Nurs Final Exam Ch 8

Chapter 8: Being Empathetic Multiple Choice 7. The nurse cares for a patient with a terminal illness. Which way would be the most therapeutic for the nurse to communicate with this patient? a. Use an honest, judgmental attitude. b. Demonstrate understanding with empathy. c. Acknowledge hope by expressions of sympathy. d. Consistently evaluate the patient’s feelings. ANS: B Empathy is feeling with a deep understanding and awareness of the client’s experiences. The nurse should develop a nonjudgmental attitude. Evaluation of feelings does not convey understanding or empathy. Sympathy focuses on the nurse and not the patient’s feelings 8. One study of Italian primary care physicians caring for diabetic patients showed that those scoring highest on the empathy test had patients with: a. Significantly fewer acute diabetic complications b. Statistically fewer acute diabetic complications c. Higher rates of chronic diabetic complications d. Statistically higher poor outcomes for patients with diabetes ANS: A The Cleveland Clinic convened its fifth Annual Patient Experience: Empathy and Innovation Summit in 2014. Two videos showcased there are referenced in Exercise 1 in this chapter. Empathy research is demonstrating a correlation between empathy and healthcare outcomes (Riess and Reinero, 2014). In a study of 242 Italian primary care physicians caring for a total of 20,961 diabetic patients, patients of physicians scoring highest on an empathy test had significantly fewer acute diabetic complications (Bloomfield, 2013). 9. The nurse cares for the mother of a child who died in the emergency room as a result of an accidental poisoning. Which response by the nurse is appropriate? a. Place a greater emphasis on nonverbal aspects of empathy over verbal. b. Accurately reflect on the mother’s feelings to convey understanding and concern. c. Repeat exact phrases stated by the mother to aid in expressions of grief. d. Reflect on the expressed feelings of the mother but with the nurse’s own words. ANS: D The nurse conveys empathy by offering a verbal reflection that is accurate and specific but is delivered in the words of the nurse not the patient. Nonverbal features of empathy are just as important as verbal aspects. It is unrealistic for the nurse to expect to completely know and understand the mother’s feelings. Empathy does not mean repeating verbatim what others have said; this method may lead to irritation and lessen understanding. 10. The nurse cares for a patient who becomes confused and a vest restraint is applied. The nurse should take which action when notifying the patient’s family? a. Avoid discussing the treatment plan to reduce anxiety and worry. b. Ask another nurse who has rapport with the family to be present. c. Use medical terms to demonstrate competence. d. Assume that the family wants a detailed explanation. ANS: B Rapport should be established before bad news is shared with the family; if rapport has not been developed, the nurse may ask team members who have established rapport with the family to be present. The nurse should use language that the family will understand. Find out how much detail the family wants to know. Explain the treatment plan to the family. 11. In which situation(s) would it be appropriate for the nurse to communicate with empathy? (Select all that apply) a. An acquaintance who seeks a long-standing social relationship that is superficial. b. A patient who is anxious about a change in body image after a mastectomy. c. A supervisor who is searching for approval and recognition from staff. d. A colleague who expected a promotion but was not awarded the promotion. e. A client who has been alienated from family because of sexual orientation. ANS: B, D, E It is appropriate to communicate with empathy when clients or colleagues are hurting, confused, troubled, anxious, alienated, terrified, doubtful of self-worth, or uncertain as to identity. The nurse should be cautious if the relationship involves a person in power such as an employer or superficial or romantic relationships. 12. A young mother who fractured her leg is sobbing with her face hidden behind her hands. She says to the nurse,