RN Nursing · Therapeutic Communication · Practice question
A nurse is discussing factors that influence communication with a group of newly licensed nurses. Which of the following information should the nurse include?
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Clients who have developmental deficits are less distracted by environmental noises than client who do not have these deficits.
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Nurses might focus on a client's physiological needs over psychosocial needs when communicating during care.
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Nurses caring for clients experiencing a highly emotional situation report that communication is rarely affected.
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Hearing loss is considered a development factor that has minimal effect on nurse-client communication.
Answer & explanation
Correct: Nurses might focus on a client's physiological needs over psychosocial needs when communicating during care.
Communication between nurses and clients is influenced by multiple factors, including the nurse's own priorities and focus during care. When nurses are occupied with physiological tasks — such as IV management, wound care, or medication administration — they may unconsciously deprioritize a client's emotional or psychosocial needs, which is a well-recognized barrier to holistic, effective communication. This is an important concept for newly licensed nurses to understand so they can consciously balance both domains. The statement about clients with developmental deficits being less distracted by environmental noise is incorrect; these clients are often more, not less, sensitive to environmental stimuli. The claim that communication is rarely affected during highly emotional situations is also false — strong emotions such as fear, grief, or anxiety are major communication barriers for both client and nurse. Hearing loss is not classified as a developmental factor; it is a physiological or sensory factor, and it significantly affects nurse-client communication rather than having minimal effect. Understanding how the nurse's own focus can impede full communication is essential for developing person-centered care practices.
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