NR 443 CHAPTER 05: THE NURSE-PATIENT
RELATIONSHIP
Chapter 05: The Nurse-Patient Relationship
Linton: Introduction to Medical-Surgical Nursing, 6th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A nurse is preparing an anxious patient for major surgery and remarks, “Everyone feels
some anxiety, but you will be asleep during the whole thing.” Which communication style
does this exemplify?
a. Empathy
b. Summarizing
c. False reassurance
d. Premature advice
ANS: C
False reassurance shows lack of effort to understand and shuts off communication by
imposing personal opinion. It may sound empathetic, but false reassurance does not
encourage further communication.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 63 OBJ: 8
TOP: Communication Techniques KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity: Coping and Adaptation
2. A nurse is explaining a pamphlet called the “Patient Care Partnership” to a patient and
family. Who should the nurse indicate created this pamphlet?
a. The Joint Commission
b. Medicare/Medicaid Act
c. Social Security Act
d. American Hospital Association
ANS: D
When displayed prominently in care areas, the “Patient Care Partnership” gives the patient,
family, and caregivers a written reminder of the rights of the competent patient for his or her
own care decisions and was created by the American Hospital Association.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 59 OBJ: 5
TOP: Patient’s Bill of Rights KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment: Coordinated Care
3. A nurse is discussing the discharge plan with a recovering patient. What is the most
effective communication technique for this nurse to implement?
a. Assess nonverbal clues.
b. Allow communication to focus on whatever topic the patient desires.
c. Insist on postrecovery activities as stated in the care plan.
d. Reduce eye contact to convey nondirective attitudes.
ANS: A
, The assessment of the nonverbal clues will allow the nurse to determine whether the care
plan is being perceived as satisfactory and will indicate the level of compliance that can be
expected. Allowing the patient to control the interview does not meet nursing care needs.
Lack of eye contact and forcing the components of the discharge plan on a patient are both
counterproductive.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 62 OBJ: 8
TOP: Communication Techniques KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity: Coping and Adaptation
4. A 6-year-old child is brought to the Public Health Clinic Building to receive immunizations
for the beginning of school. What is the proper classification for the recipient of this service?
a. Patient
b. Child
c. Customer
d. Client
ANS: D
The term client, in the modern context, refers to one who is not ill and who is a partner in
maintaining wellness.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 59 OBJ: 4
TOP: Patient Image KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: N/A
5. A patient says, “I am sick of being sick.” What is the most therapeutic response?
a. “I can’t believe you really feel that way.”
b. “I don’t think that attitude is very helpful.”
c. “I think you sound pretty frustrated.”
d. “I want you to feel more positive.”
ANS: C
“I” statements are used to confirm that the nurse understands the message from the patient.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 62 OBJ: 8
TOP: “I” Statements KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity: Coping and Adaptation
6. On returning to the nurse’s station, a licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/LVN)
discovers that the daughter of a frail but competent resident is reading her mother’s chart.
The woman says, “I am entitled to see my mother’s medical record.” What is the nurse’s
best response?
a. “What is it that you believe you need to know? Give me the chart.”
b. “You must understand that only your mother has the right to read the contents of her
medical record. Please give me the chart.”
c. “Although the chart itself is not available to you to read, I would be glad to try to answer
any questions you have. May I have the chart, please?”
d. “Reading that chart is a very serious violation of your mother’s privacy. I cannot allow you
to see it. Please put down the chart.”
ANS: C
RELATIONSHIP
Chapter 05: The Nurse-Patient Relationship
Linton: Introduction to Medical-Surgical Nursing, 6th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A nurse is preparing an anxious patient for major surgery and remarks, “Everyone feels
some anxiety, but you will be asleep during the whole thing.” Which communication style
does this exemplify?
a. Empathy
b. Summarizing
c. False reassurance
d. Premature advice
ANS: C
False reassurance shows lack of effort to understand and shuts off communication by
imposing personal opinion. It may sound empathetic, but false reassurance does not
encourage further communication.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 63 OBJ: 8
TOP: Communication Techniques KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity: Coping and Adaptation
2. A nurse is explaining a pamphlet called the “Patient Care Partnership” to a patient and
family. Who should the nurse indicate created this pamphlet?
a. The Joint Commission
b. Medicare/Medicaid Act
c. Social Security Act
d. American Hospital Association
ANS: D
When displayed prominently in care areas, the “Patient Care Partnership” gives the patient,
family, and caregivers a written reminder of the rights of the competent patient for his or her
own care decisions and was created by the American Hospital Association.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 59 OBJ: 5
TOP: Patient’s Bill of Rights KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment: Coordinated Care
3. A nurse is discussing the discharge plan with a recovering patient. What is the most
effective communication technique for this nurse to implement?
a. Assess nonverbal clues.
b. Allow communication to focus on whatever topic the patient desires.
c. Insist on postrecovery activities as stated in the care plan.
d. Reduce eye contact to convey nondirective attitudes.
ANS: A
, The assessment of the nonverbal clues will allow the nurse to determine whether the care
plan is being perceived as satisfactory and will indicate the level of compliance that can be
expected. Allowing the patient to control the interview does not meet nursing care needs.
Lack of eye contact and forcing the components of the discharge plan on a patient are both
counterproductive.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 62 OBJ: 8
TOP: Communication Techniques KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity: Coping and Adaptation
4. A 6-year-old child is brought to the Public Health Clinic Building to receive immunizations
for the beginning of school. What is the proper classification for the recipient of this service?
a. Patient
b. Child
c. Customer
d. Client
ANS: D
The term client, in the modern context, refers to one who is not ill and who is a partner in
maintaining wellness.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 59 OBJ: 4
TOP: Patient Image KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: N/A
5. A patient says, “I am sick of being sick.” What is the most therapeutic response?
a. “I can’t believe you really feel that way.”
b. “I don’t think that attitude is very helpful.”
c. “I think you sound pretty frustrated.”
d. “I want you to feel more positive.”
ANS: C
“I” statements are used to confirm that the nurse understands the message from the patient.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 62 OBJ: 8
TOP: “I” Statements KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity: Coping and Adaptation
6. On returning to the nurse’s station, a licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/LVN)
discovers that the daughter of a frail but competent resident is reading her mother’s chart.
The woman says, “I am entitled to see my mother’s medical record.” What is the nurse’s
best response?
a. “What is it that you believe you need to know? Give me the chart.”
b. “You must understand that only your mother has the right to read the contents of her
medical record. Please give me the chart.”
c. “Although the chart itself is not available to you to read, I would be glad to try to answer
any questions you have. May I have the chart, please?”
d. “Reading that chart is a very serious violation of your mother’s privacy. I cannot allow you
to see it. Please put down the chart.”
ANS: C
