Communication With Healthcare Teams Flashcards

A patient who speaks limited English needs to discuss care preferences. The best resource is:

Answer: A certified medical interpreter or interpretation service

Certified medical interpreters ensure accurate clinical communication and protect patient rights under language access regulations.

Which behavior demonstrates respectful team communication?

Answer: Raising concerns privately and constructively with the team member or supervisor

Addressing concerns privately preserves dignity, maintains team trust, and promotes a culture of safety.

You notice that a patient's call light has been on for 15 minutes without response. You should:

Answer: Answer the call light yourself and alert the nurse if needed

Responding promptly and notifying the nurse when appropriate ensures patients receive timely attention.

Which of the following is an example of a CUS statement used in healthcare team communication?

Answer: 'I am Concerned that this patient's breathing has changed.'

CUS statements ('I am Concerned,' 'I am Uncomfortable,' 'This is a Safety issue') are assertive communication tools used to escalate urgent concerns.

When receiving a task from two supervisors with conflicting instructions, you should:

Answer: Inform both supervisors of the conflict and clarify which task takes priority

Surfacing the conflict to both supervisors ensures the right priority is established through proper authority rather than individual judgment.

A patient refuses care and asks you to leave the room. Your appropriate response is to:

Answer: Respect the refusal, leave, and immediately report it to the nurse

Patients have the right to refuse care, and the nurse must be notified immediately so they can assess the situation and document accordingly.

Which action supports effective interdisciplinary team communication?

Answer: Reporting both improvements and declines in patient status accurately

Accurate and complete reporting of both positive and negative changes enables all team members to make well-informed care decisions.