Therapeutic Communication Practice Questions
When the community health nurse visits a patient at home, the patient states, "I haven't slept the last couple of nights." Which response by the nurse illustrates a therapeutic communication response to this patient?
A. "I see." B. "Really?" C. "You're having difficulty sleeping?"* D. "Sometimes, I have trouble sleeping too."
Explain why you chose D as your answer.
In general, patients seek voluntary admission. If a patient seeks voluntary admission, the most likely expectations is the patient will participate in the treatment program since they are actively seeking help.
Explain why you chose A as your answer.
In general, patients seek, voluntary admission. Voluntary patients have the right to demand and obtain release. The nurse needs to be familiar with the state and facility policies and procedures. The best nursing action is to contact the HCP, who has the authority to discuss discharge with the patient.
Explain why you chose D as your answer.
Responding to the feelings expressed by a patient is an effective therapeutic communication technique. The correct option is an example of the use of restating.
Explain why you chose C as your answer.
Restating is a therapeutic communication technique in which the nurse repeats what the patient says to show understanding and to review what was said.
A patient diagnosed with terminal cancer says to the nurse "I'm going to die, and I wish my family would stop hoping for a cure! I get so angry when they carry on like this. After all, I'm the one who's dying." Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
A. "Have you shared your feelings with your family?" B. "I think we should talk more about your anger with your family." C. "You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope for you to be cured?"* D. "You are probably very depressed, which is understandable with such a diagnosis."
A patient with a diagnosis of major depression who has attempted suicide says to the nurse, "I should have died! I've always been a failure. Nothing ever goes right for me." Which response demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. "You have everything to live for." B. "Why do you see yourself as a failure?" C. "Feeling like this is all part of being depressed." D. "You've been feeling like a failure for a while?"*
A patient admitted voluntarily for the treatment of an anxiety disorder demands to be released from the hospital. Which action should the nurse take INITIALLY?
A. Contact the patient's health care provider (HCP).* B. Call the patient's family to arrange for transportations. C. Attempt to persuade the patient to stay for only a few more days. D. Tell the patient that leaving would likely result in an involuntary commitment.
On review of the patient's record, the nurse notes the admission was voluntary. Based on this information, the nurse anticipates which patient behavior?
A. Fearfulness regarding treatment measures. B. Anger and aggressiveness directed toward others. C. An understanding of the pathology and symptoms of the diagnosis. D. A willingness to participate in the planning of the care and treatment plan.*
The nurse is preparing a patient for the termination phase of the nurse-patient relationship. The nurse prepares to implement which nursing task that is MOST APPROPRIATE for this phase?
A. Planning short-term goals B. Making appropriate referrals* C. Developing realistic solutions D. Identifying expected outcomes
Explain why you chose C as your answer.
The correct option uses the therapeutic communication technique of restatement. Although restatement is a technique that has a prompting component to it, it repeats the patients major theme, which assists the nurse to obtain a more specific perception of the problem from the patient.
Explain why you chose B as your answer.
Tasks of the termination phase include evaluating patient performance, evaluating achievement of expected outcomes, evaluating future needs, making appropriate referrals and dealing with the common behaviors associated with termination.
