Chapter 05: Communicating With Older
Adults
Williams: Basic Geriatric Nursing, 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The 93-year-old woman with chronic back pain is found crying. When the nurse
approaches, the patient says, “I know you can’t do anything more, but I hurt so bad.”
Which nursing intervention would be most effective?
a. Bring pain medication when it is time for it.
b. Assure the patient that the pain medication will take effect soon.
c. Touch the patient’s arm and sit quietly without speaking.
d. Distract the patient by offering a sip of water.
ANS: C
Use of empathetic touch is a message of comfort. The other options do not address the
patient’s distress relative to unrelieved pain.
PTS: 1 DIF: 8 REF: p. 100 OBJ: 3
TOP: Silence KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Basic Care and Comfort NOT:
Analyzing
2. The nurse is entering the room of a new 85-year-old female patient to complete the
admission process. How should the nurse initiate the conversation?
a. “Good morning, Maria. We need to get some questions answered.”
b. “Welcome to Unit 4B, Mrs. Martinez. I’d like to get some additional information
if I may.”
, c. “Hello, sweetie. I’ll bet you thought all the admission stuff was finished, didn’t
you?”
d. “I need to finish the admission. What is your name?”
ANS: B
Using a formal address is a respectful way to start a conversation with a new patient.
If the patient prefers to be called something else, he or she can inform the nurse of
that desire.
PTS: 1 DIF: 4 REF: p. 96 | p. 101 | Table 5.1
OBJ: 1 TOP: Respect KEY: Nursing Process Step:
Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity: Psychosocial Adaptation NOT:
Understanding
3. The nurse is informing a patient about an upcoming diagnostic procedure. Which
statement by the nurse would demonstrate effective communication?
a. “Mr. Patel, your leg is to be x-rayed in the x-ray department in an hour.”
b. “X-ray is coming to get you for an AP and lateral of your chest.”
c. “You can’t eat anything after supper because of some lab work.”
d. “Mrs. Nagahata, the OR has notified us that they’re running behind.”
ANS: A
Clear, concise information in words that the patient can understand is the most
effective method for providing information. Medical jargon should be avoided.
PTS: 1 DIF: 7 REF: p. 96 OBJ: 4
TOP: Informing KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Adaptation NOT: Applying
, 4. What is true of direct questions?
a. They can get a lot of information quickly.
b. They can help the patients organize their thoughts.
c. They get minimum response answers of “yes” and “no.”
d. They make patients think that they are contributing to their health care.
ANS: C
The diminished, overwhelmed patient will give minimal answers to direct questions if
the technique is overused. The technique is best used to obtain factual information.
PTS: 1 DIF: 3 REF: p. 104 OBJ: 4
TOP: Direct Questions KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity: Psychosocial Adaptation NOT:
Remembering
5. The patient denies smoking, although the smell of tobacco is strong in his hospital room.
Which statement by the nurse would be effective?
a. “Don’t bother to lie to me. I know you’ve been smoking.”
b. “It is very dangerous to smoke in bed.”
c. “The hospital has policies against smoking.”
d. “I can smell the tobacco, and I see your lighter on the bedside table.”
ANS: D
Identifying evidence in a non-accusatory manner establishes the point of discrepancy.
Belittling the patient or quoting policy is not effective.
PTS: 1 DIF: 7 REF: p. 105 OBJ: 4
TOP: Confrontation KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity: Coping and Adaptation NOT:
Applying
Adults
Williams: Basic Geriatric Nursing, 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The 93-year-old woman with chronic back pain is found crying. When the nurse
approaches, the patient says, “I know you can’t do anything more, but I hurt so bad.”
Which nursing intervention would be most effective?
a. Bring pain medication when it is time for it.
b. Assure the patient that the pain medication will take effect soon.
c. Touch the patient’s arm and sit quietly without speaking.
d. Distract the patient by offering a sip of water.
ANS: C
Use of empathetic touch is a message of comfort. The other options do not address the
patient’s distress relative to unrelieved pain.
PTS: 1 DIF: 8 REF: p. 100 OBJ: 3
TOP: Silence KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Basic Care and Comfort NOT:
Analyzing
2. The nurse is entering the room of a new 85-year-old female patient to complete the
admission process. How should the nurse initiate the conversation?
a. “Good morning, Maria. We need to get some questions answered.”
b. “Welcome to Unit 4B, Mrs. Martinez. I’d like to get some additional information
if I may.”
, c. “Hello, sweetie. I’ll bet you thought all the admission stuff was finished, didn’t
you?”
d. “I need to finish the admission. What is your name?”
ANS: B
Using a formal address is a respectful way to start a conversation with a new patient.
If the patient prefers to be called something else, he or she can inform the nurse of
that desire.
PTS: 1 DIF: 4 REF: p. 96 | p. 101 | Table 5.1
OBJ: 1 TOP: Respect KEY: Nursing Process Step:
Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity: Psychosocial Adaptation NOT:
Understanding
3. The nurse is informing a patient about an upcoming diagnostic procedure. Which
statement by the nurse would demonstrate effective communication?
a. “Mr. Patel, your leg is to be x-rayed in the x-ray department in an hour.”
b. “X-ray is coming to get you for an AP and lateral of your chest.”
c. “You can’t eat anything after supper because of some lab work.”
d. “Mrs. Nagahata, the OR has notified us that they’re running behind.”
ANS: A
Clear, concise information in words that the patient can understand is the most
effective method for providing information. Medical jargon should be avoided.
PTS: 1 DIF: 7 REF: p. 96 OBJ: 4
TOP: Informing KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Adaptation NOT: Applying
, 4. What is true of direct questions?
a. They can get a lot of information quickly.
b. They can help the patients organize their thoughts.
c. They get minimum response answers of “yes” and “no.”
d. They make patients think that they are contributing to their health care.
ANS: C
The diminished, overwhelmed patient will give minimal answers to direct questions if
the technique is overused. The technique is best used to obtain factual information.
PTS: 1 DIF: 3 REF: p. 104 OBJ: 4
TOP: Direct Questions KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity: Psychosocial Adaptation NOT:
Remembering
5. The patient denies smoking, although the smell of tobacco is strong in his hospital room.
Which statement by the nurse would be effective?
a. “Don’t bother to lie to me. I know you’ve been smoking.”
b. “It is very dangerous to smoke in bed.”
c. “The hospital has policies against smoking.”
d. “I can smell the tobacco, and I see your lighter on the bedside table.”
ANS: D
Identifying evidence in a non-accusatory manner establishes the point of discrepancy.
Belittling the patient or quoting policy is not effective.
PTS: 1 DIF: 7 REF: p. 105 OBJ: 4
TOP: Confrontation KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity: Coping and Adaptation NOT:
Applying
