Therapeutic Communication Quiz

A nurse is discussing family therapy with a client. Which of the following statements by the nurse is therapeutic?

"Family therapy can bring about change."

A nurse in a mental health clinic is beginning a counseling session with a client who is having difficulties in a personal relationship. The client states that she does not want to talk at all today. Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

"How about I just spend some time with you instead? We don't have to talk."

A nurse is planning to insert a nasogastric tube for a client after explaining the procedure. The client states, "You are not putting that hose down my throat." Which of the following statements should the nurse make?

"I can see that this is upsetting you."

A nurse is caring for a client who experienced a fetal loss. When initiating communication with this client, which of the following statements should the nurse make?

"I'm here for you if you would like to talk."

At the start of a counseling session with the nurse, the client states, "We're wasting time with these meetings. I can't trust anyone with what's really bothering me about things I've done." Which of the following responses should the nurse provide?

"Is it because you feel like no one would understand what you are experiencing?"

A nurse is caring for a client who attends family counseling with his partner and their children. The client tells the nurse that he will not attend any more sessions and states, "I don't have time for all that talking." Which of the following responses should the nurse provide?

"It must be difficult for you to talk about family problems."

A nurse in a long-term care facility is admitting a client who is incontinent and smells strongly of urine. His partner who has been caring for him at home, is embarrassed and apologizes for the smell. Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

"It must be difficult to care for someone who is confined to bed."

A nurse is caring for an older adult client who dies during the night while his partner is at his side. The next morning, the partner says, "I can't believe he's gone." Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

"It must be hard to accept that this has happened."

A nurse is providing support for a client who is grieving the loss of her mother who died from Alzheimer's disease. Which of the following statements should the nurse make?

"It must be very difficult for you to deal with your mother's death."

A nurse in an acute mental health facility is caring for a client who states, "This place is ridiculous. I can't stand spending another day here!" Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

"Let's talk about the events of your day."

A nurse is caring for a client who states that she is sure her partner is about to leave her because they missed some house payments and their house will soon be in foreclosure. Which of the following responses should the nurse offer?

"Please explain how you think your financial situation will result in separation."

A nurse on a pediatric mental health unit is caring for a school-age child. Which of the following questions or statements should the nurse provide to foster a rapport and encourage conversation?

"Tell me about your favorite video game."

A nurse is caring for a client who is dying. The client's son appears visibly upset when he visits. Which of the following statements should the nurse make to the client's son?

"Tell me how you're feeling about your mother's illness."

A nurse is making morning rounds when a client says, "I almost died last night." Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

"That must have been frightening. Tell me more about it."

A mental health nurse is reviewing a process recording of a therapy session with a client. Which of the following statements should the nurse identify as an example of the communication technique of reflection?

"That statement made by the other client appears to have upset you."

A nurse is admitting a client who has a hip fracture to the medical-surgical care unit. The client states, "I've never been in the hospital before, and I feel like I have a lot of anxiety." Which of the following responses should the nurse offer?

"You're feeling anxious about being in the hospital for the first time."

A nurse is using the I-SBAR communication tool to give a client's provider information about the client. The nurse should convey this client's pain status in which portion of the report?

Assessment

A nurse is beginning a therapeutic relationship with a client. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to convey empathy when using he therapeutic communication technique of active listening?

Assume an open position.

A nurse in an employee assistance program is counseling a client who states, "I just feel completely lost at work these days." The nurse replies, "You must feel like you are not getting things done." Which of the following therapeutic communication techniques is the nurse using?

Attempting to translate words into feelings

A nurse is caring for a client who has a terminal illness. The client asks several questions about the nurse's religious beliefs related to death and dying. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Encourage the client to express thoughts about death and dying.

A nurse is communicating with a client at an inpatient mental health facility. Which of the following actions by the nurse demonstrates the proper use of active listening?

Paying attention to body language

A client in a clinic tells the nurse, "I haven't seen my son for 2 weeks." The nurse replies, "Your son has not come to see you for 2 weeks?" This is an example of the nurse using which of the following therapeutic communication techniques?

Restating

A nurse is caring for a client whose adolescent child just died in a motor-vehicle crash. The client is crying inconsolably. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Stay with the client and allow the client to cry.

A nurse is communicating with a newly admitted client. Which of the following rationales identifies the nurse's purpose for using therapeutic communication with the client?

Therapeutic communication builds a relationship that will allow expression of mutual concerns.

A nurse is talking with a client who states, "The nurses around here are incompetent." Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

"Could you tell me about a specific example of a nurse being incompetent?"

A nurse is caring for an older adult client who is scheduled to undergo surgery for a hip fracture. The client says, guess I've lived long enough, and it's now my time." Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

"Do you feel that your life is ending?"

A nurse is caring for an older adult client who reports that he has just retired an expresses feelings of loneliness due to the loss of daily interactions with coworkers. Which of the following responses should the nurse provde?

"Do you know about the local senior citizen group?"