1. A nurse believes that the nurse-patient relationship is a partnership and that both are equal
participants. Which term should the nurse use to describe this belief?
a. Critical thinking
b. Authentic
c. Mutuality
d. Attend
ANS: C
Effective interpersonal communication requires a sense of mutuality, a belief that the nurse-
patient relationship is a partnership and that both are equal participants. Critical thinking
in nursing, based on established standards of nursing care and ethical standards,
promotes effective communication and uses standards such as humility, self-confidence,
independent attitude, and fairness. To be authentic (one’s self) and to respond
appropriately to the other person are important for interpersonal relationships but do not
mean mutuality. Attending is giving all of your attention to the patient.
2. A nurse wants to present information about flu immunizations to the older adults in the community.
Which type of communication should the nurse use?
a. Public
b. Small group
c. Interpersonal
d. Intrapersonal
ANS: A
Public communication is interaction with an audience. Nurses have opportunities to speak
with groups of consumers about health-related topics, present scholarly work to
colleagues at conferences, or lead classroom discussions with peers or students. When
nurses work on committees or participate in patient care conferences, they use a small
group communication process. Interpersonal communication is one-on-one interaction
between a nurse and another person that often occurs face to face. Intrapersonal
communication is a powerful form of communication that you use as a professional
nurse. This level of communication is also called self- talk.
3. A nurse is using therapeutic communication with a patient. Which technique will the nurse use to
ensure effective communication?
Interpersonal communication to change negative self-talk to positive
a. self-talk
b. Small group communication to present information to an audience
c. Electronic communication to assess a patient in another city
d. Intrapersonal communication to build strong teams
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,ANS: C
25
, A&E I Comprehensive Testbank
Electronic communication is the use of technology to create ongoing relationships
with patients and their health care team. Intrapersonal communication is self-talk.
Interpersonal communication is one-on-one interaction between a nurse and
another person that often occurs face to face. Public communication is used to
present information to an audience. Small group communication is interaction that
occurs when a small number of persons meet. When nurses work on committees or
participate in patient care conferences, they use a small group communication
process.
4. A nurse is standing beside the patient’s bed.
Nurse: How are you doing?
Patient: I don’t feel good.
Which element will the nurse identify as feedback?
a. Nurse
b. Patient
c. How are you doing?
d. I don’t feel good.
ANS: D
“I don’t feel good” is the feedback because the feedback is the message the receiver
returns. The sender is the person who encodes and delivers the message, and the
receiver is the person who receives and decodes the message. The nurse is the
sender. The patient is the receiver. “How are you doing?” is the message.
5. A nurse is sitting at the patient’s bedside taking a nursing history. Which zone of personal space is
the nurse using?
a. Socio-consultative
b. Personal
c. Intimate
d. Public
ANS: B
Personal space is 18 inches to 4 feet and involves things such as sitting at a patient’s
bedside, taking a patient’s nursing history, or teaching an individual patient.
Intimate space is 0 to 18 inches and involves things such as performing a physical
assessment, bathing, grooming, dressing, feeding, and toileting a patient. The socio-
consultative zone is 9 to 12 feet and involves things such as giving directions to
visitors in the hallway and giving verbal report to a group of nurses. The public zone
is 12 feet and greater and involves things such as speaking at a community forum,
testifying at a legislative hearing, or lecturing.
6. A smiling patient angrily states, “I will not cough and deep breathe.” How will the nurse
interpret this finding?
a. The patient’s denotative meaning is wrong. 26
b. The patient’s personal space was violated.