A client is admitted for a CAT scan (diagnostic test) of the cranium.

A client is admitted for a CAT scan (diagnostic test) of the cranium. As the nurse explains this diagnostic test, the client moves away from the nurse. This is an example of what influencing factor in communication?

1. Gender
2. Environment
3. Space and territoriality
4. Sociocultural background

ANSWER

ANS: 3
Territoriality is the need to gain, maintain, and defend one’s right to space. The client who moves away from the nurse during a conversation is demonstrating the influence of space and territori-ality on communication. This not an example of gender influencing communication. This is not an example of environment influencing communication. Noise, temperature extremes, distractions, and lack of privacy are examples of environmental factors that may influence communication. Although people do maintain varying distances between each other depending on their culture, this is not an example of sociocultural background influencing communication, as cultural orien-tation is not mentioned in this situation.