Chapter 08: Effective Communication

Chapter 08: Effective Communication

 

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

 

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

 

MULTIPLE CHOICE

 

1. The student learning about therapeutic communication techniques knows that the most important concept in the definition of communication is

a.	exchanging.
b.	messages.
c.	receiver.
d.	sender.

 

 

ANS:  A

The key word in the definition of communication is “exchanging,” which implies a giver and a receiver and an active process.

Messages or signals are ways that information is shared.

The receiver is the person who gets the message, but this linear process does not account for the dynamic nature of communication.

The sender is the person giving the message, but this linear process does not account for the dynamic nature of communication.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Remember            REF:   161

TOP:   Integrated Process: Communication and Documentation

MSC:  NCLEX Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

 

2. Why are communication theories that consider only a linear relationship between the sender and receiver of messages considered to be too simplistic?

a.	In relationships of unequal power, linear models do not work well.
b.	Linear pathways imply both sender and receiver actually participate.
c.	Linear models do not consider the dynamic interactions of multiple variables.
d.	There are often more than one sender and more than one receiver.

 

 

ANS:  C

Communication is a complex process that incorporates multiple variables, including relationships, past experiences, and personalities.

These linear models simplify a process that is very complex and makes static a process that is dynamic.

Linear models show communication flowing from a sender to a receiver; whether or not both are active participants is not part of the criteria of linear models, although active participation would create better communication.

There may be more than one sender and receiver in a communication exchange, but this would make the theory more, not less, complex.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Understand            REF:   161

TOP:   Integrated Process: Communication

MSC:  NCLEX Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

 

3. A nurse explains to a preceptor student that values clarification helps with intrapersonal communication because

a.	communication is enhanced when it occurs between people with similar values.
b.	it allows the nurse to separate his or her values from those of the patient.
c.	it helps the nurse avoid saying things that might offend or anger others.
d.	understanding values will help prevent communication misunderstandings.

 

 

ANS:  B

Engaging in values clarification allows the nurse to separate his or her values from those of the patient; this in turn allows the nurse to truly attend to what the patient is saying.

Communication may be more awkward when it is between people of vastly differing value systems, but this would make values clarification more useful and help ease communication tensions.

The purpose of values clarification is not to help avoid making offensive statements.

Clarity of the message is what will help avoid misunderstandings.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Analyze

TOP:   Integrated Process: Communication and Documentation

MSC:  NCLEX Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

 

4. A nurse usually avoids physical contact with patients, but when one is diagnosed with a terminal disease, the nurse wishes to hug the patient. This contradiction initially confuses the nurse, but a co-worker helps the nurse differentiate the two behavioral responses based on

a.	feelings of closeness to this patient.
b.	the context in which each occurred.
c.	therapeutic communication techniques.
d.	values that guided each situation.

 

 

ANS:  B

Context is the biggest influence on the interpretation of communication, and it means more than the place and time in which communication occurred. The nuances and shared meanings that occur in each situation give rise to individually constructed meanings. In the setting of a new terminal diagnosis, the nurse was aware of contextually driven communication needs and responded by wanting to hug the patient.

Nurses do become closer to some patients than to others, but this is a very narrow explanation.

Touch is part of therapeutic communication, but this is too narrow an explanation.

Values are part of all communication encounters, but this is too narrow to explain the appropriateness of the different responses.

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Analyze

TOP:   Integrated Process: Communication and Documentation

MSC:   NCLEX Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity