Communication involves both active listening and body language working

Communication involves both active listening and body language working together. The nurse actively listens to the client and:

1. Sits facing the client
2. Keeps the arms and legs crossed
3. Leans back in the chair away from the client
4. Avoids eye contact as much as is physically possible

ANSWER

ANS: 1
Active listening means to be attentive to what the client is saying both verbally and nonverbally. A nonverbal skill to facilitate attentive listening is to sit facing the client. This posture gives the message that the nurse is there to listen and is interested in what the client is saying. For active listening, the arms and legs should be uncrossed. This posture suggests that the nurse is “open” to what the client says. For active listening, the nurse should lean toward the client. This posture conveys that the nurse is involved and interested in the interaction. For active listening, the nurse should establish and maintain intermittent eye contact. This conveys the nurse’s involvement in and willingness to listen to what the client is saying.