Verbal & Nonverbal Communication
Which of the following best demonstrates verbal communication in a healthcare setting?
A. Smiling at a patient
B. Writing vital signs on a chart
C. Speaking clearly and explaining a procedure
D. Maintaining eye contact
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Rationale: Verbal communication uses spoken words to convey meaning.
🧠 NCLEX Sequence: Assess → Communicate Clearly → Evaluate Understanding
Which behavior best demonstrates active listening?
A. Interrupting to give advice
B. Taking notes while ignoring eye contact
C. Nodding and maintaining eye contact
D. Talking while the patient is speaking
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Rationale: Active listening involves both verbal and nonverbal attention.
🧠 NCLEX Sequence: Assess → Attend to Speaker → Evaluate Understanding
Which of the following is a physical barrier to communication?
A. Fear
B. Noise
C. Language difference
D. Judgment
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Rationale: Physical barriers include environmental factors like noise and lighting.
🧠 NCLEX Sequence: Assess Environment → Identify Barrier → Modify
Which behavior best shows empathy?
A. Saying “I know exactly how you feel.”
B. Ignoring emotional statements
C. Saying “That sounds difficult, I understand why you feel that way.”
D. Changing the subject to something positive
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Rationale: Empathy validates patient emotions without judgment.
🧠 NCLEX Sequence: Assess Feelings → Reflect → Evaluate Emotional Comfort
Which of the following is an example of written communication in healthcare?
A. A nurse explaining a procedure
B. A doctor writing a patient report
C. A nurse smiling at a patient
D. A technician performing an EKG
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Rationale: Written documentation is a permanent, legal record of care.
🧠 NCLEX Sequence: Document → Verify → Evaluate Accuracy
A nurse stands with folded arms and avoids eye contact while talking to a patient. This is an example of:
A. Positive verbal communication
B. Negative nonverbal communication
C. Active listening
D. Empathetic behavior
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Rationale: Folding arms and avoiding eye contact sends a negative nonverbal message.
🧠 NCLEX Sequence: Assess → Analyze Nonverbal Cues → Modify Behavior
A patient says, “I’m scared about the test tomorrow.” Which response shows active listening?
A. “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine.”
B. “You’re scared about the test?”
C. “You shouldn’t be scared.”
D. “Let’s talk about something else.”
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Rationale: Restating feelings shows empathy and engagement.
🧠 NCLEX Sequence: Assess Feelings → Reflect → Evaluate Patient Response
A patient who speaks limited English may not understand instructions. The best action is to:
A. Speak louder
B. Use an interpreter
C. Use medical terms
D. Ask family to translate everything
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Rationale: Certified interpreters ensure accurate, confidential communication.
🧠 NCLEX Sequence: Assess → Plan → Implement Interpreter Services
Why is confidentiality essential in healthcare communication?
A. It saves time
B. It builds trust and follows legal standards
C. It helps avoid paperwork
D. It reduces empathy
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Rationale: Confidentiality maintains patient trust and legal compliance (HIPAA).
🧠 NCLEX Sequence: Assess → Implement Ethical Practice → Evaluate Trust
Why is spelling important in medical documentation?
A. It shows intelligence
B. It prevents medical errors
C. It saves time
D. It impresses supervisors
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Rationale: Misspellings can cause medication or procedure errors.
🧠 NCLEX Sequence: Document Carefully → Verify Accuracy → Evaluate Safety
Which statement shows that verbal and nonverbal messages are consistent?
A. “I care” while looking away
B. “I’m listening” while checking your phone
C. “You’re safe here” while maintaining eye contact
D. “Calm down” said with an angry tone
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Rationale: Matching words and body language increases trust.
🧠 NCLEX Sequence: Assess → Implement Therapeutic Communication → Evaluate
Which action interferes with active listening?
A. Avoiding distractions
B. Interrupting frequently
C. Nodding occasionally
D. Maintaining open posture
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Rationale: Interrupting prevents full understanding of the patient’s message.
🧠 NCLEX Sequence: Assess → Identify Barrier → Modify Behavior
Medical jargon can interfere with patient understanding because:
A. It sounds unprofessional
B. It uses technical language unfamiliar to patients
C. It is not allowed under HIPAA
D. It violates legal policy
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Rationale: Technical terms confuse patients; simple words promote clarity.
🧠 NCLEX Sequence: Assess → Simplify Message → Evaluate Comprehension
Which of the following is an example of professionalism?
A. Arguing with coworkers in front of patients
B. Using respectful language and active listening
C. Sharing patient details on social media
D. Using slang with patients
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Rationale: Professionalism involves respect, courtesy, and confidentiality.
🧠 NCLEX Sequence: Assess → Model Behavior → Evaluate Professional Impact
What does HIPAA protect?
A. Patient’s privacy and health information
B. Nurse’s license
C. Hospital’s reputation
D. Billing records only
✅ Correct Answer: A
💡 Rationale: HIPAA ensures confidentiality of patient data.
🧠 NCLEX Sequence: Assess Privacy Needs → Protect Information → Evaluate Compliance
What should a healthcare worker do to ensure effective verbal communication?
A. Speak fast to finish quickly
B. Use medical jargon to sound professional
C. Use clear, simple language
D. Focus only on documentation
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Rationale: Clear, simple language ensures patient understanding and safety.
🧠 NCLEX Sequence: Assess → Communicate → Evaluate Comprehension
What should a nurse do when a patient pauses while speaking?
A. Change the subject
B. Fill the silence quickly
C. Allow silence and wait patiently
D. Ignore the pause
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Rationale: Silence allows the patient to gather thoughts and express feelings.
🧠 NCLEX Sequence: Assess → Use Therapeutic Silence → Evaluate Response
A nurse communicates with a patient wearing a hearing aid. To improve understanding, the nurse should:
A. Speak quickly
B. Face the patient directly
C. Cover their mouth
D. Increase background noise
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Rationale: Facing the patient helps them read lips and interpret facial cues.
🧠 NCLEX Sequence: Assess → Implement Communication Strategy → Evaluate
To respect cultural diversity, healthcare workers should:
A. Ignore patient customs
B. Ask patients about their beliefs
C. Assume all patients have similar values
D. Only follow their own beliefs
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Rationale: Asking about beliefs promotes culturally competent care.
🧠 NCLEX Sequence: Assess → Plan Individualized Care → Evaluate Satisfaction
Why must documentation be accurate and timely?
A. It helps nurses finish early
B. It becomes part of the legal medical record
C. It improves social media updates
D. It prevents coworkers from seeing patient info
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Rationale: Accurate, timely charting ensures quality care and legal protection.
🧠 NCLEX Sequence: Assess → Document → Evaluate Continuity of Care
A patient looks anxious while nodding “yes” when the nurse asks if they understand the procedure. What should the nurse do next?
A. Assume understanding since the patient nodded
B. Continue explaining without questions
C. Ask the patient to explain the procedure in their own words
D. Ignore the nonverbal cue
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Rationale: Verifying understanding ensures that the verbal and nonverbal messages match.
🧠 NCLEX Sequence: Assess → Clarify Understanding → Evaluate Response
The nurse summarizes what the patient said at the end of the conversation. This communication technique is called:
A. Clarifying
B. Summarizing
C. Advising
D. Reassuring
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Rationale: Summarizing confirms mutual understanding and shows active listening.
🧠 NCLEX Sequence: Assess → Reflect Information → Evaluate Understanding
The nurse summarizes what the patient said at the end of the conversation. This communication technique is called:
A. Clarifying
B. Summarizing
C. Advising
D. Reassuring
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Rationale: Summarizing confirms mutual understanding and shows active listening.
🧠 NCLEX Sequence: Assess → Reflect Information → Evaluate Understanding
A nurse becomes frustrated with a demanding patient. What is the most professional response?
A. Complain to coworkers
B. Take a short break and return calmly
C. Raise voice to gain control
D. Ignore the patient’s requests
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Rationale: Self-control and professionalism maintain a caring, therapeutic environment.
🧠 NCLEX Sequence: Assess Emotional Response → Plan Coping → Evaluate Professional Conduct
A nurse makes an error while documenting on an electronic chart. What is the correct action?
A. Delete the entry completely
B. Use correction fluid
C. Follow facility policy to correct with a note or amendment
D. Ignore the mistake since it’s minor
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Rationale: Corrections must follow legal and facility procedures to maintain record integrity.
🧠 NCLEX Sequence: Assess → Correct per Policy → Evaluate Documentation Accuracy