UNAR Communication Skills 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When communicating with a resident who has Alzheimer's disease and is confused, you should:
- Argue to correct their misunderstanding of reality
- Use simple, short sentences and a calm tone (Correct answer)
- Ignore them until they are more lucid
- Speak quickly to keep them focused
Correct answer: Use simple, short sentences and a calm tone
Simple, short sentences and a calm tone reduce confusion and anxiety in residents with cognitive impairment.
Question 2: A resident from a different cultural background refuses direct eye contact during conversation. The nursing assistant should:
- Insist on eye contact to show respect
- Understand this may be a cultural norm and adjust accordingly (Correct answer)
- Report the behavior to the nurse as abnormal
- Assume the resident is being rude
Correct answer: Understand this may be a cultural norm and adjust accordingly
Eye contact norms vary by culture; what is respectful in one culture may be considered rude or disrespectful in another.
Question 3: A resident who speaks limited English is trying to communicate pain. The best first action is to:
- Assume they are exaggerating
- Use a pain scale with pictures and alert the nurse (Correct answer)
- Speak louder in English
- Skip the interaction and document 'no complaints'
Correct answer: Use a pain scale with pictures and alert the nurse
Visual tools like a picture-based pain scale can bridge language barriers; alerting the nurse ensures proper follow-up.
Question 4: When a resident with aphasia is attempting to communicate, the nursing assistant should:
- Complete their sentences quickly to save time
- Be patient, give extra time, and use yes/no questions (Correct answer)
- Assume they cannot understand you and stop trying
- Speak only to the family about the resident's needs
Correct answer: Be patient, give extra time, and use yes/no questions
Aphasia affects speech production or comprehension; patience, extra time, and simple yes/no questions support communication.
Question 5: Which action shows empathy when a resident is crying and upset?
- Telling them to cheer up because things could be worse
- Sitting beside them and saying 'I can see you're upset — I'm here.' (Correct answer)
- Leaving the room to give them privacy immediately
- Changing the subject to distract them
Correct answer: Sitting beside them and saying 'I can see you're upset — I'm here.'
Empathy involves acknowledging feelings and offering presence, which helps residents feel heard and supported.
Question 6: A resident repeatedly asks when their family is visiting. The nursing assistant should:
- Make up a time to calm them down
- Calmly provide the correct information or redirect gently (Correct answer)
- Reprimand them for asking too often
- Ignore the question after the second time
Correct answer: Calmly provide the correct information or redirect gently
Providing accurate information calmly or gentle redirection preserves trust and addresses the resident's underlying anxiety.
Question 7: Touch as a form of communication in care should be:
- Used freely without asking, as residents always welcome it
- Purposeful and respectful, with attention to the resident's reaction (Correct answer)
- Avoided entirely to prevent misunderstanding
- Only used during physical care tasks
Correct answer: Purposeful and respectful, with attention to the resident's reaction
Appropriate touch can be comforting, but it must be used with sensitivity to the resident's preferences and cultural background.
UNAR Communication Skills 3
When communicating with a resident who has Alzheimer's disease and is confused, you should: