NMC - Nursing Midwifery Council Communication and Documentation Questions and Answers

Question 1

A nurse making an entry in a patient's paper-based health record writes the wrong time. According to NMC guidance on record keeping, what is the correct procedure for amending this error?

Accepted Answer

Put a single, clear line through the incorrect time, write "error" alongside it with their signature and the current date, and then add the correct entry.

Answer

Use correction fluid to completely cover the incorrect time and write the correct information over it.

Answer

Scribble out the incorrect time to make it unreadable and write the correct time above it.

Answer

Tear the page out of the patient's record and start a new, correct entry on a fresh page.

Question 2

A midwife is caring for a woman in labour who speaks very little English. The woman's 14-year-old daughter is present and offers to translate complex clinical information. What is the most appropriate action for the midwife to take?

Accepted Answer

Politely decline the daughter's offer and request a professional, approved interpreter, even if it causes a minor delay.

Answer

Ask a colleague who speaks the same language to translate, regardless of their clinical role.

Answer

Accept the daughter's offer to translate as it is the quickest option available.

Answer

Use simple hand gestures and speak slowly and loudly to try and communicate directly.

Question 3

A newly qualified nurse receives a friend request on their personal social media account from a patient they are currently caring for. In line with NMC guidance, what is the nurse's most appropriate response?

Accepted Answer

Ignore or politely decline the request, maintaining clear professional boundaries.

Answer

Accept the request but change privacy settings to limit what the patient can see.

Answer

Accept the request to build rapport and make the patient feel more comfortable.

Answer

Report the patient to the ward manager for inappropriate contact.

Question 4

Which of the following is a core principle of good documentation in nursing and midwifery, as expected by the NMC?

Accepted Answer

Records should be factual, objective, and avoid the use of speculation or offensive jargon.

Answer

Entries should be written in pencil so that they can be easily amended later if needed.

Answer

Documentation should be completed in a single block at the end of the shift to ensure efficiency.

Answer

Personal opinions about a patient's choices should be included to provide a full picture.

Question 5

The SBAR tool is a structured method for communicating critical information. What does the 'A' in the SBAR acronym stand for?

Accepted Answer

Assessment

Answer

Admission

Answer

Action

Answer

Advice

Question 6

A patient makes a formal request to view their own health records. According to the Data Protection Act 2018, which statement best describes the nurse's role?

Accepted Answer

The nurse must advise the patient on the organisation's formal process for submitting a Subject Access Request (SAR).

Answer

The nurse can show the records immediately but must not allow the patient to have copies.

Answer

The nurse should explain that health records are the property of the NHS and cannot be viewed by patients.

Answer

The nurse must get verbal permission from the patient's consultant before allowing access.