NU 311 SKILLS EXAM 4 QUESTIONS
WITH 100% CORRECT ANSWERS |
LATEST VERSION 2025/2026.
Therapeutic communication
is patient centered, purposeful, and time limited. This differs from social communication which
is casual and comfortable. In this kind of relationship, the nurse recognizes the patient as a
unique individual and establishes a goal to help the patient. One does not form a social
relationship with the patient, such as dating, confiding personal information, etc.
- Box 3.2 and Document Principles of Communication (look over)
Verbal communication
- The conscious use of spoken or written word. The person speaking needs to be aware of the
tone, volume, and cadence of his or her voice. Feelings can be expressed through the tone and
pace of words. This means that the emotional meaning of words are altered by how things are
said. Nurses need to remember this important message when giving or receiving information.
· Be aware of cultural differences between the sender and the receiver such as the use of
dialect or slang.
· Consider barrier's to written communication such as the receiver's cognitive and visual
impairments.
· Consider the developmental perspectives of the receiver because these influence the method
of communication used.
Nonverbal communication
- refers to all behaviors that convey messages without the use of words. This includes personal
appearance and body language such as facial expression, posture and gait, gestures and touch.
· It is important that nurses recognize that non-verbal behavior accounts for 85% of
communication. Non-verbal messages are more likely toconvey how someone truly feels.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
,· Remember, cultural beliefs are strongly reflected in behavior. For example, when a Chinese
female does not make eye contact, one may misinterpret the behavior as reflecting a poor self
concept or perhaps see the behavior as representing dishonesty; however, in the Chinese
culture, direct eye contact is considered rude behavior. The response of the female may simply
be a courteous or respectful social act. To make clinical inferences about discrepancies, nurses
must have an understanding of cultural variations and be willing to ask probing questions to
validate speculations.
· Touch – Touch can be highly therapeutic. Touch can convey caring, concern, and
encouragement. Touch is particularly comforting to the elderly or those who are grief stricken.
However, one must carefully consider how another may interpret touch before using this
therapeutic skill.
· Instances when touch may be inappropriate include when interacting with an:
o Angry person
o Mentally ill person
o Also, touch is not appropriate if another may possibly infer the act as a sexual gesture. Along
those same lines, some cultures prohibit an individual of the opposite sex to be alone with
another. Sensitivity to these situations are essential to avoid misinterpretations or touch.
What is SBAR?
(SITUATION, BACKGROUND, ASSESMENT, RECOMMENDATION)
· Situation- the problem
· Background- brief, related to the point.
· Assessment- what you found, what you think
· Recommendation- what you want from the physician ( ex: need them to come examine the
patient; interventions that would help)
-SBAR is an effective communication tool for patient safety.
· SBAR meets Joint Commission’s requirements for appropriate communication for patient-
hand-offs during Admission, Transfers, Shift to Shift Report, and Daily Rounds.
· SBAR improves physician/clinician communication in critical and non-critical patient care
situations.
Situation
-Part of SBAR
- the problem
• State: your name and unit
• I am calling about:: (Patient Name & Room Number)
• The problem: The reason I am calling .....
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
, Background
-Part of SBAR
- brief, related, to the point
• State the admission diagnosis and date of admission
• State the pertinent medical history
• A Brief Synopsis of the treatment to date
Assessment
-Part of SBAR
- what you found, what you think
• Pertinent objective & subjective information
- Most recent vitals
- Mental status
- Respiratory rate and quality
- B/P, pulse rate & quality
- Pain
- Neuro changes
- Skin color
- Rhythm changes
Recommendation
-Part of SBAR
- what you want
• State what you would like to see done:
- Transfer the patient?
- Change treatment?
- Come to see the patient at this time?
- Talk to the family and patient about....?
- Ask for a consulting physician to see the patient?
- Other suggestions
- CXR ABG EKG
- CBC Other?
- If a change in treatment is ordered, ask:
"How often?"
- Ask: "If the patient does not improve, when would you want to be called again?"
Professional Boundaries in Nursing
-Are the spaces between the nurse's power and the patient's vulnerability.
-Crossings are brief excursions across professional lines of behavior that may be inadvertent,
thoughtless or even purposeful, while attempting to meet a special therapeutic need of the
patient.
-Violations can result when there is confusion between the needs of the nurse and those of the
patient.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
WITH 100% CORRECT ANSWERS |
LATEST VERSION 2025/2026.
Therapeutic communication
is patient centered, purposeful, and time limited. This differs from social communication which
is casual and comfortable. In this kind of relationship, the nurse recognizes the patient as a
unique individual and establishes a goal to help the patient. One does not form a social
relationship with the patient, such as dating, confiding personal information, etc.
- Box 3.2 and Document Principles of Communication (look over)
Verbal communication
- The conscious use of spoken or written word. The person speaking needs to be aware of the
tone, volume, and cadence of his or her voice. Feelings can be expressed through the tone and
pace of words. This means that the emotional meaning of words are altered by how things are
said. Nurses need to remember this important message when giving or receiving information.
· Be aware of cultural differences between the sender and the receiver such as the use of
dialect or slang.
· Consider barrier's to written communication such as the receiver's cognitive and visual
impairments.
· Consider the developmental perspectives of the receiver because these influence the method
of communication used.
Nonverbal communication
- refers to all behaviors that convey messages without the use of words. This includes personal
appearance and body language such as facial expression, posture and gait, gestures and touch.
· It is important that nurses recognize that non-verbal behavior accounts for 85% of
communication. Non-verbal messages are more likely toconvey how someone truly feels.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
,· Remember, cultural beliefs are strongly reflected in behavior. For example, when a Chinese
female does not make eye contact, one may misinterpret the behavior as reflecting a poor self
concept or perhaps see the behavior as representing dishonesty; however, in the Chinese
culture, direct eye contact is considered rude behavior. The response of the female may simply
be a courteous or respectful social act. To make clinical inferences about discrepancies, nurses
must have an understanding of cultural variations and be willing to ask probing questions to
validate speculations.
· Touch – Touch can be highly therapeutic. Touch can convey caring, concern, and
encouragement. Touch is particularly comforting to the elderly or those who are grief stricken.
However, one must carefully consider how another may interpret touch before using this
therapeutic skill.
· Instances when touch may be inappropriate include when interacting with an:
o Angry person
o Mentally ill person
o Also, touch is not appropriate if another may possibly infer the act as a sexual gesture. Along
those same lines, some cultures prohibit an individual of the opposite sex to be alone with
another. Sensitivity to these situations are essential to avoid misinterpretations or touch.
What is SBAR?
(SITUATION, BACKGROUND, ASSESMENT, RECOMMENDATION)
· Situation- the problem
· Background- brief, related to the point.
· Assessment- what you found, what you think
· Recommendation- what you want from the physician ( ex: need them to come examine the
patient; interventions that would help)
-SBAR is an effective communication tool for patient safety.
· SBAR meets Joint Commission’s requirements for appropriate communication for patient-
hand-offs during Admission, Transfers, Shift to Shift Report, and Daily Rounds.
· SBAR improves physician/clinician communication in critical and non-critical patient care
situations.
Situation
-Part of SBAR
- the problem
• State: your name and unit
• I am calling about:: (Patient Name & Room Number)
• The problem: The reason I am calling .....
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
, Background
-Part of SBAR
- brief, related, to the point
• State the admission diagnosis and date of admission
• State the pertinent medical history
• A Brief Synopsis of the treatment to date
Assessment
-Part of SBAR
- what you found, what you think
• Pertinent objective & subjective information
- Most recent vitals
- Mental status
- Respiratory rate and quality
- B/P, pulse rate & quality
- Pain
- Neuro changes
- Skin color
- Rhythm changes
Recommendation
-Part of SBAR
- what you want
• State what you would like to see done:
- Transfer the patient?
- Change treatment?
- Come to see the patient at this time?
- Talk to the family and patient about....?
- Ask for a consulting physician to see the patient?
- Other suggestions
- CXR ABG EKG
- CBC Other?
- If a change in treatment is ordered, ask:
"How often?"
- Ask: "If the patient does not improve, when would you want to be called again?"
Professional Boundaries in Nursing
-Are the spaces between the nurse's power and the patient's vulnerability.
-Crossings are brief excursions across professional lines of behavior that may be inadvertent,
thoughtless or even purposeful, while attempting to meet a special therapeutic need of the
patient.
-Violations can result when there is confusion between the needs of the nurse and those of the
patient.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
