Professional Etiquette and Communication 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 Professional Etiquette and Communication flashcards as text
A patient appears anxious before a procedure. Which therapeutic communication technique is MOST appropriate to use first?
Answer: Use open-ended questions to invite the patient to express concerns
Open-ended questions encourage patients to verbalize fears, allowing the nurse to address specific concerns rather than making empty reassurances.
When documenting a patient's report of pain, a nurse should record:
Answer: 'Patient states pain is 8/10, describes it as stabbing in the right lower abdomen'
Objective documentation uses the patient's own words and specific measurable details without interpretation or bias.
A colleague gives you a verbal medication order over the phone. What is the safest communication practice?
Answer: Read back the complete order to the prescriber for confirmation
Read-back verification is the standard safety protocol to confirm verbal and telephone orders and prevent medication errors.
During a shift handover, which information is MOST critical to communicate to the oncoming nurse?
Answer: Recent changes in the patient's condition and outstanding tasks
Handover must prioritize current status changes and pending actions to ensure continuity of safe care.
A patient uses medical jargon they clearly misunderstand, believing 'hypertension' means being overly nervous. How should the nurse respond?
Answer: Gently clarify the accurate meaning in plain language
Nurses must correct health literacy gaps respectfully using plain language to ensure informed consent and self-management.
When a patient refuses to take their prescribed medication, the nurse's first action should be to:
Answer: Explore the reason for refusal and provide relevant education
Exploring the reason for refusal respects patient autonomy and may reveal addressable misunderstandings or side-effect concerns.
Which statement BEST demonstrates active listening during a patient interview?
Answer: 'So what you're telling me is that the pain worsens after eating — is that correct?'
Paraphrasing and seeking confirmation shows the nurse has heard and understood the patient's specific message.