Module 2: Therapeutic and Interpersonal Communication

True or False: In order to be effective, the feedback given by the sender to the receiver must be positive.

• True

• False

A patient is on a ventilator, unable to speak, and is communicating with others through the use of a whiteboard. Which of the following communication techniques is the patient using? Select all that apply.

• Verbal

• Nonverbal

• Electronic

• Written

Which of the following is an example of therapeutic communication?

• A patient confides in a nurse that they are upset about their dog passing away during their hospitalization. In order to recover better, the nurse tells the patient to get over it.

• A patient in the PACU (Post Anesthesia Care Unit) is on a clear liquid diet. The patient tells their nurse that they are hungry for a hamburger. The nurse responds with “tough luck, you can only have ice chips.”

• A pediatric patient is being monitored for seizures. She wants to disconnect her wires because they are making her feel itchy. The nurse responds with, “that’s not up to you to decide, you are going to have to deal with it.”

• A pediatric patient is on the cancer unit undergoing intense chemotherapy and cannot leave his room. The nurse notices that the patient is feeling down about this so they ask the patient if they can help with anything. He asks the nurse for toys to play with and the nurse provided them.

Which of the following responses are considered non-therapeutic communication? Select all that apply.

• Patient-focused

• Minimal cues- encourage self expression

• False reassurances

• Clarification

• Giving advice

Which of the following responses are considered therapeutic communication? Select all that apply.

• Requesting explanations

• Informing

• Summarizing

• Asking multiple questions

A nurse is conducting a patient interview and decides to use open-ended questions to encourage the patient to share more details. Which of the following is an example of an open-ended question?

• "Do you feel short of breath today?"

• "Are you having any pain right now?"

• "What symptoms have you been experiencing with your shortness of breath?"

• On a scale of 0 to 10 what would you rate your pain?

A nurse is gathering information from a patient using closed-ended questions. Which of the following would be an example of a closed-ended question?

• "Can you describe the pain you're feeling?"

• "How long have you been experiencing this pain?"

• “What symptoms are you experiencing?”

• “Are you in any pain right now?”

A nurse is using a laundry list technique during a patient interview to assess symptoms of anxiety. Which of the following is an example of a laundry list question?

• "Can you describe your anxiety symptoms?"

• "How often do you feel anxious during the day?"

• "Do you feel nervous, restless, or worried?"

• "When did you first start feeling anxious?"

True or false: The nurse should use the laundry list technique in all scenarios when communicating with their patient.

• True

• False

A nurse is conducting an assessment and decides to use observations to gather information about a patient's condition. Which of the following is an example of making an observation during the patient interview? Select all that apply.

• "You seem anxious. Can you tell me more about what you're feeling?"

• "How long have you been feeling this way?"

• “I noticed you are taking deep breaths. Are you having trouble breathing?”

• ”Are you experiencing any pain right now?”