Chapter 12: Effective Communication, Team
Building, and Interprofessional Practice
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse is using assertive communication skills to express self-rights when
stating which of the following?
a. “I shield others from my anger.”
b. “I do not compromise.”
c. “I am avoiding direct confrontation.”
d. “I am responsible for what I say.” .
ANS: D
When you use an assertive communication style, you send the message that you will
take responsibility for the consequences of both your words and your actions.
Assertive individuals often compromise and may confront people directly about
issues. Assertive individuals express anger appropriately rather than shielding others
or repressing the feeling. The other statements do not express an assertive
communication style.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension/Understanding REF: p. 275
OBJ: Describe an assertive communication style.
TOP: Effective communication MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable .
2. Dr. Jones asks you to give a medication to one of the patients, and you know the
patient is allergic to it. When you point this out, Dr. Jones says, “Give the
medication or I’ll report this to your supervisor.” What is the best assertive
response?
, a. Agree to give the medication and hope no one finds out.
b. Say, “I won’t give the medication, and I don’t care who you talk to about
it.”
c. Walk away and ignore Dr. Jones.
d. Say, “Perhaps you and I could talk this over with my supervisor
together.”.
ANS: D
Expressing to the physician that both of you should discuss the issue with the
supervisor is an assertive response. As nurses gain experience, their judgment
improves, and they are able to recognize ways to communicate needs and feelings
with the goal of improving the processes and procedures used in the work setting. The
patient’s safety always comes first, so you would not go ahead and give the
medication. When you walk away and ignore the comment, you are denying the
feelings and not dealing assertively with the situation. Not giving the medication and
stating that you don’t care who the physician talks to about the issue is a threatening,
aggressive response.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application/Applying
REF: p. 275 OBJ: Apply effective communication skills in various nursing
activities. TOP: Effective communication MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable
3. Your team leader reminds you that you have forgotten to complete an assigned
task. What is an assertive response?
a. “Not now; I’m busy.” .
b. “You’re right. I did forget. I’ll do it now.”
c. “It’s not my fault. You should have reminded me sooner.”
d. “I’m so sorry I’ve disappointed you. It won’t happen again.”
ANS: B
, When using assertive communication, a person would respond to criticism by
acknowledging the issue and taking direct action to correct the problem. An
apologetic response is not assertively taking responsibility for the forgotten task.
Telling the person “you should have reminded me sooner” is placing the
responsibility for the forgotten task onto another person. Telling the person you are
busy is denying the issue.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application/Applying
REF: p. 275 OBJ: Apply effective communication skills in various nursing
activities. TOP: Effective communication MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable
4. Staff nurse 1: “You’re stomping around and glaring at me. I’m wondering what’s
going on.” Staff nurse 2: “I’m sick of you always going to lunch first. You don’t
care about anyone but yourself.” What assessment can best be made about this
exchange?
a. Staff nurse 1’s remark is challenging and obstructive.
b. Staff nurse 1’s remark invites clarification of the meaning of the specific
behaviors of staff nurse 2.
c. Staff nurse 2’s remark will facilitate effective problem solving.
d. Staff nurse 2’s remark will keep anger at a minimum and give incentive
for meeting the other’s needs.
ANS: B.
Nurse 1 was assertive in her approach by giving direct descriptive feedback reflecting
nurse 2’s actions with a question seeking information to explain nurse 2’s actions.
Asking about what is going on allows nurse 2 to make some comment about the issue.
Nurse 2’s comment does not promote effective problem solving as it is judgmental
(You don’t care about anyone but yourself.).
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis/Analyzing
REF: p. 275 OBJ: Apply effective communication skills in various nursing
activities. TOP: Effective communication MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable
Building, and Interprofessional Practice
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse is using assertive communication skills to express self-rights when
stating which of the following?
a. “I shield others from my anger.”
b. “I do not compromise.”
c. “I am avoiding direct confrontation.”
d. “I am responsible for what I say.” .
ANS: D
When you use an assertive communication style, you send the message that you will
take responsibility for the consequences of both your words and your actions.
Assertive individuals often compromise and may confront people directly about
issues. Assertive individuals express anger appropriately rather than shielding others
or repressing the feeling. The other statements do not express an assertive
communication style.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension/Understanding REF: p. 275
OBJ: Describe an assertive communication style.
TOP: Effective communication MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable .
2. Dr. Jones asks you to give a medication to one of the patients, and you know the
patient is allergic to it. When you point this out, Dr. Jones says, “Give the
medication or I’ll report this to your supervisor.” What is the best assertive
response?
, a. Agree to give the medication and hope no one finds out.
b. Say, “I won’t give the medication, and I don’t care who you talk to about
it.”
c. Walk away and ignore Dr. Jones.
d. Say, “Perhaps you and I could talk this over with my supervisor
together.”.
ANS: D
Expressing to the physician that both of you should discuss the issue with the
supervisor is an assertive response. As nurses gain experience, their judgment
improves, and they are able to recognize ways to communicate needs and feelings
with the goal of improving the processes and procedures used in the work setting. The
patient’s safety always comes first, so you would not go ahead and give the
medication. When you walk away and ignore the comment, you are denying the
feelings and not dealing assertively with the situation. Not giving the medication and
stating that you don’t care who the physician talks to about the issue is a threatening,
aggressive response.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application/Applying
REF: p. 275 OBJ: Apply effective communication skills in various nursing
activities. TOP: Effective communication MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable
3. Your team leader reminds you that you have forgotten to complete an assigned
task. What is an assertive response?
a. “Not now; I’m busy.” .
b. “You’re right. I did forget. I’ll do it now.”
c. “It’s not my fault. You should have reminded me sooner.”
d. “I’m so sorry I’ve disappointed you. It won’t happen again.”
ANS: B
, When using assertive communication, a person would respond to criticism by
acknowledging the issue and taking direct action to correct the problem. An
apologetic response is not assertively taking responsibility for the forgotten task.
Telling the person “you should have reminded me sooner” is placing the
responsibility for the forgotten task onto another person. Telling the person you are
busy is denying the issue.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application/Applying
REF: p. 275 OBJ: Apply effective communication skills in various nursing
activities. TOP: Effective communication MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable
4. Staff nurse 1: “You’re stomping around and glaring at me. I’m wondering what’s
going on.” Staff nurse 2: “I’m sick of you always going to lunch first. You don’t
care about anyone but yourself.” What assessment can best be made about this
exchange?
a. Staff nurse 1’s remark is challenging and obstructive.
b. Staff nurse 1’s remark invites clarification of the meaning of the specific
behaviors of staff nurse 2.
c. Staff nurse 2’s remark will facilitate effective problem solving.
d. Staff nurse 2’s remark will keep anger at a minimum and give incentive
for meeting the other’s needs.
ANS: B.
Nurse 1 was assertive in her approach by giving direct descriptive feedback reflecting
nurse 2’s actions with a question seeking information to explain nurse 2’s actions.
Asking about what is going on allows nurse 2 to make some comment about the issue.
Nurse 2’s comment does not promote effective problem solving as it is judgmental
(You don’t care about anyone but yourself.).
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis/Analyzing
REF: p. 275 OBJ: Apply effective communication skills in various nursing
activities. TOP: Effective communication MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable
