Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 79%
Practice
The nurse recognizes the patient who demonstrates communication congruency when the patient:
Correct answer
C
Rationale
Step 1: The patient is tearful and slow in speech when talking about her husband's death.
Step 2: Verbal message: Discussing husband's death, Nonverbal message: Tearful and slow speech.
Step 3: Verbal and nonverbal messages are congruent - sadness is reflected in both.
Step 4: This congruency indicates genuine emotions and honest communication.
Step 5: Therefore, choice C is correct as it demonstrates communication congruency.
Summary:
Choice A: Incongruent communication - smiling and laughing contradict feelings of loneliness and depression.
Choice B: Incongruent communication - hand-wringing and pacing contradict denial of being upset.
Choice D: Incongruent communication - stating comfort while frowning and teeth clenched contradict each other.
Step 2: Verbal message: Discussing husband's death, Nonverbal message: Tearful and slow speech.
Step 3: Verbal and nonverbal messages are congruent - sadness is reflected in both.
Step 4: This congruency indicates genuine emotions and honest communication.
Step 5: Therefore, choice C is correct as it demonstrates communication congruency.
Summary:
Choice A: Incongruent communication - smiling and laughing contradict feelings of loneliness and depression.
Choice B: Incongruent communication - hand-wringing and pacing contradict denial of being upset.
Choice D: Incongruent communication - stating comfort while frowning and teeth clenched contradict each other.