Psych Chapter 6 Prep-U

A client is discussing the client's problems at the workplace. Which nonverbal cues would indicate that the nurse is attentive to the client? Select all that apply.

Leaning toward the client Maintaining eye contact with the client

When providing information about anorexia to a client, the nurse can ensure that the client can accurately comprehend the information by doing what?

Presenting the information using language and terms the client will understand

The nurse is assessing a client who was recently diagnosed with anxiety disorder. Which question asked by the nurse conveys a concrete message?

"At what time did you take the last dose of the antianxiety drugs?"

A nurse is assessing an elderly client with a cardiac disorder. Which statement given by the client conveys an abstract message? Choose the best answer.

"I don't really know how it all started. It just happened."

The client tells the nurse, "My mom is coming in to see me today," while sighing and looking out the window. The nurse states, "You don't seem very excited about the visit, is everything OK?" The client affirms. Using therapeutic communication, how should the nurse respond?

"I'm concerned that you are not excited about your mother's visit, We can talk if you want."

A psychiatric-mental health nurse has been off of work for the past 4 days, as per the normal work schedule on the unit. On the nurse's first day back, a longterm client says, "I haven't seen you around here since Thursday. How was your time off?" What is the nurse's most appropriate response?

"I've been off for the past four days. What have you done since I last saw you?"

The nurse has entered a client's room and observed that the client has removed the mattress from the bed and is closely scrutinizing the spaces in the bed frame. Which statement is most likely to elicit an explanation of the client's behavior?

"It looks like you're searching for something. Is that right?"

The nurse is caring for a client with cellulitis. The client responds, "I feel kind of 'blah'," after the nurse asks, "How do you feel?" After the client's reply, the nurse states, "Can you tell me what 'blah' feels like?" The client responds, "I don't have any energy, and I don't feel like doing anything." Using therapeutic communication, how should the nurse respond?

"Let's talk about infections, and how they heal."

A client on the psychiatric mental health unit has a care plan that includes a break for cigarettes every hour during the afternoon if the client follows the behavioral plan to attend the morning group on anger management. The client asks, "I couldn't get to my group this morning because I overslept. Can I just this one time go for a cigarette now?" Which response by the nurse is most therapeutic?

"No, Joe. Your plan says that you need to attend that group in order to have cigarette breaks."

When a novice psychiatric nurse shares with the nurse manager that talking about sexual abuse with clients is very uncomfortable, which would be the most effective response from the nurse manager?

"What specifically makes you uncomfortable?"

A nurse is seeing a client who has recently been discharged from the hospital for a suicide attempt. When asked about the quality of her relationship with her husband, the client becomes silent, diverts eye contact and says, "It's okay." What is the nurse's best response?

"What you are saying and how you say it does not seem to match."

Which statement by the nurse reflects the use of a therapeutic statement?

"You look upset. Would you like to talk about it?"

The therapeutic communication interaction is most comfortable when the nurse and the client are how far apart?

3 to 6 feet

A nurse needs to encourage a client who is Hispanic and has severe depression to express the client's feelings. What distance between the nurse and the client may help facilitate therapeutic communication?

3-6 feet

A client has recently been diagnosed with cancer. The client says, "What did I do wrong to get such a disease?" Which nonverbal processes, along with the client's statement, would convey a congruent message? Select all that apply.

A sad facial expression A fearful tone of voice

"Get the stuff from him" is an example of which type of message?

Abstract

Which form of messaging contain figures of speech that are difficult to interpret and can be a barrier to communication?

Abstract

The nurse is talking with the client and demonstrates concern for the way the client is feeling by using verbal affirmations and paraphrasing to show understanding. What communication techniques are being used by the nurse?

Active Listening

When interviewing a young adult Asian client who immigrated to the United States as a child, the nurse best addresses the impact that culture has on the client's perceptions and beliefs by doing what?

Assessing to what degree the client has embraced the American culture

A nurse engaged in an interaction with a client recognizes body space zones. Which would the nurse identify as the individual's personal zone?

Beginning at the boundary of the intimate zone and ending at the social zone

Which therapeutic communication technique is being utilized when the nurse asks the client, "Is there something you'd like to talk about?"

Broad Openings

Which includes the circumstances or parts that clarify the meaning of the content of the message?

Context

Which term is used to refer to signals that encourage effective communication?

Cue

A client is speaking to the nurse and expressing dissatisfaction about the care that was provided to the client during a hospital stay. The nurse tells the client, "This is the best hospital in the state. You could not expect better care anywhere else." Which type of communication does this indicate?

Defending

Which verbal cue refers to accents on words or phrases that highlight the subject or give insight on the topic?

Emphasis

When the nurse states, "Tell me more about that," the nurse is utilizing which communication technique?

Exploring

A nurse enters the room of a client who has been on the unit for several weeks. The client states, "I haven't seen you for a while. How were your days off?" What is the nurse's most appropriate response?

It's important to get a break from time to time. How have the last few days been for you?

Which zone is a distance that is comfortable between family and friends who are talking?

Personal

A client diagnosed with schizophrenia is hallucinating. Which communication technique may the nurse use to redirect the client?

Presenting reality

During a therapy session, the nurse asks the client, "Tell me more about your relationship with your parents." The nurse is using which therapeutic communication technique?

Probing

A psychiatric-mental health nurse is working to develop a therapeutic relationship with a client. When doing so, which element would the nurse integrate as critical to building this relationship?

Self-awareness

The nurse is talking with a married client just diagnosed with syphilis. The nurse talks with the client about disclosing the information to the spouse and/or any other sexual partners. The client cries and asks the nurse, "Have you ever had an affair?" The nurse states, "Yes, it usually doesn't turn out well." The nurse proceeds to answer other questions about the affair. By answering these personal questions the nurse is divulging what?

Self-disclosure

Which is often considered the most difficult yet most effective communication technique?

Silence

The nurse is working with a client from the Middle East. The nurse maintains a distance of approximately 13 feet from the client while talking. The client says that the client is uncomfortable when the nurse talks to the client from such a long distance. How should the nurse interpret this statement?

The client feels that the nurse is indifferent toward the client.

When engaged in therapeutic communication with a client who has a mental disorder, which is the most important for a nurse to keep in mind?

The client is the primary focus of the interaction.

The nurse is sitting behind a table while speaking to a client on the other side of the table. What is the most appropriate reason for this nurse's action?

The client may have difficulty maintaining spacial boundaries.

A psychiatric-mental health nurse has entered a client's room, made an introduction, and asked if the nurse and the client could speak for a few minutes. The clients states, "Yep. Glad to talk." However, the nurse observes that the client is looking at the floor and the client's arms and legs are crossed. How should the nurse best interpret this situation?

The client may be reluctant to dialogue despite the statement to the contrary

The nurse is caring for a client with severe depression. The client tells the nurse, "I really just want to sleep and not have to wake up." What may the nurse interpret from this covert cue?

The client may have suicidal ideations.

Which would be the least optimal environment for therapeutic communication for a client who has difficulty maintaining boundaries?

The client's room

During client assessment, the nurse asks the next question as soon as the client finishes answering the previous question. Which most likely explains why the nurse is interacting with the client this way?

The nurse may lack confidence in therapeutic communication.

Which question should be avoided because it may be perceived as criticism by the client?

Why?

A group of nursing students is role playing situations to practice using therapeutic communication techniques. What would the students identify as verbal communication?

emotion underlying the words

A nursing student is caring for a client who has been arrested for child abuse. The nurse is very curious about what the client must have done to get into so much trouble, so the nurse asks the client to tell the nurse about the various activities that got the client arrested. This is an example of:

excessive probing.

A nurse responds to a client's statement with silence based on the rationale that this technique is used primarily to:

permit the client to gather the client's thoughts.

A student nurse is preparing for a clinical placement in a psychiatric-mental health context. In order to best prepare to engage in therapeutic communication with clients, the student should:

reflect critically on the student's own life experiences, perspectives, and characteristics.

The nurse is caring for a client that is very confused. What intervention should be included with the nurses' non-communication with the client?

use of gentle touch during activities of daily living

The nurse manager is discussing cultural competence at a staff meeting and asks "What are essential behaviors to demonstrate cultural competence?" The staff nurse identifies which behaviors? Select all that apply.

valuing cultural beliefs bridging language barriers