Documentation and Interprofessional Communication
Documentation and Interprofessional Communication ( 5 Questions)
A nurse is communicating with a client who has aphasia due to a stroke. Which strategy should the nurse use to facilitate effective communication with this client?
Speak loudly and slowly to the client. - This is an inappropriate strategy, as speaking loudly and slowly to the client may imply that they are hard of hearing or cognitively impaired, which can be insulting and demeaning. The nurse should speak clearly and at a normal volume and pace, unless there is evidence of hearing loss or cognitive impairment.
Use gestures and pictures to supplement verbal communication.
Rationale: The nurse should use gestures and pictures to supplement verbal communication, as this helps to convey meaning and clarify messages for clients who have difficulty understanding or producing speech due to aphasia. Gestures and pictures can also help to reduce frustration and anxiety for both parties.
Ask open-ended questions to elicit more information from the client. - This is an ineffective strategy, as asking open-ended questions may overwhelm or confuse clients who have difficulty expressing themselves due to aphasia. The nurse should ask simple, yes-or-no questions or offer choices that require minimal verbal responses from the client.
Finish the client's sentences when they have difficulty expressing themselves. - This is a disrespectful strategy, as finishing
the client's sentences may interrupt their thoughts or impose words that they do not intend to say. The nurse should allow adequate time for the client to communicate and encourage them to use alternative methods, such as writing or pointing, if needed.
Correct answer: B) Use gestures and pictures to supplement verbal communication.
Rationale: The nurse should use gestures and pictures to supplement verbal communication, as this helps to convey meaning and clarify messages for clients who have difficulty understanding or producing speech due to aphasia. Gestures and pictures can also help to reduce frustration and anxiety for both parties.
Incorrect options:
A) Speak loudly and slowly to the client. - This is an inappropriate strategy, as speaking loudly and slowly to the client may imply that they are hard of hearing or cognitively impaired, which can be insulting and demeaning. The nurse should speak clearly and at a normal volume and pace, unless there is evidence of hearing loss or cognitive impairment.
C) Ask open-ended questions to elicit more information from the client. - This is an ineffective strategy, as asking open-ended questions may overwhelm or confuse clients who have difficulty expressing themselves due to aphasia. The nurse should ask simple, yes-or-no questions or offer choices that require minimal verbal responses from the client.
D) Finish the client's sentences when they have difficulty expressing themselves. - This is a disrespectful strategy, as finishing
the client's sentences may interrupt their thoughts or impose words that they do not intend to say. The nurse should allow adequate time for the client to communicate and encourage them to use alternative methods, such as writing or pointing, if needed.