The nurse is meeting a family for the first time for family therapy. The husband/father is an accountant and is skeptical of the idea that talking can be helpful. The wife/mother is a teacher who states she is not skillful in conflict resolution. The daughter, age 15, is rebellious and in academic trouble. The son, age 17, is conflicted about where to attend college. According to family systems therapy who would be most likely to be listed as the 'identified patient"?

Choice A Reason:

Authoritarian is incorrect. Authoritarian leadership is characterized by a leader who makes decisions unilaterally and expects strict compliance from group members.

Choice B Reason:

Autocratic is incorrect. Autocratic leadership is similar to authoritarian leadership, where the leader has centralized control, makes decisions without input from others, and expects obedience.

Choice C Reason:

Laissez-faire is correct. The leadership style demonstrated in this scenario is Laissez-faire. In a laissez-faire leadership style, the leader takes a hands-off approach and allows group members to have significant freedom in decision-making and behavior. The leader provides minimal guidance and only intervenes when asked or when absolutely necessary.

Choice D Reason:

Democratic is incorrect. Democratic leadership involves collaboration and shared decision-making among group members. The leader seeks input from the group and values the participation of all members in decision-making processes.

Choice A Reason:

To provide support for the patient is not appropriate. While providing support is important in therapeutic communication, the nurse's statement is more focused on bringing attention to an inconsistency rather than offering direct emotional support.

Choice B Reason:

To redirect the patient to an important idea is not appropriate. The nurse's statement is not aimed at redirecting the patient to a specific idea. Instead, it's about highlighting a potential incongruence between the patient's verbal and nonverbal expressions.

Choice C Reason:

To provide a suggestion for coping strategies is not appropriate. The nurse's statement is not directly offering suggestions for coping strategies. It is more focused on helping the patient recognize and explore the discrepancy in their expressed emotions.

Choice D Reasons:

To bring inconsistencies into awareness is appropriate. This therapeutic communication technique is aimed at helping the patient recognize and explore any inconsistencies between their verbal and nonverbal expressions. By pointing out the discrepancy between the patient's statement of feeling sad and the observed behavior of smiling, the nurse encourages the patient to reflect on and explore their emotions more deeply. This can contribute to increased self-awareness and a better understanding of the patient's emotional state.