The nurse is performing discharge teaching for a patient who has had major abdominal surgery.
Which statement or question by the nurse would be appropriate?

Choice A rationale:

Extension refers to the straightening of a joint and is the opposite of flexion. It is not the correct term for the described hand movement.

Choice B rationale:

Abduction is the movement of a body part away from the midline of the body. It does not describe the specific movement of the patient's hand toward the inner aspect of the forearm.

Choice C rationale:

Flexion is the bending of a joint, decreasing the angle between two body parts. When the nurse moves the patient's hand toward the inner aspect of the forearm, it is a flexion movement of the wrist.

Choice D rationale:

Adduction is the movement of a body part toward the midline of the body. It is not the correct term for the described hand movement.

Choice A rationale:

"I'm sorry, I didn't hear what you said about your job. Please tell me again.”. This response demonstrates active listening and empathy. It acknowledges the patient's feelings and encourages them to share their concerns, promoting therapeutic communication. By asking the patient to repeat what they said, the nurse shows genuine interest in understanding the patient's emotions and concerns, fostering trust and rapport.

Choice B rationale:

"Why are you crying so hard about your job? What happened to your job?" This response, while well-intentioned, may come across as intrusive and judgmental. It does not encourage open communication and may make the patient feel defensive, hindering the nurse-patient relationship.

Choice C rationale:

"It's natural to be worried about your job. We all worry about our jobs sometimes.”. While this response acknowledges the patient's feelings, it does not address the specific concern the patient mentioned. It generalizes the situation and does not invite the patient to share more about their feelings, missing an opportunity for deeper communication and understanding.

Choice D rationale:

"Your job must be important to you since you are talking about it.”. This response makes an assumption about the importance of the patient's job without allowing the patient to express their feelings. It does not demonstrate active listening or empathy and may not encourage the patient to open up further about their concerns.