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NSG 3180 COMMUNICATION AND TEAMWORK
ACTUAL FINAL EXAM PREP 2026 ALL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES ALREADY A
GRADED WITH EXPERT FEEDBACK|NEW AND
REVISED
1. A nurse enters a patient’s room and the patient is crying. The nurse
sits down at eye level and says, “You seem upset. Would you like to talk
about what is bothering you?” Which therapeutic communication
technique is the nurse using?
A. Giving advice
B. Offering self and exploring
C. False reassurance
D. Changing the subject
Rationale: Offering self (“I will sit with you”) combined with an
open-ended question to explore the patient’s feelings is a therapeutic
technique that encourages expression. Giving advice (A) is
non-therapeutic. False reassurance (C) dismisses feelings. Changing
the subject (D) avoids the issue. Option B is correct.
2. During a nursing team huddle, a new graduate nurse notices that a
senior nurse often interrupts others and dismisses their suggestions. The
best initial response from the new nurse to improve team communication
is:
A. Ignore the behavior to avoid conflict.
B. Speak privately with the senior nurse to express concern about
the team’s process.
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C. Report the senior nurse to the nurse manager immediately.
D. Interrupt the senior nurse in the same manner to make a point.
Rationale: Addressing concerns privately and respectfully is the first
step in conflict resolution and promoting psychological safety.
Ignoring (A) allows dysfunction to continue. Immediate reporting (C)
bypasses direct communication. Interrupting (D) escalates conflict.
Option B is correct.
3. A patient tells the nurse, “I don’t think I can go through with this
surgery. I’m scared I won’t wake up.” Which response by the nurse
demonstrates empathy?
A. “Don’t worry, thousands of people have this surgery every day.”
B. “It sounds like you are feeling very frightened about the surgery.
Tell me more about your concerns.”
C. “Your doctor is the best in the city; you are in good hands.”
D. “You need to think positively, or you will have complications.”
Rationale: Empathy involves recognizing and validating the patient’s
feelings. Option B reflects the patient’s emotion and invites further
discussion. Options A and C are false reassurance. Option D is
judgmental and non-therapeutic. Option B is correct.
4. The SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation)
communication tool is most effectively used during:
A. Patient discharge teaching.
B. Handoff communication between nursing shifts or to a provider.
C. Initial patient admission interview.
D. Informed consent process.
Rationale: SBAR is a structured framework for communicating
critical information during handoffs, transfers, and urgent calls to
providers. Option B is correct. It is less suited for patient teaching (A)
or consent (D).
5. A nurse and a physician disagree about the need for a urinary catheter
in a patient with urosepsis. The nurse uses the CUS (Concerned,
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Uncomfortable, Safety) tool. After stating “I am concerned about the
need for a catheter,” the physician dismisses it. The nurse next states:
A. “I will follow your order, but I am documenting my concern.”
B. “I am uncomfortable placing a catheter because the patient may
not need one and it increases infection risk.”
C. “You are wrong, and I am calling the nursing supervisor.”
D. “I will not follow that order.”
Rationale: The CUS tool proceeds from “Concerned” to
“Uncomfortable” to “This is a safety issue.” Option B is the second
step, expressing discomfort. A does not escalate. C is confrontational.
D is refusal without structured communication. Option B is correct.
6. A nursing student asks the preceptor why it is important to use “I”
statements during a conflict with a colleague. The best explanation is:
A. “I” statements make the other person feel guilty.
B. “I” statements take ownership of your own feelings and reduce
defensiveness in the other person.
C. “I” statements are required by hospital policy.
D. “I” statements are only used during performance reviews.
Rationale: “I” statements (e.g., “I feel frustrated when…”) express
one’s own perspective without blaming, which reduces defensive
reactions and facilitates problem solving. Option B is correct. A is
incorrect; C and D are not the primary reasons.
7. A charge nurse observes two staff members frequently gossiping
about another nurse. The charge nurse’s most appropriate action is:
A. Ignore it because gossip is common in healthcare.
B. Speak privately with each staff member to address the behavior
and its impact on team morale.
C. Immediately suspend both nurses.
D. Assign them to different units to separate them.
Rationale: Addressing unprofessional behavior directly and privately
is the first step. Ignoring (A) allows toxicity to grow. Suspension (C) is
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disproportionate without prior discussion. Reassignment (D) avoids
addressing the issue. Option B is correct.
8. A patient who does not speak English is admitted to the
medical-surgical unit. The nurse plans to use a hospital-approved
interpreter service. Which action by the nurse is correct?
A. Ask the patient’s bilingual family member to interpret for consent.
B. Use the interpreter phone or video service and speak directly to
the patient.
C. Speak loudly and slowly in English to help the patient understand.
D. Have a non-clinical staff member interpret.
Rationale: Professional interpreter services ensure accuracy and
confidentiality. Family members should not interpret for sensitive or
consent discussions (A). Speaking loudly (C) does not improve
understanding. Non-clinical staff (D) lack training. Option B is
correct.
9. During a rapid response event, the team leader calls out a medication
order. The nurse who hears the order is unsure about the dose.
According to closed-loop communication, the nurse should:
A. Administer the medication as ordered and hope it is correct.
B. Repeat the order back verbatim to the team leader for
confirmation.
C. Question the leader in front of the entire team.
D. Write down the order and clarify after the event.
Rationale: Closed-loop communication requires repeating back orders
to confirm accuracy. Option B is correct. Administering without
confirmation (A) is unsafe. Questioning may be necessary but should
follow the repeat-back. Clarifying later (D) delays action and risks
error.
10. A nurse is preparing to have a difficult conversation with a patient’s
family about a poor prognosis. Which environmental factor best
supports effective communication?
NSG 3180 COMMUNICATION AND TEAMWORK
ACTUAL FINAL EXAM PREP 2026 ALL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES ALREADY A
GRADED WITH EXPERT FEEDBACK|NEW AND
REVISED
1. A nurse enters a patient’s room and the patient is crying. The nurse
sits down at eye level and says, “You seem upset. Would you like to talk
about what is bothering you?” Which therapeutic communication
technique is the nurse using?
A. Giving advice
B. Offering self and exploring
C. False reassurance
D. Changing the subject
Rationale: Offering self (“I will sit with you”) combined with an
open-ended question to explore the patient’s feelings is a therapeutic
technique that encourages expression. Giving advice (A) is
non-therapeutic. False reassurance (C) dismisses feelings. Changing
the subject (D) avoids the issue. Option B is correct.
2. During a nursing team huddle, a new graduate nurse notices that a
senior nurse often interrupts others and dismisses their suggestions. The
best initial response from the new nurse to improve team communication
is:
A. Ignore the behavior to avoid conflict.
B. Speak privately with the senior nurse to express concern about
the team’s process.
,2|Page
C. Report the senior nurse to the nurse manager immediately.
D. Interrupt the senior nurse in the same manner to make a point.
Rationale: Addressing concerns privately and respectfully is the first
step in conflict resolution and promoting psychological safety.
Ignoring (A) allows dysfunction to continue. Immediate reporting (C)
bypasses direct communication. Interrupting (D) escalates conflict.
Option B is correct.
3. A patient tells the nurse, “I don’t think I can go through with this
surgery. I’m scared I won’t wake up.” Which response by the nurse
demonstrates empathy?
A. “Don’t worry, thousands of people have this surgery every day.”
B. “It sounds like you are feeling very frightened about the surgery.
Tell me more about your concerns.”
C. “Your doctor is the best in the city; you are in good hands.”
D. “You need to think positively, or you will have complications.”
Rationale: Empathy involves recognizing and validating the patient’s
feelings. Option B reflects the patient’s emotion and invites further
discussion. Options A and C are false reassurance. Option D is
judgmental and non-therapeutic. Option B is correct.
4. The SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation)
communication tool is most effectively used during:
A. Patient discharge teaching.
B. Handoff communication between nursing shifts or to a provider.
C. Initial patient admission interview.
D. Informed consent process.
Rationale: SBAR is a structured framework for communicating
critical information during handoffs, transfers, and urgent calls to
providers. Option B is correct. It is less suited for patient teaching (A)
or consent (D).
5. A nurse and a physician disagree about the need for a urinary catheter
in a patient with urosepsis. The nurse uses the CUS (Concerned,
,3|Page
Uncomfortable, Safety) tool. After stating “I am concerned about the
need for a catheter,” the physician dismisses it. The nurse next states:
A. “I will follow your order, but I am documenting my concern.”
B. “I am uncomfortable placing a catheter because the patient may
not need one and it increases infection risk.”
C. “You are wrong, and I am calling the nursing supervisor.”
D. “I will not follow that order.”
Rationale: The CUS tool proceeds from “Concerned” to
“Uncomfortable” to “This is a safety issue.” Option B is the second
step, expressing discomfort. A does not escalate. C is confrontational.
D is refusal without structured communication. Option B is correct.
6. A nursing student asks the preceptor why it is important to use “I”
statements during a conflict with a colleague. The best explanation is:
A. “I” statements make the other person feel guilty.
B. “I” statements take ownership of your own feelings and reduce
defensiveness in the other person.
C. “I” statements are required by hospital policy.
D. “I” statements are only used during performance reviews.
Rationale: “I” statements (e.g., “I feel frustrated when…”) express
one’s own perspective without blaming, which reduces defensive
reactions and facilitates problem solving. Option B is correct. A is
incorrect; C and D are not the primary reasons.
7. A charge nurse observes two staff members frequently gossiping
about another nurse. The charge nurse’s most appropriate action is:
A. Ignore it because gossip is common in healthcare.
B. Speak privately with each staff member to address the behavior
and its impact on team morale.
C. Immediately suspend both nurses.
D. Assign them to different units to separate them.
Rationale: Addressing unprofessional behavior directly and privately
is the first step. Ignoring (A) allows toxicity to grow. Suspension (C) is
, 4|Page
disproportionate without prior discussion. Reassignment (D) avoids
addressing the issue. Option B is correct.
8. A patient who does not speak English is admitted to the
medical-surgical unit. The nurse plans to use a hospital-approved
interpreter service. Which action by the nurse is correct?
A. Ask the patient’s bilingual family member to interpret for consent.
B. Use the interpreter phone or video service and speak directly to
the patient.
C. Speak loudly and slowly in English to help the patient understand.
D. Have a non-clinical staff member interpret.
Rationale: Professional interpreter services ensure accuracy and
confidentiality. Family members should not interpret for sensitive or
consent discussions (A). Speaking loudly (C) does not improve
understanding. Non-clinical staff (D) lack training. Option B is
correct.
9. During a rapid response event, the team leader calls out a medication
order. The nurse who hears the order is unsure about the dose.
According to closed-loop communication, the nurse should:
A. Administer the medication as ordered and hope it is correct.
B. Repeat the order back verbatim to the team leader for
confirmation.
C. Question the leader in front of the entire team.
D. Write down the order and clarify after the event.
Rationale: Closed-loop communication requires repeating back orders
to confirm accuracy. Option B is correct. Administering without
confirmation (A) is unsafe. Questioning may be necessary but should
follow the repeat-back. Clarifying later (D) delays action and risks
error.
10. A nurse is preparing to have a difficult conversation with a patient’s
family about a poor prognosis. Which environmental factor best
supports effective communication?
