Which therapeutic communication technique is most appropriate when a client mentions they feel misunderstood by their family?
State that it is normal to feel that way and proceed with standard assessment tasks
Request that the client elaborate after the assessment is completed
Provide advice based on the nurse's own experience
Validate their feelings by acknowledging their statement empathetically
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A reason: Stating that a feeling is "normal" can be perceived as belittling or dismissive of the client's unique emotional pain. This is a non-therapeutic technique called "false reassurance" or "minimizing." It effectively closes the door on further emotional disclosure and prioritizes tasks over the human connection required for holistic nursing.
Choice B reason: Requesting that the client wait until the assessment is over to speak about their feelings suggests that the nurse views the client's emotional state as an inconvenience or an interruption. This can damage rapport and may result in the client being less willing to share important psychosocial information later in the interview.
Choice C reason: Providing personal advice shifts the focus of the interaction from the client to the nurse. Therapeutic communication should always be patient-centered. Giving advice also assumes that the nurse knows what is best for the client, which undermines the client's autonomy and their own ability to problem-solve within their family dynamic.
Choice D reason: Validation is a powerful therapeutic tool that acknowledges the client's reality without necessarily agreeing with the family's actions. By using empathy, the nurse builds a bridge of trust. This technique encourages the client to continue sharing, which may reveal important details about their support system and mental health status.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Exclusively documenting verbal behavior provides an incomplete clinical picture. Nonverbal cues, such as affect (the outward expression of emotion), often provide more honest data than the patient's verbal reports. Ignoring these cues can lead to a missed diagnosis of depression, mania, or other psychological conditions where verbal and nonverbal signals conflict.
Choice B reason: Comprehensive psychiatric and physical assessment requires the documentation of both mood (the patient's internal emotional state as reported by them) and affect (the nurse's objective observation of the patient's emotional expression). Noting a discrepancy—such as a patient reporting deep sadness while laughing (incongruent affect)—is a critical diagnostic finding for mental health evaluation.
Choice C reason: Separating the documentation into different entries is inefficient and makes it difficult for other members of the healthcare team to see the relationship between the findings. To identify patterns of behavior, the mood, affect, and any observed incongruence should be documented together within the same narrative or flow sheet entry.
Choice D reason: Only describing the current affect ignores the patient's subjective experience (their mood). A nurse must assess the "whole" person. Without the context of the reported mood, an observation of affect alone is less meaningful. For example, a "flat affect" is significantly more concerning when the patient also reports feeling hopeless or suicidal.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Pediatric nursing requires a family-centered care approach. Ignoring a parent's anxiety can lead to a breakdown in trust and may negatively impact the child's care. Addressing parental concerns is essential for gathering accurate subjective data and ensuring the parent can effectively support the child's recovery process.
Choice B reason: Anxiety often stems from a lack of information or a perceived loss of control. Providing clear, evidence-based explanations helps demystify medical procedures and reduces the parent's autonomic nervous system arousal. A calm demeanor facilitates a therapeutic environment, allowing the parent to process information and participate in shared decision-making.
Choice C reason: Quick, "false" reassurances are non-therapeutic as they dismiss the parent's valid feelings. Effective communication requires active listening and presence. Moving on too quickly prevents the nurse from identifying specific stressors that may need intervention, potentially leading to increased parental distress and dissatisfaction with the healthcare team.
Choice D reason: The use of medical jargon or abbreviations can increase patient and family confusion, heightening anxiety levels. To ensure health literacy, the nurse must use plain language. Medical terminology acts as a barrier to understanding and prevents the parent from providing truly informed consent for the proposed care plan.
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