CELBAN Listening to Patient Dialogues 2

Question 1

A nurse overhears a patient tell their family member: 'The doctor said something about my potassium being low, but I don't really understand what that means for me.' What is the patient expressing?

Accepted Answer

Confusion about the clinical significance of a lab result

Answer

The patient is indicating they received information but do not understand its implications, signaling a need for further education.

Question 2

During a handover, you hear the outgoing nurse say: 'Mrs. Patel in room 4 has been a bit short with staff all morning — she mentioned she didn't sleep at all.' What should the incoming nurse prioritize?

Accepted Answer

Assessing for pain, discomfort, or anxiety that may be causing sleeplessness and irritability

Answer

Sleep disturbance and irritability are often symptoms of an underlying issue such as pain or anxiety that warrants assessment.

Question 3

A patient says to you: 'I took my blood pressure pill this morning but I'm not sure I should have — I felt dizzy right after.' Which response best demonstrates active listening?

Accepted Answer

'Tell me more about the dizziness — when did it start and how long did it last?'

Answer

Open-ended follow-up that invites the patient to elaborate reflects active listening and gathers clinically relevant detail.

Question 4

While monitoring a shared room, a nurse hears one patient whisper to another: 'I heard the nurses say my test came back bad but nobody's told me officially yet.' What is the most appropriate nursing action?

Accepted Answer

Notify the responsible physician so the patient can receive a proper explanation

Answer

Results should be communicated by the responsible provider; the nurse's role is to escalate so the patient receives accurate, timely information.

Question 5

A patient's son says during a visit: 'My mother keeps saying her pain is a 3 out of 10, but she's clearly grimacing and barely moving. Should I be worried?' What does this dialogue indicate?

Accepted Answer

There may be a discrepancy between the patient's self-report and observable pain cues

Answer

When verbal self-report and non-verbal cues conflict, nurses must assess both and investigate possible reasons such as stoicism or fear of medication.

(CELBAN) Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for Nurses Practice Test

(CELBAN) Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment for Nurses Practice Test

CELBAN Listening to Patient Dialogues 2