During a family meeting, a nurse notices that the client's spouse appears anxious and quiet. What should the nurse do to demonstrate empathy towards the spouse?

A. Stage II: Stage II pressure injuries involve partial-thickness skin loss with exposed dermis. The injury may present as a blister, shallow ulcer, or abrasion. Since the skin in this case is intact, it does not meet Stage II criteria.

B. Stage IV: Stage IV pressure injuries are full-thickness tissue losses with exposed bone, tendon, or muscle. This severe stage is accompanied by extensive tissue damage, which is not present in this scenario.

C. Stage III: Stage III injuries involve full-thickness skin loss with damage or necrosis of subcutaneous tissue. The injury may extend down to, but not through, underlying fascia. The intact skin observed here does not qualify as Stage III.

D. Stage I: Stage I pressure injuries are characterized by non-blanchable erythema of intact skin, usually over a bony prominence. This is the earliest stage and indicates localized tissue damage without loss of skin integrity, matching the scenario described.

A. Interrupt the client to slow them down: Interrupting can hinder communication, increase anxiety, and reduce the client’s willingness to share important information. Active listening requires patience and presence.

B. Start planning the next question to ask: Focusing on the next question distracts the nurse from fully hearing and understanding the client’s current concerns. Active listening emphasizes attention to the client’s words, emotions, and cues in the moment.

C. Use non-verbal cues like nodding and maintain eye contact: Non-verbal behaviors such as nodding, leaning slightly forward, and maintaining eye contact demonstrate attentiveness and encourage the client to continue sharing. These cues help the nurse practice active listening and build rapport, especially when the client is anxious or speaking rapidly.

D. Ask the client to repeat everything slowly: While clarifying is sometimes necessary, asking the client to repeat themselves immediately may increase anxiety or frustration. Initial focus should be on attentive non-verbal listening to gather as much information as possible without interruption.