Forms of Communication - Communication and Relational Practice

Question 1

Conveyed verbally, nonverbally, concretely, and symbolically.

Answer 1

Messages

Question 2

Entails the use of spoken or written words.

Answer 2

Verbal communication

Question 3

___ language is a code that conveys specific meaning through a combination of words.

Answer 3

Verbal

Question 4

When a nurse cares for a patient who speaks another language, the services of an ___ may be necessary.

Answer 4

interpreter

Question 5

May sound like a foreign language to patients and should be used only with other IPC practitioners.

Answer 5

Medical jargon

Question 6

Children have more limited ___ than do adults and may use special words to describe bodily functions or a favourite blanket or toy. Teenagers often use words in unique ways that are unfamiliar to adults.

Answer 6

vocabularies

Question 7

The interpretation of a word’s meaning influenced by the thoughts, feelings, or ideas that people have about the word. Families who are told that a loved one is “in serious condition” may believe that death is near, but to the nurse serious may simply describe the nature of the condition.

Answer 7

Connotative meaning

Question 8

Messages are conveyed more successfully when sent at an appropriate speed or ___.

Answer 8

pace

Question 9

Improved by thinking before speaking and by developing awareness of the cadence of your speech.

Answer 9

Pacing

Question 10

Tone of voice.

Answer 10

Intonation

Question 11

Dramatically affects the meaning of a message.

Answer 11

Intonation (tone of voice)

Question 12

Depending on ___, even a simple question or statement can express enthusiasm, anger, concern, or indifference.

Answer 12

intonation

Question 13

To avoid sending unintended messages, be aware of your ___ of voice. For example, patients may interpret a nurse’s ___ of voice as condescending, and further communication may be inhibited.

Answer 13

tone

Question 14

This in a patient is relevant to communication and may provide information about his or her emotional state or energy level.

Answer 14

Tone of voice

Question 15

Effective communication that is simple, brief, and direct refers to:

Answer 15

clarity and brevity.

Question 16

Speaking slowly, enunciating clearly, and using examples to make explanations easier to understand.

Answer 16

Clarity

Question 17

Repeating important parts of a message also ___ communication.

Answer 17

clarifies

Question 18

Achieved by using short sentences and words that express an idea simply and directly. “Where is your pain?” is much better than “I would like you to describe for me the location of your discomfort.” Fewer words result in less confusion.

Answer 18

Brevity

Question 19

Phrases such as “you know” or “okay?” at the end of every sentence detract from ___, as well as professionalism.

Answer 19

clairty

Question 20

___ is critical in communication. Even though a message is clear, poor ___ can limit its effectiveness. For example, you should ___ begin routine teaching when a patient is in severe pain, is in emotional distress, or is distracted by pressing matters.

Answer 20

Timing / timing / not

Question 21

Often the best time for interaction is when a patient expresses an interest in communicating. If messages are ___ or important to the situation at hand, communication is more effective. For example, when a patient is facing emergency surgery, discussing the risks of smoking is ___ relevant than explaining preoperative procedures.

Answer 21

relevant

Question 22

___ communication makes use of all five senses and refers to transmission of messages that do not involve the spoken or written word.

Answer 22

Nonverbal

Question 23

Researchers have estimated that approximately 7% of meaning is transmitted by words, 38% by vocal cues, and 55% by ___ body cues.

Answer 23

nonverbal

Question 24

Serves to accent, complement, contradict, regulate, repeat, or substitute for verbal messages.

Answer 24

Nonverbal communication

Question 25

Unconsciously motivated and thus reflects a person’s intended meaning more accurately than spoken words.

Answer 25

Nonverbal communication

Question 26

When verbal and nonverbal communication are incongruous, the receiver usually “hears” the nonverbal message as the ___ message.

Answer 26

true

Question 27

All kinds of nonverbal communication are important, but interpreting them is often difficult. ___ background is a major influence on the meaning of nonverbal behaviour. Nonverbal messages between people of different cultures are easily misinterpreted. Because the interpretation of nonverbal behaviour is subjective, it is important to ___ its perceived meaning.

Answer 27

Sociocultural / check

Question 28

___ nonverbal messages is an important communication skill that is highly consequential to patient assessment and nursing care.

Answer 28

Assessing

Question 29

Includes physical characteristics, facial expression, manner of dress and grooming, and adornments.

Answer 29

Physical appearance

Question 30

These factors help communicate physical well-being, personality, social status, occupation, religion, culture, and self-concept.

Answer 30

Physical appearance

Question 31

Nurses learn to develop a general impression of patient health and emotional status through ___ and patients develop a general impression of the nurse’s professionalism and caring in the same way.

Answer 31

appearance

Question 32

Posture and ___ are forms of self-expression.

Answer 32

gait

Question 33

The ways that people ___, stand, and move reflect attitudes, emotions, self-concept, and health status. For example, an erect posture and a quick, purposeful gait communicate a sense of well-being and confidence. Leaning forward conveys ___. A slumped posture and a slow, shuffling gait may be indicative of depression, illness, discomfort, or fatigue.

Answer 33

sit / attention

Question 34

Convey emotions such as surprise, fear, anger, happiness, and sadness.

Answer 34

Facial expressions

Question 35

Some people have an expressionless face, or flat affect, which reveals ___ about what they are thinking or feeling.

Answer 35

little

Question 36

A facial expression that does not match the content of a verbal message—for example, smiling when describing a sad situation. People are sometimes unaware of the messages their expressions convey. For example, a nurse may frown in concentration while doing a procedure and the patient may interpret this as anger or disapproval.

Answer 36

Incongruent affect

Question 37

Although it is hard to control all facial expression, the nurse should try to ___ showing shock, disgust, dismay, or other distressing reactions in the patient’s presence.

Answer 37

avoid

Question 38

People signal readiness to communicate through ___ ___.

Answer 38

eye contact

Question 39

Among many European and American people, maintaining eye contact during conversation shows respect and willingness to ___.

Answer 39

listen

Question 40

Allows people to closely observe one another.

Answer 40

Eye contact

Question 41

Lack of ___ ___ may indicate anxiety, defensiveness, discomfort, or lack of confidence in communicating.

Answer 41

eye contact

Question 42

Among some Asian and Aboriginal people, ___ ___ may be considered intrusive, threatening, or harmful.

Answer 42

eye contact

Question 43

Eye ___ can also communicate feelings and emotions. Standing above a person (looking downward) conveys authority, whereas interacting at the same eye level indicates equality in the relationship. Rising to the same eye level as an angry person communicates self-assertion.

Answer 43

movements

Question 44

Emphasize, punctuate, and clarify the spoken word, and they may communicate volumes when speech is not possible.

Answer 44

Gestures

Question 45

Carry specific meanings and create messages (e.g. a finger pointed toward a person may communicate several meanings, but when accompanied by a frown and stern voice, it conveys an accusation or a threat whereas pointing to an area of pain may be more accurate than verbally describing the location).

Answer 45

Gestures

Question 46

Sighs, moans, groans, or sobs that communicate feelings and thoughts and when combined with other nonverbal communication, help send messages.

Answer 46

Sounds

Question 47

Sounds can be interpreted in several ways: ___ often suggests boredom or anxiety, ___ may convey pleasure or suffering, and ___ may communicate happiness, sadness, or anger.

As a nurse you need to ___ such nonverbal messages with the patient in order to interpret them accurately.

Simply ___ the sound, such as stating, “I hear you sighing so strongly,” can impart concern and listening to what is not spoken.

Answer 47

sighing / moaning / crying

validate

noticing

Question 48

The need to gain, maintain, and defend one’s right to their space.

Answer 48

Personal space

Question 49

Important because it provides people with a sense of identity, security, and control.

Answer 49

Personal space

Question 50

Can be distinguished and made visible to other people, as with a fence around a yard or a curtain around a bed in a hospital room.

Answer 50

Personal space

Question 51

Invisible and individual, connoting boundaries beyond the physical territory.

Answer 51

Personal space

Question 52

___ such as physical or emotional space can be defended just like another sort of fence or barrier. Some people choose when to open the gate of a fence, and others simply leave it wide open, taking whatever comes through.

Answer 52

Boundaries

Question 53

When it becomes threatened, people respond defensively and communicate less effectively.

Answer 53

personal space

Question 54

Before entering a patient’s personal space, it is essential that you prepare both your patient and the environment. By ___ to your patient what you will do and preparing the environment for nursing interventions, your patient will recognize a shift toward the establishment of therapeutic interaction. You need to convey confidence, gentleness, and respect for ___, especially when your actions will require intimate contact or involve a patient’s vulnerable zone.

Answer 54

explaining / privacy

Question 55

(0 to 45cm)

Holding a crying infant

Performing physical assessment

Bathing, grooming, dressing, feeding, and toileting a patient

Changing a patient’s dressing

Answer 55

Intimate zone

Question 56

(45cm - 1m)

Sitting at a patient’s bedside

Taking the patient’s health history

Teaching an individual patient

Exchanging information with health care staff at change of shift

Answer 56

Personal zone

Question 57

(1m - 4m)

Participating in patient-centred care rounds

Sitting at the head of a conference table

Teaching a class for patients with a specific disease

Conducting a family support group session

Answer 57

Social zone

Question 58

(4m and greater)

Speaking at a community forum

Testifying at a legislative hearing

Lecturing to a class of students

Answer 58

Public zone

Question 59

Assess for permission to touch.

Answer 59

Social zone

Question 60

Touching hands, arms, shoulders, and back.

Answer 60

Social zone

Question 61

Touching mouth, wrists, feet (consent needed).

Answer 61

Consent zone

Question 62

Touching face, neck, front of body (consent and special care needed).

Answer 62

Vulunerable

Question 63

Touching genitalia and rectum (consent and great sensitivity needed).

Answer 63

Intimate zone

Question 64

The verbal and nonverbal symbolism used to convey meaning. For exmaple, art and music are forms of this communication that nurses use to enhance understanding and promote healing.

Answer 64

Symbolic communication

Question 65

A broad term that refers to all factors that influence how a message is perceived by other people. It is communication about communication that reflects the relational aspects of messages and helps people better understand what has been communicated.

Answer 65

Metacommunication

Question 66

The nurse observes a young patient holding his body rigidly, and his voice is sharp as he says, “going to surgery is no big deal.” The nurse replies, “You say having surgery doesn’t bother you, but you look and sound tense. I’d like to help.” Awareness of the tone of the verbal response and the nonverbal behaviour may result in further exploration of the patient’s feelings and concerns.

This is an example of:

Answer 66

Metacommunication