, INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS:
PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION
SKILLS FOR NURSES, 9TH EDITION
By Kathleen Underman Boggs
CHAPTERS 1-27
Latest 2026 update.
Chapter 1: Communication Theories and Nurs g Concepts
Keywords
communication theory, l ear model, transactional model, sender-receiver,
feedback, noise, context, metacommunication, terpersonal communication, nurs
g process
Question 1
A nurse is teach g a patient about sul adm istration. The patient asks a
question about needle disposal. The nurse answers the question and then cont
ues the teach g. This represents which component of the communication
process?
a) Noise
,b) Feedback
c) Channel
d) Referent
Correct Answer: b
Rationale:
✅ Correct (b): Feedback is the response from the receiver (patient) that allows
the sender (nurse) to evaluate whether the message was understood Correct ly.
The patient's question about needle disposal dicates that the message about
sul adm istration prompted a need for clarification, and the nurse's response
completes the feedback loop. Without feedback, communication is one-way (l
ear) rather than transactional. Effective feedback ensures mutual understand g
and allows the nurse to adjust the teach g approach as needed.
✅ Correct (a): Noise refers to any barrier that distorts the message (physical,
psychological, semantic), not the patient's response.
✅ Correct (c): The channel is the medium through which the message is sent
(e.g., verbal, written, electronic), not the response.
✅ Correct (d): The referent is the stimulus that motivates communication (e.g.,
a symptom, a question), but the patient's question itself is feedback, not the
referent.
Study Tip: "Feedback = Receiver's response that closes the communication loop" -
Without feedback, you cannot confirm understand g.
Question 2
A nurse notices that a patient avoids eye contact, speaks softly, and hesitates
when answer g questions about medication adherence. The nurse suspects the
patient is not tak g the medication as prescribed. This nurse is demonstrat g:
a) Metacommunication
b) trapersonal communication
c) Perception check g
d) Therapeutic closure
, Correct Answer: a
Rationale:
✅ Correct (a): Metacommunication is "communication about communication" –
it volves terpret g the underly g messages, non-verbal cues, and contextual
factors that accompany verbal communication. The nurse is observ g the
patient's non-verbal behaviors (avoid g eye contact, soft speech, hesitation) and
terpret g these as potential dicators of non-adherence. Metacommunication
allows the nurse to address not just what is said, but how it is said.
✅ Correct (b): trapersonal communication is self-talk or ternal dialogue with
one person, not terpretation of another's cues.
✅ Correct (c): Perception check g is a specific technique to verify understand g
of another's behavior (e.g., "You seem uncomfortable; is someth g wrong?"), but
the nurse is still the observation phase.
✅ Correct (d): Therapeutic closure refers to end g a therapeutic relationship
appropriately, not terpret g cues.
Study Tip: "Metacommunication = Read g between the l es (verbal + non-
verbal)" - What is not said often matters more than what is said.
Question 3
A nurse is speak g with a patient who is visually impaired. The nurse ensures the
room is quiet, speaks clearly fac g the patient, and describes the environment
before start g the conversation. This nurse is address g which component of the
communication model?
a) Referent
b) Channel
c) Noise
d) Context
Correct Answer: c
Rationale:
✅ Correct (c): Noise is any barrier that terferes with accurate transmission or
PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION
SKILLS FOR NURSES, 9TH EDITION
By Kathleen Underman Boggs
CHAPTERS 1-27
Latest 2026 update.
Chapter 1: Communication Theories and Nurs g Concepts
Keywords
communication theory, l ear model, transactional model, sender-receiver,
feedback, noise, context, metacommunication, terpersonal communication, nurs
g process
Question 1
A nurse is teach g a patient about sul adm istration. The patient asks a
question about needle disposal. The nurse answers the question and then cont
ues the teach g. This represents which component of the communication
process?
a) Noise
,b) Feedback
c) Channel
d) Referent
Correct Answer: b
Rationale:
✅ Correct (b): Feedback is the response from the receiver (patient) that allows
the sender (nurse) to evaluate whether the message was understood Correct ly.
The patient's question about needle disposal dicates that the message about
sul adm istration prompted a need for clarification, and the nurse's response
completes the feedback loop. Without feedback, communication is one-way (l
ear) rather than transactional. Effective feedback ensures mutual understand g
and allows the nurse to adjust the teach g approach as needed.
✅ Correct (a): Noise refers to any barrier that distorts the message (physical,
psychological, semantic), not the patient's response.
✅ Correct (c): The channel is the medium through which the message is sent
(e.g., verbal, written, electronic), not the response.
✅ Correct (d): The referent is the stimulus that motivates communication (e.g.,
a symptom, a question), but the patient's question itself is feedback, not the
referent.
Study Tip: "Feedback = Receiver's response that closes the communication loop" -
Without feedback, you cannot confirm understand g.
Question 2
A nurse notices that a patient avoids eye contact, speaks softly, and hesitates
when answer g questions about medication adherence. The nurse suspects the
patient is not tak g the medication as prescribed. This nurse is demonstrat g:
a) Metacommunication
b) trapersonal communication
c) Perception check g
d) Therapeutic closure
, Correct Answer: a
Rationale:
✅ Correct (a): Metacommunication is "communication about communication" –
it volves terpret g the underly g messages, non-verbal cues, and contextual
factors that accompany verbal communication. The nurse is observ g the
patient's non-verbal behaviors (avoid g eye contact, soft speech, hesitation) and
terpret g these as potential dicators of non-adherence. Metacommunication
allows the nurse to address not just what is said, but how it is said.
✅ Correct (b): trapersonal communication is self-talk or ternal dialogue with
one person, not terpretation of another's cues.
✅ Correct (c): Perception check g is a specific technique to verify understand g
of another's behavior (e.g., "You seem uncomfortable; is someth g wrong?"), but
the nurse is still the observation phase.
✅ Correct (d): Therapeutic closure refers to end g a therapeutic relationship
appropriately, not terpret g cues.
Study Tip: "Metacommunication = Read g between the l es (verbal + non-
verbal)" - What is not said often matters more than what is said.
Question 3
A nurse is speak g with a patient who is visually impaired. The nurse ensures the
room is quiet, speaks clearly fac g the patient, and describes the environment
before start g the conversation. This nurse is address g which component of the
communication model?
a) Referent
b) Channel
c) Noise
d) Context
Correct Answer: c
Rationale:
✅ Correct (c): Noise is any barrier that terferes with accurate transmission or
