Nursing Communication Exam Questions & Answers –
Therapeutic Communication, Nurse-Client Relationship,
Advocacy, and Professional Boundaries|Latest Update
Questions Complete With Verified A+ Graded Answers
The nurse and the physical therapist discuss the therapy schedule and goals for a client on a
rehabilitation unit. What type of communication is occurring between the nurse and the
therapist?
Interpersonal
The nurse is talking with a client who is thinking about obtaining a second opinion regarding the
surgeon's recommendation for surgery. Which response by the nurse is considered an advocacy
response?
"Let us know if we can answer any further questions after you obtain your second opinion."
The nurse is providing education to a client who sometimes has difficulty remembering
information. Which form of communication will be most helpful for this client?
Written communication
A nurse has been working on a telemetry unit for 6 months. The nurse arrives at work in the
morning and overhears a night shift nurse talking about the new nurse. The night shift nurse is
heard saying, "That new nurse is only here to meet a doctor and get married." The best
response by the new nurse would be to:
ask to speak to the night shift nurse in private and explain how the comment made the new
nurse feel.
A nurse is attempting to calm an infant in the nursery. The nurse responds to the highest
developed sense by:
swaddling the child and gently stroking its head.
Which is an open-ended question?
"Why did the health care provider prescribe this medication for you?"
A home care nurse discusses with a client when visits will occur and how long they will last. In
what phase of the nurse-client relationship is this type of agreement established?
Orientation phase
, The client is an 18-month-old in the pediatric intensive care unit. The client is scheduled to have
a subgaleal shunt placed tomorrow, and the client's mother is quite nervous about the
procedure. The nurse tells the client's mother, "The surgeon has done this a million times. Your
son will be fine." This is an example of what type of nontherapeutic communication?
False reassurance
A nurse is assessing a client's nutritional intake prior to admission the client has lost 10 lb (4.5
kg) over the last 2 months. Which example best represents therapeutic communication
technique?
"Tell me about the type of foods you like to eat."
Several nurses on the same hospital unit communicate on the same social networking site. A
nurse posts the following statement to the social networking page, "The lady in room 34 with
heart failure was a train wreck!" In which manner has the nurse failed to apply the principles of
confidentiality?
Sharing information about a client beyond the area of client care is unacceptable and breaches
the client's confidentiality rights.
Which quality in a nurse helps the nurse to become effective in providing for a client's needs
while remaining compassionately detached?
Empathy
A nurse is discussing cataract treatment with a client. Which statement by the nurse would be
most therapeutic?
"Have you ever thought of laser surgery?"
A nurse touches the client's hand while discussing the client's diagnosis. This action is:
a communication channel.
When communicating with clients, nurses need to be very careful in their approach. This is
particularly true when communicating using:
medical terminology.
A nurse has developed strong rapport with the spouse of a client who has been receiving
rehabilitation following a debilitating stroke. The spouse has just been informed that the client
is unlikely to return home and requires care that can only be provided in a facility with constant
nursing care. The client's spouse tells the nurse, "I can't believe it's come to this." How should
the nurse best respond?
Therapeutic Communication, Nurse-Client Relationship,
Advocacy, and Professional Boundaries|Latest Update
Questions Complete With Verified A+ Graded Answers
The nurse and the physical therapist discuss the therapy schedule and goals for a client on a
rehabilitation unit. What type of communication is occurring between the nurse and the
therapist?
Interpersonal
The nurse is talking with a client who is thinking about obtaining a second opinion regarding the
surgeon's recommendation for surgery. Which response by the nurse is considered an advocacy
response?
"Let us know if we can answer any further questions after you obtain your second opinion."
The nurse is providing education to a client who sometimes has difficulty remembering
information. Which form of communication will be most helpful for this client?
Written communication
A nurse has been working on a telemetry unit for 6 months. The nurse arrives at work in the
morning and overhears a night shift nurse talking about the new nurse. The night shift nurse is
heard saying, "That new nurse is only here to meet a doctor and get married." The best
response by the new nurse would be to:
ask to speak to the night shift nurse in private and explain how the comment made the new
nurse feel.
A nurse is attempting to calm an infant in the nursery. The nurse responds to the highest
developed sense by:
swaddling the child and gently stroking its head.
Which is an open-ended question?
"Why did the health care provider prescribe this medication for you?"
A home care nurse discusses with a client when visits will occur and how long they will last. In
what phase of the nurse-client relationship is this type of agreement established?
Orientation phase
, The client is an 18-month-old in the pediatric intensive care unit. The client is scheduled to have
a subgaleal shunt placed tomorrow, and the client's mother is quite nervous about the
procedure. The nurse tells the client's mother, "The surgeon has done this a million times. Your
son will be fine." This is an example of what type of nontherapeutic communication?
False reassurance
A nurse is assessing a client's nutritional intake prior to admission the client has lost 10 lb (4.5
kg) over the last 2 months. Which example best represents therapeutic communication
technique?
"Tell me about the type of foods you like to eat."
Several nurses on the same hospital unit communicate on the same social networking site. A
nurse posts the following statement to the social networking page, "The lady in room 34 with
heart failure was a train wreck!" In which manner has the nurse failed to apply the principles of
confidentiality?
Sharing information about a client beyond the area of client care is unacceptable and breaches
the client's confidentiality rights.
Which quality in a nurse helps the nurse to become effective in providing for a client's needs
while remaining compassionately detached?
Empathy
A nurse is discussing cataract treatment with a client. Which statement by the nurse would be
most therapeutic?
"Have you ever thought of laser surgery?"
A nurse touches the client's hand while discussing the client's diagnosis. This action is:
a communication channel.
When communicating with clients, nurses need to be very careful in their approach. This is
particularly true when communicating using:
medical terminology.
A nurse has developed strong rapport with the spouse of a client who has been receiving
rehabilitation following a debilitating stroke. The spouse has just been informed that the client
is unlikely to return home and requires care that can only be provided in a facility with constant
nursing care. The client's spouse tells the nurse, "I can't believe it's come to this." How should
the nurse best respond?
