Comprehensive NUR 114 Final Exam
Review Questions and Correct Answers
Abstract messages ✅unclear patterns of words that often contain figures of speech
that are difficult to interpret
Active listening ✅concentrating exclusively on what the client says, refraining from
other internal mental activities
Active observation ✅watching the speaker's nonverbal actions as he or she
communicates
Assertive communication ✅ability to express positive and negative ideas and feelings
in an open, honest, and direct way
Body language ✅a nonverbal form of communication: gestures, postures, movements,
and body positions
Circumstantiality ✅the use of extraneous words and long, tedious descriptions
Closed body positions ✅nonverbal behavior such as crossed legs and arms folded
over chest that indicate the listener may be failing to listen, may be defensive, or not
accepting
Communication ✅the processes that people use to exchange information
Concrete message ✅words that are as clear as possible when speaking to the client
so that the client can understand the message; concrete messages are important for
accurate information exchange
Congruent message ✅when communication content and processes agree
Content ✅verbal communication; the literal words that a person speaks
Cues (overt and covert) ✅verbal or nonverbal messages that signal key words or
issues for the client
Directive role ✅asking direct, yes/no questions and using problem-solving to help the
client develop new coping mechanisms to deal with present, here-and-now issues
,Distance zones ✅amount of physical space between people during communication; in
the United States, Canada, and many Eastern European nations, four distance zones
are generally observed: intimate zone, personal zone, social zone, and public zone
Eye contact ✅looking into the other person's eyes during communication
Incongruent message ✅when the communication content and process disagree
Intimate zone ✅space of 0 to 18 inches between people; the amount of space
comfortable for parents with young children, people who mutually desire personal
contact, or people whispering; invasion of this intimate zone by anyone else is
threatening and produces anxiety
Nondirective role ✅using broad openings and open-ended questions to collect
information and help the client to identify and discuss the topic of concern
Nonverbal communication ✅the behavior that accompanies verbal content, such as
body language, eye contact, facial expression, tone of voice, speed and hesitations in
speech, grunts and groans, and distance from the listener
Personal zone ✅space of 18 to 36 inches; a comfortable distance between family and
friends who are talking
Process ✅in communication, denotes all nonverbal messages that the speaker uses to
give meaning and context to the message
Proxemics ✅the study of distance zones between people during communication
Public zone ✅space of 12 to 25 feet; the acceptable distance between a speaker and
an audience, between small groups, and among others at informal functions
Social zone ✅a space of 4 to 12 feet, which is the distance acceptable for
communication in social, work, and business settings
Spirituality ✅a client's beliefs about life, health, illness, death, and one's relationship to
the universe; involves the essence of a person's being and his or her beliefs about the
meaning of life and the purpose for living
Therapeutic communication ✅an interpersonal interaction between the nurse and the
client during which the nurse focuses on the client's specific needs to promote an
effective exchange of information
Verbal communication ✅the words a person uses to speak to one or more listeners
,Acute stress disorder ✅diagnosis is appropriate when symptoms appear within the first
month after the trauma and do not persist longer than 4 weeks
Adaptive disclosure ✅combat-specific therapy for veterans with posttraumatic stress
disorder (PTSD); eight sessions designed to help identify unhelpful beliefs about the
trauma and find ways to move forward
Adjustment disorder ✅a group of symptoms, such as stress, feeling sad, or hopeless,
and physical symptoms that occur following a stressful life event; the reaction is
stronger than would be expected for the event that occurred
Depersonalization ✅feelings of being disconnected from himself or herself; the client
feels detached from his or her behavior
Derealization ✅client senses that events are not real, when, in fact, they are
Disinhibited social engagement disorder ✅an attachment disorder that consists of "a
pattern of behavior in which a child actively approaches and interacts with unfamiliar
adults."
Dissociation ✅a subconscious defense mechanism that helps a person protect his or
her emotional self from recognizing the full effects of some horrific or traumatic event by
allowing the mind to forget or remove itself from the painful situation or memory
Dissociative disorders ✅these disorders have the essential feature of a disruption in
the usually integrated functions of consciousness, memory, identity, or environmental
perception; they include amnesia, fugue, and dissociative identity disorder
Exposure therapy ✅involves exposing the target patient to the anxiety source or its
context without the intention to cause any danger. Doing so is thought to help them
overcome their anxiety or distress.
Grounding techniques ✅helpful to use with the client who is dissociating or
experiencing a flashback; grounding techniques remind the client that he or she is in the
present, as an adult, and is safe
Hyperarousal ✅symptoms that arise from high levels of anxiety, including insomnia,
irritability, anger outbursts, watchfulness, suspiciousness, and distrustfulness. Often
seen with PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) ✅a mental health condition that's triggered by a
terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include
flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the
event
, Reactive attachment disorder ✅Reactive attachment disorder is a rare but serious
condition in which an infant or young child doesn't establish healthy attachments with
parents or caregivers. Reactive attachment disorder may develop if the child's basic
needs for comfort, affection and nurturing aren't met and loving, caring, stable
attachments with others are not established.
Repressed memories ✅memories that are buried deeply in the subconscious mind or
repressed because they are too painful for the victim to acknowledge; often relate to
childhood abuse
Survivor ✅view of the client as a survivor of trauma or abuse rather than as a victim;
helps to refocus client's view of himself or herself as being strong enough to survive the
ordeal, which is a more empowering image than seeing oneself as a victim
Absolute dichotomous thinking ✅Tendency to view everything in polar categories, i.e.,
all or none, black or white
Arbitrary inference ✅Drawing a specific conclusion without sufficient evidence, i.e.,
jumping to (negative) conclusions
Specific Abstraction ✅Focusing on a single (often minor) detail while ignoring other,
more significant aspects of the experience, i.e., concentrating on one small (negative)
detail while discounting positive aspects
Overgeneralization ✅Forming conclusions based on too little or too narrow experience,
i.e., if one experience was negative, then all similar experiences will be negative
Magnification and minimization ✅Over- or undervaluing the significance of a particular
event, i.e., one small negative event is the end of the world or a positive experience is
totally discounted
Personalization ✅Tendency to self-reference external events without basis, i.e.,
believing that events are directly related to one's self, whether they are or not
Antisocial personality disorder ✅characterized by a pervasive pattern of disregard for
and violation of the rights of others and with the central characteristics of deceit and
manipulation
Avoidant personality disorder ✅characterized by a pervasive pattern of social
discomfort and reticence, low self-esteem, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation
Borderline personality disorder ✅pervasive and enduring pattern of unstable
interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affect; marked impulsivity; frequent self-
mutilation behavior
