Fundamentals of Nursing Theory Concepts and
Applications 4th Edition Wilkinson
Test Bank Chapters 21-30
Chapter 21: Communication &
Therapeutic Relationships
1. A nurse touches a patients hand to indicate caring and support. What channel of
communication is the nurse using?
A) auditory
B) visual
C) olfactory
D) kinesthetic
2. A nurse is teaching a home care patient how to administer a topical medication.
The patient is watching television while the nurse is talking. What might be the
result of this interaction?
A) The message will likely be misunderstood.
B) The stimulus for communication is unclear.
C) The receiver will accurately interpret the message.
D) The communication will be reciprocal.
3. A nurse gives a speech on nutrition to a group of pregnant women. What is the
speech itself known as?
A) stimulus
B) source
C) message
D) channel
4. The family of a patient in a burn unit asks the nurse for information. The nurse
sits with the family and discusses their concerns. What type of communication is
this?
A) intrapersonal
B) interpersonal
C) organizational
D) focused
5. Which of the following is an example of nonverbal communication?
A) A nurse says, I am going to help you walk now.
B) A nurse presents information to a group of patients.
C) A patients face is contorted with pain.
D) A patient asks the nurse for a pain shot.
6. A student caring for an unconscious patient knows that communication is
important even if the patient does not respond. Which nonverbal action by the
student would communicate caring?
, A) making constant eye contact with the patient
B) waving to the patient when entering the room
C) sighing frequently while providing care
D) holding the patients hand while talking
7. Which of the following statements is true of factors that influence
communication?
A) Nurses provide the same information to all patients, regardless of age.
B) Men and women have similar communication styles.
C) Culture and lifestyle influence the communication process.
D) Distance from a patient has little effect on a nurses message.
8. A nurse is sitting near a patient while conducting a health history. The patient
keeps edging away from the nurse. What might this mean in terms of personal
space?
A) The nurse is too far away from the patient.
B) The nurse is in the patients personal space.
C) The patient does not like the nurse.
D) The patient has concerns about the questions.
9. Why is communication important to the assessing step of the nursing process?
A) The major focus of assessing is to gather information.
B) Assessing is primarily focused on physical findings.
C) Assessing involves only nonverbal cues.
D) Written information is rarely used in assessment.
10. Which of the following statements accurately describe the relationship between
therapeutic communication and the nursing process? Select all that apply.
A) Effective communication techniques, as well as observational skills, are
used extensively during the assessment step.
B) Only the written word in the form of a medical record is used during the
diagnosing step of the nursing process.
C) The implementing step requires communication among the patient,
nurse, and other team members to develop interventions and outcomes.
D) Verbal and nonverbal communication are used to teach, counsel, and
support patients and their families during the implementation phase.
E) Nurses rely on the verbal and nonverbal cues they receive from their
patients to evaluate whether patient objectives or goals have been
achieved.
F) Because one nurse cannot provide 24-hour coverage for patients,
significant information must be passed on to others through
implementation.
11. A nurse uses the SBAR method to hand off the communication to the healthcare
team. Which of the following might be listed under the B of the acronym?
A) vital signs
B) mental status
C) patient problem
D) further testing
,12. What is the goal of the nurse in a helping relationship with a patient?
A) to provide hands-on physical care
B) to ensure safety while caring for the patient
C) to assist the patient to identify and achieve goals
D) to facilitate the patients interactions with others
13. Which of the following is a characteristic of the helping relationship?
A) it occurs spontaneously
B) it is similar to a social relationship
C) it is an unequal sharing of communication
D) it is based on the needs of the nurse
14. What action by the nurse will facilitate the helping relationship during the
orientation phase?
A) providing assistance to meet activities of daily living
B) introducing himself or herself to the patient by name
C) designing a specific teaching plan of care
D) preparing for termination of the relationship
15. Which of the nursing roles is primarily performed during the working phase of
the helping relationship?
A) teacher and counselor
B) provider of care
C) leader and manager
D) researcher
16. A nurse who is discharging a patient is terminating the helping relationship.
Which of the following actions might the nurse perform in this phase? Select all
that apply.
A) making formal introductions
B) making a contract regarding the relationship
C) providing assistance to achieve goals
D) helping patient perform activities of daily living
E) examining goals of relationship for achievement
F) helping patient establish helping relationship with another nurse
17. What term describes a nurse who is sensitive to the patients feelings but remains
objective enough to help the patient achieve positive outcomes?
A) competent
B) caring
C) honest
D) empathic
18. What is the primary focus of communication during the nursepatient
relationship?
A) time available to the nurse
B) nursing activity to be performed
C) patient and patient needs
D) environment of the patient
, 19. Which of the following is an example of a closed-ended question or statement?
A) How did that make you feel?
B) Did you take those drugs?
C) What medications do you take at home?
D) Describe the type of pain you have.
20. A patient tells the nurse that he is very worried about his surgery. Which of the
following responses by the nurse is a clich?
A) Tell me what you are worried about.
B) What is it that you are worried about?
C) Do you want to cancel your surgery?
D) Dont worry, everything will be fine.
21. A nurse tells a patient, Why wont you get out of bed? Are you always this lazy?
This is an example of which of the following barriers to communication?
A) using comments that give advice
B) using judgmental language
C) using leading questions
D) using probing questions
22. A nurse is caring for a patient who is visually impaired. Which of the following
is a recommended guideline for communication with this patient?
A) Ease into the room without acknowledging presence until the patient can
be touched.
B) Speak in a louder tone of voice to make up for lack of visual cues.
C) Explain reason for touching patient before doing so.
D) Keep communication simple and concrete.
Answer Key
1. D
2. A
3. C
4. B
5. C
6. D
7. C
8. B
9. A
10. A, D, E
11. B
12. C
13. C
14. B
15. A
16. E, F
17. D
18. C
19. B
20. D
21. B
Applications 4th Edition Wilkinson
Test Bank Chapters 21-30
Chapter 21: Communication &
Therapeutic Relationships
1. A nurse touches a patients hand to indicate caring and support. What channel of
communication is the nurse using?
A) auditory
B) visual
C) olfactory
D) kinesthetic
2. A nurse is teaching a home care patient how to administer a topical medication.
The patient is watching television while the nurse is talking. What might be the
result of this interaction?
A) The message will likely be misunderstood.
B) The stimulus for communication is unclear.
C) The receiver will accurately interpret the message.
D) The communication will be reciprocal.
3. A nurse gives a speech on nutrition to a group of pregnant women. What is the
speech itself known as?
A) stimulus
B) source
C) message
D) channel
4. The family of a patient in a burn unit asks the nurse for information. The nurse
sits with the family and discusses their concerns. What type of communication is
this?
A) intrapersonal
B) interpersonal
C) organizational
D) focused
5. Which of the following is an example of nonverbal communication?
A) A nurse says, I am going to help you walk now.
B) A nurse presents information to a group of patients.
C) A patients face is contorted with pain.
D) A patient asks the nurse for a pain shot.
6. A student caring for an unconscious patient knows that communication is
important even if the patient does not respond. Which nonverbal action by the
student would communicate caring?
, A) making constant eye contact with the patient
B) waving to the patient when entering the room
C) sighing frequently while providing care
D) holding the patients hand while talking
7. Which of the following statements is true of factors that influence
communication?
A) Nurses provide the same information to all patients, regardless of age.
B) Men and women have similar communication styles.
C) Culture and lifestyle influence the communication process.
D) Distance from a patient has little effect on a nurses message.
8. A nurse is sitting near a patient while conducting a health history. The patient
keeps edging away from the nurse. What might this mean in terms of personal
space?
A) The nurse is too far away from the patient.
B) The nurse is in the patients personal space.
C) The patient does not like the nurse.
D) The patient has concerns about the questions.
9. Why is communication important to the assessing step of the nursing process?
A) The major focus of assessing is to gather information.
B) Assessing is primarily focused on physical findings.
C) Assessing involves only nonverbal cues.
D) Written information is rarely used in assessment.
10. Which of the following statements accurately describe the relationship between
therapeutic communication and the nursing process? Select all that apply.
A) Effective communication techniques, as well as observational skills, are
used extensively during the assessment step.
B) Only the written word in the form of a medical record is used during the
diagnosing step of the nursing process.
C) The implementing step requires communication among the patient,
nurse, and other team members to develop interventions and outcomes.
D) Verbal and nonverbal communication are used to teach, counsel, and
support patients and their families during the implementation phase.
E) Nurses rely on the verbal and nonverbal cues they receive from their
patients to evaluate whether patient objectives or goals have been
achieved.
F) Because one nurse cannot provide 24-hour coverage for patients,
significant information must be passed on to others through
implementation.
11. A nurse uses the SBAR method to hand off the communication to the healthcare
team. Which of the following might be listed under the B of the acronym?
A) vital signs
B) mental status
C) patient problem
D) further testing
,12. What is the goal of the nurse in a helping relationship with a patient?
A) to provide hands-on physical care
B) to ensure safety while caring for the patient
C) to assist the patient to identify and achieve goals
D) to facilitate the patients interactions with others
13. Which of the following is a characteristic of the helping relationship?
A) it occurs spontaneously
B) it is similar to a social relationship
C) it is an unequal sharing of communication
D) it is based on the needs of the nurse
14. What action by the nurse will facilitate the helping relationship during the
orientation phase?
A) providing assistance to meet activities of daily living
B) introducing himself or herself to the patient by name
C) designing a specific teaching plan of care
D) preparing for termination of the relationship
15. Which of the nursing roles is primarily performed during the working phase of
the helping relationship?
A) teacher and counselor
B) provider of care
C) leader and manager
D) researcher
16. A nurse who is discharging a patient is terminating the helping relationship.
Which of the following actions might the nurse perform in this phase? Select all
that apply.
A) making formal introductions
B) making a contract regarding the relationship
C) providing assistance to achieve goals
D) helping patient perform activities of daily living
E) examining goals of relationship for achievement
F) helping patient establish helping relationship with another nurse
17. What term describes a nurse who is sensitive to the patients feelings but remains
objective enough to help the patient achieve positive outcomes?
A) competent
B) caring
C) honest
D) empathic
18. What is the primary focus of communication during the nursepatient
relationship?
A) time available to the nurse
B) nursing activity to be performed
C) patient and patient needs
D) environment of the patient
, 19. Which of the following is an example of a closed-ended question or statement?
A) How did that make you feel?
B) Did you take those drugs?
C) What medications do you take at home?
D) Describe the type of pain you have.
20. A patient tells the nurse that he is very worried about his surgery. Which of the
following responses by the nurse is a clich?
A) Tell me what you are worried about.
B) What is it that you are worried about?
C) Do you want to cancel your surgery?
D) Dont worry, everything will be fine.
21. A nurse tells a patient, Why wont you get out of bed? Are you always this lazy?
This is an example of which of the following barriers to communication?
A) using comments that give advice
B) using judgmental language
C) using leading questions
D) using probing questions
22. A nurse is caring for a patient who is visually impaired. Which of the following
is a recommended guideline for communication with this patient?
A) Ease into the room without acknowledging presence until the patient can
be touched.
B) Speak in a louder tone of voice to make up for lack of visual cues.
C) Explain reason for touching patient before doing so.
D) Keep communication simple and concrete.
Answer Key
1. D
2. A
3. C
4. B
5. C
6. D
7. C
8. B
9. A
10. A, D, E
11. B
12. C
13. C
14. B
15. A
16. E, F
17. D
18. C
19. B
20. D
21. B
