The nurse uses a variety of therapeutic communication skills when working with patients. Which of the following is a therapeutic goal that can be accomplished through the use of therapeutic communication?

Help the patient control emotional outbursts

Provide the patient with a plan of action

Assess the patient’s perception of a problem

Inform the patient of priority problems

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

Choice A reason: While therapeutic communication can help patients manage emotions, controlling outbursts is a secondary outcome, not a primary goal. It involves techniques like de-escalation, but the focus is on understanding the patient’s emotional state through active listening, not directly controlling behavior, making this choice less accurate.

Choice B reason: Providing a plan of action is a nursing intervention, not a primary goal of therapeutic communication. Communication aims to explore patient perspectives and build trust, not to deliver directives. Plans are developed after understanding the patient’s needs, making this choice incorrect.

Choice C reason: Assessing the patient’s perception of a problem is a key goal of therapeutic communication. Techniques like active listening and open-ended questions help nurses understand the patient’s subjective experience, identifying psychological issues and tailoring interventions, making this the correct choice for the goal described.

Choice D reason: Informing the patient of priority problems is an educational or directive action, not a primary goal of therapeutic communication. Communication focuses on exploring patient perspectives, not imposing nurse-identified priorities, which could disrupt trust and engagement, making this choice incorrect.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason: Withdrawn behavior and avoiding eye contact suggest ineffective coping, as the patient struggles to process missing a treatment. Psychiatric evaluation can assess underlying emotional distress, such as anxiety or depression, and provide targeted interventions, making this the correct choice for addressing the patient’s needs.

Choice B reason: Symptoms like withdrawal could suggest depression, but diagnosing major depressive disorder requires more criteria, such as persistent low mood or anhedonia, not evident here. Immediate intervention assumes severity not supported by the scenario, making this choice less accurate than a referral.

Choice C reason: Labeling the patient as noncompliant assumes intentional refusal, but the scenario suggests emotional distress, not deliberate nonadherence. Withdrawal and avoidance indicate psychological barriers, not noncompliance, making this choice incorrect for the described behavior.

Choice D reason: Normal grief involves stages like denial or sadness, but the scenario lacks evidence of a loss triggering grief. Withdrawal and avoidance suggest coping difficulties, not a clear grief process, making this choice incorrect for the patient’s presentation.

A. Maintaining limbs in a fixed position B. Repetitive, purposeless movements like rocking or pacing C. Rapid, involuntary muscle jerks or spasms D. Resistance to passive movement followed by a sudden release

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason: Waxy flexibility, seen in catatonia, involves patients maintaining limbs in fixed positions when placed there, reflecting basal ganglia and prefrontal cortex dysfunction. This passive rigidity is a hallmark of catatonic schizophrenia or mood disorders, making this the correct choice.

Choice B reason: Repetitive, purposeless movements like rocking are stereotypic behaviors, often in autism or anxiety disorders. These active movements differ from the passive, fixed posturing of waxy flexibility in catatonia, making this choice incorrect.

Choice C reason: Rapid, involuntary muscle jerks or spasms are extrapyramidal symptoms, often from antipsychotics affecting dopamine pathways. These are distinct from the sustained, passive limb positioning in waxy flexibility, making this choice incorrect for the described phenomenon.

Choice D reason: Resistance to passive movement followed by release describes cogwheel rigidity, seen in Parkinson’s disease, due to dopamine deficits. Waxy flexibility involves sustained positioning without resistance, making this choice incorrect for the catatonic feature described.

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The nurse uses a variety of therapeutic communication skills when working with patients. Which of the following is a therapeutic goal that can be accomplished through the use of therapeutic communication?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A patient missed a treatment option. Later, the patient appears withdrawn and avoids eye contact when discussing calling loved ones. Which is the best nursing action?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

What is waxy flexibility in psychiatric patients?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A patient is brought to the psychiatric unit by family members after expressing suicidal thoughts but refuses voluntary admission. The healthcare team proceeds with involuntary commitment. Which of the following statements best describes involuntary commitment?

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