PCT Communication Skills 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is an example of nonverbal communication?
- Asking the patient how they feel
- Maintaining eye contact while listening (Correct answer)
- Writing a note to the nurse
- Calling the physician for an update
Correct answer: Maintaining eye contact while listening
Nonverbal communication includes eye contact, facial expressions, body language, and gestures.
Question 2: A patient who speaks limited English needs instructions for a procedure. The BEST action is to:
- Speak louder and repeat the instructions multiple times
- Use a qualified medical interpreter or translation service (Correct answer)
- Ask the patient's adult family member to translate
- Use complex medical terms since they are universal
Correct answer: Use a qualified medical interpreter or translation service
Professional medical interpreters ensure accurate translation without breaching confidentiality or introducing errors.
Question 3: The SBAR communication tool stands for:
- Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation (Correct answer)
- Safety, Benefits, Assessment, Risk
- Situation, Background, Action, Result
- Summary, Background, Assessment, Review
Correct answer: Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation
SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) is a structured communication framework used in healthcare handoffs.
Question 4: During patient care, a PCT uses open-ended questions primarily to:
- Get a simple yes or no response quickly
- Encourage the patient to provide more detailed information (Correct answer)
- Speed up the assessment process
- Limit the patient's ability to complain
Correct answer: Encourage the patient to provide more detailed information
Open-ended questions prompt patients to elaborate, giving more complete information than closed yes/no questions.
Question 5: You observe a colleague speaking rudely to an elderly patient. You should:
- Say nothing to avoid conflict with your coworker
- Intervene professionally and report the behavior to the supervisor (Correct answer)
- Record the interaction on your personal phone as evidence
- Tell the patient not to take it personally
Correct answer: Intervene professionally and report the behavior to the supervisor
Protecting patient dignity is everyone's responsibility; rude behavior must be addressed and reported.
Question 6: When a patient appears to be in pain but does not verbalize it, the PCT should:
- Assume the patient is comfortable since they said nothing
- Observe nonverbal cues and report findings to the nurse (Correct answer)
- Administer pain medication based on your assessment
- Wait for the patient to ring the call bell
Correct answer: Observe nonverbal cues and report findings to the nurse
Nonverbal cues such as grimacing or guarding are valid indicators of pain that must be reported to the nurse.
Question 7: Maintaining patient confidentiality means a PCT should NEVER:
- Discuss patient care with the treating nurse
- Share patient information with unauthorized individuals (Correct answer)
- Document observations in the medical record
- Report changes in patient condition to the charge nurse
Correct answer: Share patient information with unauthorized individuals
HIPAA requires that patient information only be shared with those directly involved in their care.
PCT Communication Skills 3
Which of the following is an example of nonverbal communication?