b.Description:c. Expectation:d.Consequence:11.List five common blocks to communication
and describe nursing’s role in overcoming
these obstacles.
a.b.c.d.e.APPLYING YOUR KNOWLEDGE
CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS
1.Write a general script for communicating with
patients beginning with, “Hello, my name
is.. .” to the end of the conversation. Make
your script specific to the needs of the follow-
ing patients:
a.A 4-year-old boy is admitted to the hospital
with multiple fractures following a car
accident.
b.A teenage girl is admitted to the burn unit
with third-degree burns following a fire in
her home.
c.A 29-year-old rape victim is brought to the
emergency room for treatment and testing.
d.A 60-year-old man with a history of strokes
is brought to the emergency room with left-
sided paralysis.
How competent and comfortable are you in
each situation? What skills do you need to
develop?2.Pick a partner and try to communicate the
following messages using only nonverbal
communication:
a.I’m thirsty.
b.I have a pain in my stomach.
c.It’s too hot in here.
d.I’d like you to read me a story.
e.I’d like to go home now.
f.Where is the bathroom?
g.Can I have another pain reliever?
h.I’d like to go to sleep now.
i.It’s too noisy in here.
j.I can’t fall asleep.
Reflect on the importance of nonverbal
communication.
3.Observe and interpret a patient’s nonverbal
communication, and then ask the patient if
your interpretation was correct; for example,
“You seem to be in a lot of pain; is that
correct?”
4.Ask a friend who has been a close confidant of
yours to rate you on the following attributes
that stimulate a healthy nurse–patient
relationship: warmth and friendliness,
openness, empathy, competence, and consid-
eration of patient variables. See if this evalua-
tion is consistent with your own feelings when
practicing patient care. Work on the areas on
which you had a lower score the next time
you are with patients.REFLECTIVE PRACTICE USING CRITICAL
THINKING SKILLS
Use the following expanded scenario from
Chapter 21 in your textbook to answer the
questions below.
Scenario:Mrs. Irwina Russellinski is a 75-year-
old woman transferred from the emergency
department, diagnosed with pneumonia.
Her chart reveals that she is hard of hearing,
“slightly confused” at times, and speaks “bro-
ken English.” Mrs. Russellinski has a daughter
living nearby who is listed as a contact person.
Mrs. Russellinski tells the nurse not to call her
daughter because “she is too busy with her
own family and shouldn’t have to bother
with a sick mother.” A nursing assessment is
needed.120 UNIT V ROLES BASIC TO NURSING CARE
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