to mostly Hispanic patients. It would be most important for
the nurse to take which action?
A. Discover cultural influences on health care perceptions and behaviors.
B. Assist the patients to adapt to American culture and health beliefs.
C. Avoid confrontation of underlying issues of discrimination.
D. Improve communication by learning how to speak Spanish. - ANSWER ANS: A
Nurses need to know about culture because it influences both nurses' and clients' health care
perceptions and behaviors. Nurses should learn about the culture of diverse clients and communities.
Nurses need to recognize and overcome certain attitudes basic to the American culture. To provide
culturally competent care, the nurse must address issues of discrimination. Learning how to speak
another language is important, but it is more important to seek understanding of cultural influences on
health.
The nurse cares for diverse clients in a community health setting. Which action should the nurse take
first to learn about delivering care to diverse clients?
A. Adopt a transcultural framework to develop culturally appropriate care.
B. Ask clients about their personal health care beliefs.
C. Develop a self-awareness of personal health care beliefs.
D. Recognize ethnocentric beliefs of minorities in the community. - ANSWER ANS: C
The initial action that the nurse should take to learn about delivering care to diverse clients is to become
familiar with personal health care beliefs and behaviors. Self-awareness helps nurses recognize that
their beliefs and behaviors are not necessarily common to all. Nurses' lack of knowledge about their own
culture can distort their perceptions of the beliefs and behaviors of clients from diverse cultures.
Transcultural frameworks have been developed to help nurses provide culturally appropriate nursing
care. Ethnocentrism interferes with the appreciation of diverse cultures and their health care beliefs and
behaviors.
The nurse provides care to a client from Nigeria who is visiting the United States. Which should the
nurse use to communicate with this client?
,Therapeutic Communication Exam #2
with 152 complete solutions.
A. Review the predominant health beliefs of the Nigerian population.
B. Appraise the client's health beliefs and behaviors with a cultural assessment.
C. Consult with other nurses who have taken care of clients from other countries.
D. Use standard communication techniques to establish a helping relationship. - ANSWER ANS: B
Tripp-Reimer and Afifi (1989) suggest two processes that nurses may use to communicate with clients
from diverse cultures: cultural assessment and cultural negotiation. Cultural assessment refers to the
appraisal of a client's health beliefs and behaviors. The information is then used to determine
appropriate nursing interventions. Cultural negotiation refers to the process of negotiating with the
client regarding differences in the lay and professional belief systems concerning appropriate care.
Information obtained from other sources (e.g., written documents, other nurses, experts, standards) is
not specific to this client's health beliefs and behaviors.
The nurse provides care to a client from Nigeria who is visiting the United States. Which should the
nurse use to communicate with this client?
A. Review the predominant health beliefs of the Nigerian population.
B. Appraise the client's health beliefs and behaviors with a cultural assessment.
C. Consult with other nurses who have taken care of clients from other countries.
D. Use standard communication techniques to establish a helping relationship. - ANSWER ANS: B
Tripp-Reimer and Afifi (1989) suggest two processes that nurses may use to communicate with clients
from diverse cultures: cultural assessment and cultural negotiation. Cultural assessment refers to the
appraisal of a client's health beliefs and behaviors. The information is then used to determine
appropriate nursing interventions. Cultural negotiation refers to the process of negotiating with the
client regarding differences in the lay and professional belief systems concerning appropriate care.
Information obtained from other sources (e.g., written documents, other nurses, experts, standards) is
not specific to this client's health beliefs and behaviors.
The nurse needs to obtain a health history from a Spanish-speaking patient. Which action by the nurse is
best?
A. Ask a bilingual friend of the patient to interpret.
B. Use nonverbal communication and draw pictures.
,Therapeutic Communication Exam #2
with 152 complete solutions.
C. Request a Spanish-speaking medical interpreter.
D. Interview the patient's English-speaking daughter. - ANSWER ANS: C
Professional interpreters are able to communicate medical terms and can be of assistance in reducing
the risks of breaches in patient privacy and confidentiality. Also, information can be directly obtained
from the patient. When family members or volunteers serve as the interpreter, patients are often
uncomfortable sharing sensitive information. Family members in a stressful situation may have difficulty
being the interpreter. Although nonverbal communication is important, this method should only be
used if an interpreter is not available.
The nurse is interviewing a Native American client. It is most important for the nurse to take which
action?
A. Maintain eye contact to show respect and interest.
B. Assess whether the client is comfortable with eye contact.
C. Avoid prolonged eye contact with this client.
D. Sit next to the patient to avoid any eye contact. - ANSWER ANS: B
Eye contact is often cultural; some Native Americans believe that prolonged eye contact is rude and
intrusive. However, it is important to assess each individual patient for preferences and comfort with
eye contact.
The nurse provides care for a male patient. When the nurse addresses the patient, which would be most
appropriate?
A. Use both first and last name with each encounter.
B. Ask the patient how he prefers to be addressed.
C. Call the patient by his first name.
D. Address the patient by his last name. - ANSWER ANS: B
It is important to call the patient by the name he or she prefers. The nurse should ask a person how he
or she prefers to be addressed, because considerable cultural variation exists. Most Americans are
comfortable with calling people by their first names. This is perceived by some, however, as a failure to
show respect.
The nurse observes a nursing assistant interacting with an elderly patient. Which statement by the
nursing assistant requires an immediate intervention by the nurse?
, Therapeutic Communication Exam #2
with 152 complete solutions.
A. "I will help you remember where your room is located."
B. "Would you like me to read from your Bible today?"
C. "Tell me a story about when you were young."
D. "Sweetie, I will bring your coffee in a few minutes." - ANSWER ANS: D
The elderly should not be addressed using disrespectful terms such as "honey," "sweetheart," "gramps,"
and "granny" and other patronizing forms of speech. Short term memory may decline with age; health
care providers may assist patients as needed. The elderly may express their spirituality through prayer
and reading the Bible. Sharing stories helps an elderly patient to review life and establish meaning.
A female nurse discusses a concern related to client care with a male physician. Which communication
strategy, if used by the nurse, is most effective?
A. Assume a subservient role to the physician.
B. Use a direct approach with succinct sentences.
C. Ask questions instead of making recommendations.
D. Be polite and expect politeness from the physician. - ANSWER ANS: B
Simplicity of speech is recommended; use direct communication with few words. The nurse should not
assume a subservient role to the physician; there needs to be a connection between communication,
collaboration, and teamwork in the nurse-physician relationship to provide quality care. The nurse
should be assertive, expect professional respect, and exude expertise.
Which patient would most likely be uncomfortable with close personal space during an interaction with
the nurse?
A. 19-year-old white female patient who is standing two feet in front of the nurse.
B. 40-year-old African-American male patient who is sitting next to the nurse.
C. 60-year-old Latin-American female patient who is seated across from the nurse.
D. 82-year-old patient from France who is lying in bed with the nurse sitting next to the bed. - ANSWER
ANS: A
Different cultures prefer different degrees of closeness in personal space. Optimal distance for a
therapeutic conversation is usually 3 to 4 feet. Generally, middle-class Americans feel uncomfortable
when standing close to people they do not know well. Latin Americans, African Americans, and the
French welcome physical closeness. In most cultures, men need more space than women do. Usually
people will tolerate a person standing close to them at their side more readily than directly in front of
with 152 complete solutions.
Therapeutic Communication Exam #2
with 152 complete solutions.
A non-Hispanic white nurse provides care to mostly Hispanic patients. It would be most important for
the nurse to take which action?
A. Discover cultural influences on health care perceptions and behaviors.
B. Assist the patients to adapt to American culture and health beliefs.
C. Avoid confrontation of underlying issues of discrimination.
D. Improve communication by learning how to speak Spanish. - ANSWER ANS: A
Nurses need to know about culture because it influences both nurses' and clients' health care
perceptions and behaviors. Nurses should learn about the culture of diverse clients and communities.
Nurses need to recognize and overcome certain attitudes basic to the American culture. To provide
culturally competent care, the nurse must address issues of discrimination. Learning how to speak
another language is important, but it is more important to seek understanding of cultural influences on
health.
The nurse cares for diverse clients in a community health setting. Which action should the nurse take
first to learn about delivering care to diverse clients?
A. Adopt a transcultural framework to develop culturally appropriate care.
B. Ask clients about their personal health care beliefs.
C. Develop a self-awareness of personal health care beliefs.
D. Recognize ethnocentric beliefs of minorities in the community. - ANSWER ANS: C
The initial action that the nurse should take to learn about delivering care to diverse clients is to become
familiar with personal health care beliefs and behaviors. Self-awareness helps nurses recognize that
their beliefs and behaviors are not necessarily common to all. Nurses' lack of knowledge about their own
culture can distort their perceptions of the beliefs and behaviors of clients from diverse cultures.
Transcultural frameworks have been developed to help nurses provide culturally appropriate nursing
care. Ethnocentrism interferes with the appreciation of diverse cultures and their health care beliefs and
behaviors.
The nurse provides care to a client from Nigeria who is visiting the United States. Which should the
nurse use to communicate with this client?
,Therapeutic Communication Exam #2
with 152 complete solutions.
A. Review the predominant health beliefs of the Nigerian population.
B. Appraise the client's health beliefs and behaviors with a cultural assessment.
C. Consult with other nurses who have taken care of clients from other countries.
D. Use standard communication techniques to establish a helping relationship. - ANSWER ANS: B
Tripp-Reimer and Afifi (1989) suggest two processes that nurses may use to communicate with clients
from diverse cultures: cultural assessment and cultural negotiation. Cultural assessment refers to the
appraisal of a client's health beliefs and behaviors. The information is then used to determine
appropriate nursing interventions. Cultural negotiation refers to the process of negotiating with the
client regarding differences in the lay and professional belief systems concerning appropriate care.
Information obtained from other sources (e.g., written documents, other nurses, experts, standards) is
not specific to this client's health beliefs and behaviors.
The nurse provides care to a client from Nigeria who is visiting the United States. Which should the
nurse use to communicate with this client?
A. Review the predominant health beliefs of the Nigerian population.
B. Appraise the client's health beliefs and behaviors with a cultural assessment.
C. Consult with other nurses who have taken care of clients from other countries.
D. Use standard communication techniques to establish a helping relationship. - ANSWER ANS: B
Tripp-Reimer and Afifi (1989) suggest two processes that nurses may use to communicate with clients
from diverse cultures: cultural assessment and cultural negotiation. Cultural assessment refers to the
appraisal of a client's health beliefs and behaviors. The information is then used to determine
appropriate nursing interventions. Cultural negotiation refers to the process of negotiating with the
client regarding differences in the lay and professional belief systems concerning appropriate care.
Information obtained from other sources (e.g., written documents, other nurses, experts, standards) is
not specific to this client's health beliefs and behaviors.
The nurse needs to obtain a health history from a Spanish-speaking patient. Which action by the nurse is
best?
A. Ask a bilingual friend of the patient to interpret.
B. Use nonverbal communication and draw pictures.
,Therapeutic Communication Exam #2
with 152 complete solutions.
C. Request a Spanish-speaking medical interpreter.
D. Interview the patient's English-speaking daughter. - ANSWER ANS: C
Professional interpreters are able to communicate medical terms and can be of assistance in reducing
the risks of breaches in patient privacy and confidentiality. Also, information can be directly obtained
from the patient. When family members or volunteers serve as the interpreter, patients are often
uncomfortable sharing sensitive information. Family members in a stressful situation may have difficulty
being the interpreter. Although nonverbal communication is important, this method should only be
used if an interpreter is not available.
The nurse is interviewing a Native American client. It is most important for the nurse to take which
action?
A. Maintain eye contact to show respect and interest.
B. Assess whether the client is comfortable with eye contact.
C. Avoid prolonged eye contact with this client.
D. Sit next to the patient to avoid any eye contact. - ANSWER ANS: B
Eye contact is often cultural; some Native Americans believe that prolonged eye contact is rude and
intrusive. However, it is important to assess each individual patient for preferences and comfort with
eye contact.
The nurse provides care for a male patient. When the nurse addresses the patient, which would be most
appropriate?
A. Use both first and last name with each encounter.
B. Ask the patient how he prefers to be addressed.
C. Call the patient by his first name.
D. Address the patient by his last name. - ANSWER ANS: B
It is important to call the patient by the name he or she prefers. The nurse should ask a person how he
or she prefers to be addressed, because considerable cultural variation exists. Most Americans are
comfortable with calling people by their first names. This is perceived by some, however, as a failure to
show respect.
The nurse observes a nursing assistant interacting with an elderly patient. Which statement by the
nursing assistant requires an immediate intervention by the nurse?
, Therapeutic Communication Exam #2
with 152 complete solutions.
A. "I will help you remember where your room is located."
B. "Would you like me to read from your Bible today?"
C. "Tell me a story about when you were young."
D. "Sweetie, I will bring your coffee in a few minutes." - ANSWER ANS: D
The elderly should not be addressed using disrespectful terms such as "honey," "sweetheart," "gramps,"
and "granny" and other patronizing forms of speech. Short term memory may decline with age; health
care providers may assist patients as needed. The elderly may express their spirituality through prayer
and reading the Bible. Sharing stories helps an elderly patient to review life and establish meaning.
A female nurse discusses a concern related to client care with a male physician. Which communication
strategy, if used by the nurse, is most effective?
A. Assume a subservient role to the physician.
B. Use a direct approach with succinct sentences.
C. Ask questions instead of making recommendations.
D. Be polite and expect politeness from the physician. - ANSWER ANS: B
Simplicity of speech is recommended; use direct communication with few words. The nurse should not
assume a subservient role to the physician; there needs to be a connection between communication,
collaboration, and teamwork in the nurse-physician relationship to provide quality care. The nurse
should be assertive, expect professional respect, and exude expertise.
Which patient would most likely be uncomfortable with close personal space during an interaction with
the nurse?
A. 19-year-old white female patient who is standing two feet in front of the nurse.
B. 40-year-old African-American male patient who is sitting next to the nurse.
C. 60-year-old Latin-American female patient who is seated across from the nurse.
D. 82-year-old patient from France who is lying in bed with the nurse sitting next to the bed. - ANSWER
ANS: A
Different cultures prefer different degrees of closeness in personal space. Optimal distance for a
therapeutic conversation is usually 3 to 4 feet. Generally, middle-class Americans feel uncomfortable
when standing close to people they do not know well. Latin Americans, African Americans, and the
French welcome physical closeness. In most cultures, men need more space than women do. Usually
people will tolerate a person standing close to them at their side more readily than directly in front of
