PCT Communication Skills 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A confused patient keeps calling out for help but has no immediate clinical need. The BEST response is to:
- Ignore the patient since there is no medical emergency
- Approach calmly, reassure the patient, and notify the nurse of the behavior (Correct answer)
- Restrain the patient to prevent disruption to other patients
- Ask the patient to stop because other patients need rest
Correct answer: Approach calmly, reassure the patient, and notify the nurse of the behavior
Calm reassurance addresses the patient's distress while notifying the nurse ensures proper clinical evaluation.
Question 2: Which action demonstrates active listening during patient interaction?
- Finishing the patient's sentences to save time
- Nodding, maintaining eye contact, and summarizing what the patient said (Correct answer)
- Checking your phone while the patient talks
- Interrupting to ask about unrelated information
Correct answer: Nodding, maintaining eye contact, and summarizing what the patient said
Active listening involves giving full attention, using affirmative gestures, and reflecting back what was heard.
Question 3: When communicating with a pediatric patient, the PCT should:
- Use complex medical terminology to prepare them for healthcare
- Use simple, age-appropriate language and include the child's caregiver (Correct answer)
- Speak only with the parents and ignore the child
- Treat the child exactly like an adult patient
Correct answer: Use simple, age-appropriate language and include the child's caregiver
Age-appropriate language and caregiver inclusion reduce fear and improve cooperation in pediatric patients.
Question 4: A patient expresses a cultural or religious concern about a procedure. The PCT should:
- Explain that medical procedures override personal beliefs
- Listen respectfully and report the concern to the nurse or physician (Correct answer)
- Proceed with the procedure since the physician ordered it
- Tell the patient that all religions support the procedure
Correct answer: Listen respectfully and report the concern to the nurse or physician
Respecting cultural and religious beliefs is part of patient-centered care; concerns must be escalated to licensed staff.
Question 5: The purpose of 'read-back' or 'repeat-back' in verbal communication is to:
- Show the speaker that you were paying attention
- Verify the accuracy of information received verbally (Correct answer)
- Speed up the communication process between staff
- Replace the need for written documentation
Correct answer: Verify the accuracy of information received verbally
Read-back confirms that verbal information was received correctly and reduces the risk of errors.
Question 6: Which situation requires the PCT to IMMEDIATELY notify the nurse?
- The patient asks for an extra blanket
- The patient's speech suddenly becomes slurred and confused (Correct answer)
- The patient requests a menu change
- The patient asks when lunch will be served
Correct answer: The patient's speech suddenly becomes slurred and confused
Sudden slurred or confused speech may indicate a stroke or neurological emergency requiring immediate intervention.
Question 7: When a patient tells you they want to leave the hospital against medical advice (AMA), the PCT should:
- Try to physically prevent the patient from leaving
- Notify the nurse immediately and document the patient's statement (Correct answer)
- Call security to detain the patient
- Give the patient discharge paperwork without notifying anyone
Correct answer: Notify the nurse immediately and document the patient's statement
AMA situations require immediate nurse notification so the patient's rights are honored while clinical risks are addressed.
PCT Communication Skills 4
A confused patient keeps calling out for help but has no immediate clinical need.
The BEST response is to: