Author Question: The nurse is caring for a patient with a fluid and electrolyte imbalance. She asks the certified ... (Read 124 times)

c0205847 · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

The nurse is caring for a patient with a fluid and electrolyte imbalance. She asks the certified nursing assistant (CNA) to obtain the intake and output.

Which of the following statements below best describes the most appropriate communication to the CNA in delegating this task?
a. Can you please place a sign on the door for room 3 and start obtaining his I&O?
b. Please record all food and fluid the patient takes in and the amount of all urine, stool, and emesis for the next 48 hours.
c. The patient is starting to have some problems so we'll have to watch his fluids.
d. What is the intake and output on the patient in room 3?

Question 2

The nurse caring for a patient with recurrent abdominal pain of unknown origin addresses the patient by name and puts her hand on her shoulder and offers reassuring words:

You'll be okay. Try not to think about things too much, if you can. How would you evaluate the nurse's verbal and nonverbal communication?
a. Words offer hope and consolation
b. Nurse's interaction is comforting
c. Response builds nursepatient trust
d. Message provides false reassurance

lkanara2 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

B
In addition to communicating directly with patients, professional nurses communicate with other nurses and healthcare team members to provide comprehensive and safe care to patients. Because professional nurse are accountable for appropriate delegation of activities, they must communicate effectively and clearly with all nursing assistive personnel (NAP), such as the certified nursing assistant (CNA). Communication must be clear, concise, accurate, and specific. In this item, the best communication demonstrated by the nurse is to delegate the task to the CNA for obtaining the I&O from the flowsheet for the past 24 hours. This is direct, clear, specific, and provides a time frame. The alternative responses do not provide enough direction and are vague and unclear.

Answer to Question 2

D
Although addressing the patient by her preferred name and using nonthreatening, therapeutic touch (light hand on the shoulder), all convey caring and comfort and contribute to a therapeutic and trusting nursepatient relationship, but the nurse telling the patient that everything will be fine is inappropriate when the situation is unknown. These well-meaning words are actually false reassurance, and can sabotage a trusting relationship. Such a response is uninformed, inaccurate, and may feel dismissiveeven condescendingto the patient and acts as a barrier to therapeutic communication.