Listening to Patient Dialogues Flashcards
7 cards from real CELBAN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Listening to Patient Dialogues flashcards as text
A nurse hears a patient with a new colostomy tell a chaplain: 'I feel like I'm not a whole person anymore — I can't imagine my wife still finding me attractive.' What type of need does this statement primarily reflect?
Answer: Psychosocial and body image concerns requiring therapeutic communication and possible referral to a stoma nurse specialist or counselor
Body image disturbance after ostomy surgery is a psychosocial concern; nurses should offer therapeutic support and involve stoma care nurses and counselors as appropriate.
During a medication teaching session, a patient says: 'My last pharmacist said this drug was dangerous, so I looked it up online and now I'm scared to take it.' What is the nurse's most effective first response?
Answer: Explore the specific concerns the patient read about and address them with accurate, evidence-based information
Acknowledging the patient's concern and addressing the specific information they found builds trust and supports informed medication adherence.
A nurse overhears two nurses at the station discussing a patient's HIV status by name in front of visitors in the hallway. What is the immediate concern?
Answer: This is a breach of patient confidentiality and privacy that must be addressed immediately
Discussing a patient's sensitive diagnosis by name in a public area violates confidentiality and must be stopped and addressed according to facility policy.
A patient with recent stroke says haltingly during a speech therapy session the nurse is observing: 'I... want... to... go... home.' The speech therapist responds by asking the patient to elaborate. What communication principle does this model?
Answer: Patient-centered listening — allowing the patient time and space to communicate despite difficulty
Giving the patient time to express themselves without finishing their sentences respects autonomy and supports therapeutic communication in aphasia.
During a home care assessment, a nurse notices a patient whisper to their spouse: 'Don't tell her about the falls — she'll want to put me in a home.' What risk does this withholding behavior create?
Answer: Unreported falls prevent the nurse from implementing fall prevention strategies, increasing injury risk
Concealing fall history deprives the care team of information needed to assess fall risk and implement safety measures, putting the patient in danger.
A nurse listens to a patient explain their pain to a resident physician: 'It's not really pain — it's more like pressure, right here, and it goes up into my jaw.' The resident documents 'patient denies pain.' What is the nursing concern?
Answer: The resident may have missed a potential cardiac symptom by interpreting 'not pain' too literally
Pressure radiating to the jaw is a classic anginal equivalent; the nurse must alert the team that the symptom requires cardiac evaluation regardless of the patient's word choice.
A nurse hears a patient tell an occupational therapist: 'I used to cook every day — it was my whole life. Now I can't even open a jar.' The patient's voice cracks. What does this exchange reveal?
Answer: The patient is experiencing grief over a loss of functional independence and identity, requiring emotional acknowledgment
Loss of a meaningful activity signals grief and a threat to identity, which should be acknowledged therapeutically before focusing on skill rebuilding.