The nurse caring for a patient who is concerned about her 10-pound weight loss relative to her chemotherapy tells the patient. "Lucky you! Every cloud has a silver lining." The nurse's statement is an example of which type of communication block?

Defensive response

Asking probing questions

Using clichés

Changing the subject

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

A. Defensive response
A defensive response would involve protecting oneself or one's position rather than addressing the patient’s concerns. The nurse’s statement here is more dismissive than defensive.

B. Asking probing questions
Probing questions would involve persistent questioning, which does not apply here, as the nurse is not asking questions but making a dismissive comment.

C. Using clichés
"Every cloud has a silver lining" is a cliché, which may come across as dismissive and minimize the patient’s concerns. Using clichés can make the patient feel unheard and invalidated.

D. Changing the subject

Changing the subject would involve diverting attention to an unrelated topic. The nurse here is not introducing a new topic but is using a cliché instead.

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A. "I don't feel like walking today either."
This response shifts the focus from the patient to the nurse and does not encourage further discussion about the patient's reluctance or explore the reasons behind it.

B. "You have to walk today."
This statement sounds forceful and dismissive, and may make the patient feel pressured rather than supported. It does not invite dialogue or provide understanding.

C. "Why don't you want to walk today?"
This question can sound judgmental and may put the patient on the defensive. A more neutral response would help the nurse understand the patient's reluctance without pressure.

D. "You don't want to walk today?"
This response reflects the patient's own words back, validating their feelings and opening up the opportunity for the patient to explain their reasons. It is empathetic and nonjudgmental, which encourages therapeutic communication.

A. write down remarks on a clipboard to facilitate later topics of conversation. B. make a conscious effort to block out other sounds in the immediate environment. C. maintain eye contact by staring at the patient. D. prompt the patient when the patient stops talking for a moment.

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A. Write down remarks on a clipboard to facilitate later topics of conversation.
Writing down remarks could distract from active listening and might make the patient feel as though the nurse isn’t fully engaged in the conversation.

B. Make a conscious effort to block out other sounds in the immediate environment.
Active listening requires focusing on the speaker by minimizing distractions, allowing the nurse to be fully attentive to the patient.

C. Maintain eye contact by staring at the patient.
Active listening involves natural eye contact, not staring, as staring can be intimidating and may cause discomfort for the patient.

D. Prompt the patient when the patient stops talking for a moment.
Giving the patient time to think and process without prompting respects their pace and encourages them to share more when ready.

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The nurse caring for a patient who is concerned about her 10-pound weight loss relative to her chemotherapy tells the patient. "Lucky you! Every cloud has a silver lining." The nurse's statement is an example of which type of communication block?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

When a patient states, "I don't feel like walking today," the nurse's most therapeutic verbal response would be:

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

To convey the intervention of active listening, the nurse would:

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

When interacting with an older adult patient, the nurse would enhance communication by:

If an agency is using computer-assisted charting, the nurse is responsible for:

When a nurse is "talking through" a procedure or assisting the patient to learn, the nurse encourages the patient to:

The practical nursing student who is engaged in a therapeutic communication with a patient will have the most difficulty with the technique of:

The nurse will plan to offer the patient education session in a quiet area in order to:

A patient who is very angry and is leaving the hospital against medical advice (AMA) demands to have the medical record to take, because it is her personal property. An appropriate response would be:

The nurse is alert to avoid using blocks to effective communication that include: (Select all that apply.)

The nurse recognizes the patient who demonstrates communication congruency when the patient