UNAR Effective Communication with Patients 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient with dementia becomes confused and calls out for their mother. The nursing assistant should:
- Firmly remind the patient that their mother is deceased
- Redirect the patient calmly and focus on their emotional need for comfort (Correct answer)
- Ignore the outburst and continue with the task
- Restrain the patient to prevent wandering
Correct answer: Redirect the patient calmly and focus on their emotional need for comfort
Redirecting and addressing the underlying emotional need is more effective and compassionate than correcting the reality of a patient with dementia.
Question 2: Which of the following is an example of a communication barrier in a healthcare setting?
- Using the call light system to reach staff
- Pain or discomfort that makes it hard for the patient to focus (Correct answer)
- Introducing yourself by name to each patient
- Asking if the patient has any questions
Correct answer: Pain or discomfort that makes it hard for the patient to focus
Physical discomfort like pain can significantly reduce a patient's ability to focus on and retain information, creating a major communication barrier.
Question 3: During morning care, a patient tells the nursing assistant they feel 'just awful.' The best response is:
- 'I'm sure you'll feel better soon.'
- 'Everyone here feels that way sometimes.'
- 'You said you feel awful — can you tell me more about that?' (Correct answer)
- 'You should try to be more positive.'
Correct answer: 'You said you feel awful — can you tell me more about that?'
Asking the patient to elaborate is a therapeutic technique that shows empathy and gathers important information that may need to be reported.
Question 4: Proxemics in patient communication refers to:
- The tone of voice used when speaking to patients
- The use of touch to comfort patients
- The management of personal space and physical distance during interaction (Correct answer)
- The speed at which information is delivered to patients
Correct answer: The management of personal space and physical distance during interaction
Proxemics is the study of personal space; maintaining appropriate distance respects patient boundaries and helps establish trust.
Question 5: A nursing assistant observes that a patient who normally talks a lot is unusually quiet today. The correct action is to:
- Respect the patient's silence and say nothing
- Report the change in behavior to the supervising nurse (Correct answer)
- Assume the patient is tired and leave them alone
- Ask other staff if they noticed the same thing before doing anything
Correct answer: Report the change in behavior to the supervising nurse
A change in a patient's communication pattern or mood is a reportable observation because it may indicate a change in physical or mental health status.
Question 6: Which statement best describes 'reflection' as a communication technique?
- Offering the patient advice based on your personal experience
- Repeating the patient's words or feelings back to them to show understanding (Correct answer)
- Looking in a mirror with the patient to assess appearance
- Summarizing the patient's entire medical history aloud
Correct answer: Repeating the patient's words or feelings back to them to show understanding
Reflection involves mirroring the patient's expressed thoughts or feelings to validate them and encourage further communication.
Question 7: When communicating with a visually impaired patient, the nursing assistant should:
- Always use hand signals rather than verbal instructions
- Announce yourself by name when entering and narrate actions before doing them (Correct answer)
- Speak louder than usual to compensate for their vision loss
- Avoid conversation since visual cues are unavailable
Correct answer: Announce yourself by name when entering and narrate actions before doing them
Announcing yourself and narrating actions helps visually impaired patients understand what is happening, reducing fear and promoting trust.
UNAR Effective Communication with Patients 3
A patient with dementia becomes confused and calls out for their mother.
The nursing assistant should: