CBN Communication & Stakeholder Engagement 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A bariatric nurse overhears a colleague make a joke about a patient's weight in the hallway. What is the nurse's most appropriate first action?
- Privately address the colleague, explaining the impact of weight bias on patient care (Correct answer)
- Report the colleague directly to the state board of nursing
- Ignore the comment since the patient did not hear it
- Bring the comment up publicly at the next staff meeting
Correct answer: Privately address the colleague, explaining the impact of weight bias on patient care
Addressing weight bias directly and privately with the colleague is the professional first step in advocating for a stigma-free environment.
Question 2: During a support group session, one member dominates the discussion and interrupts others sharing their post-surgery struggles. As facilitator, the bariatric nurse should:
- Acknowledge the member's input, then redirect the discussion to invite other participants to share (Correct answer)
- Ask the dominating member to leave the group
- End the session early to avoid conflict
- Allow the member to continue since participation is voluntary
Correct answer: Acknowledge the member's input, then redirect the discussion to invite other participants to share
Skilled group facilitation balances acknowledgment of active members with redirection so all participants can benefit.
Question 3: A bariatric program is experiencing low attendance at preoperative education classes. Which strategy best engages stakeholders to address the problem?
- Survey patients about barriers and involve the interdisciplinary team in redesigning class delivery (Correct answer)
- Make class attendance mandatory with no exceptions
- Cancel the classes and switch entirely to printed materials
- Reduce class content so sessions are shorter
Correct answer: Survey patients about barriers and involve the interdisciplinary team in redesigning class delivery
Gathering stakeholder input and collaborating across the team addresses root causes rather than imposing top-down fixes.
Question 4: A postoperative patient calls the bariatric clinic angry that their insurance denied coverage for follow-up nutritional counseling. What is the nurse's best response?
- Listen to the patient's concerns, then connect them with the program's insurance coordinator or resources for appeal (Correct answer)
- Explain that insurance issues are outside the nurse's scope and end the call
- Advise the patient to skip counseling since it is optional
- Tell the patient to call the insurance company and hang up
Correct answer: Listen to the patient's concerns, then connect them with the program's insurance coordinator or resources for appeal
Active listening followed by connecting the patient to appropriate resources demonstrates advocacy and stakeholder coordination.
Question 5: When teaching an adolescent bariatric surgery candidate, which communication approach is most developmentally appropriate?
- Involve the adolescent directly in discussions while including caregivers, using clear language and confidential time alone (Correct answer)
- Direct all teaching to the parents since they give consent
- Use the same materials designed for adult patients without modification
- Communicate primarily through written materials to avoid embarrassment
Correct answer: Involve the adolescent directly in discussions while including caregivers, using clear language and confidential time alone
Adolescents need direct, developmentally appropriate involvement plus private time, with caregivers included as partners.
Question 6: The bariatric nurse notices a patient nodding during teaching but avoiding eye contact and asking no questions. The most appropriate interpretation and action is:
- Nodding may not indicate understanding; pause and use open-ended questions or teach-back to assess comprehension (Correct answer)
- The patient understands and teaching can proceed as planned
- The patient is being rude and should be redirected
- The patient needs written materials instead of verbal teaching
Correct answer: Nodding may not indicate understanding; pause and use open-ended questions or teach-back to assess comprehension
Nonverbal cues like nodding can mask confusion or cultural norms, so comprehension must be actively verified.
Question 7: A bariatric coordinator must present program outcomes to hospital administrators to secure continued funding. Which communication approach is most effective?
- Present concise data on outcomes, complication rates, and financial impact aligned with the administrators' priorities (Correct answer)
- Share detailed individual patient success stories only
- Send a lengthy clinical report by email without a meeting
- Focus the presentation on nursing workload complaints
Correct answer: Present concise data on outcomes, complication rates, and financial impact aligned with the administrators' priorities
Tailoring the message to the audience's priorities with concise outcome and financial data is key to effective stakeholder communication.
CBN Communication & Stakeholder Engagement 3
A bariatric nurse overhears a colleague make a joke about a patient's weight in the hallway.
What is the nurse's most appropriate first action?