Question 1

A patient who is currently in an abusive marriage shares,"Some days I think it's just not worth it.I'd be better off if we separated." The nurse uses restating as a therapeutic communication technique when responding:

Accepted Answer

A)  "Are you sure you are ready to be on your own?" 
B)  "Can I help you work on a safe, realistic plan to leave?" 
C)  "You think you would be better off without your spouse?" 
D)  "How much thought have you given to leaving the marriage?"

Question 2

The nurse suspects that a client has a problem with the action dimension of immediacy when she states,"You can't tell people very much about yourself; it gives them too much power over you." The nurse responds:

Accepted Answer

A)  "It sounds as though people have tried to control you inappropriately in the past." 
B)  "It's reasonable for you to be suspicious of me until I've earned your trust." 
C)  "Allowing yourself to trust people will be a step toward getting well." 
D)  "It appears that you aren't ready to discuss your problems yet."

Question 3

During the working phase of the relationship,the nurse assesses that the patient may be demonstrating resistance.The most appropriate way to deal with this would be to:

Accepted Answer

A)  assist the patient in exploring his or her past for uncovered issues and conflicts. 
B)  clarify, share observations, and reflect content and feelings with the patient. 
C)  confront the patient with the behavior and state, "You will be expected to work harder." 
D)  avoid mentioning the therapeutic barrier and wait until the patient again indicates readiness.

Question 4

Which strategy can the nursing student use to foster authenticity in therapeutic relationships with patients?

Accepted Answer

A)  Reading and discussing textbook assignments with a study group 
B)  Modeling behaviors with patients on the behaviors of a clinically competent staff nurse 
C)  Attending patient-centered clinical conferences on the assigned psychiatric inpatient unit 
D)  Analyzing feelings associated with psychiatric clinical experience with the help of instructors and peers

Question 5

A patient reports seeing a "frightening" face on the wall of the dayroom.A nurse attempts to calm her by providing an explanation for the flawed perception of what she saw.The nurse would implement this strategy by stating:

Accepted Answer

A)  "Let's see if anyone else has seen those frightening faces on the walls of the dayroom." 
B)  "The shadows of the tree outside the window make strange shapes on the dayroom walls." 
C)  "Have you ever seen frightening faces like that on the dayroom walls before today?" 
D)  "Did someone in the dayroom tell you there were frightening faces on the walls?"

Question 6

A nurse's most appropriate initial action during the preinteraction phase of a relationship with a homosexual patient should be to:

Accepted Answer

A)  examine personal feelings about homosexuality. 
B)  review the literature that pertains to the human sexual response. 
C)  attempt to identify the underlying reasons for the patient's values. 
D)  focus on a method to assist the patient with changing personal sexual values.

Question 7

When the nurse suggests the patient communicate to her employer how overwhelmed she is by the workload,the patient responds,"Yes but I'll get fired if I do that." According to transactional analysis theory,this is an example of a(n) _____ transaction.

Accepted Answer

A)  ulterior 
B)  crossed 
C)  congruous 
D)  complementary

Question 8

The therapeutic communication technique of suggesting is appropriate to use when it:

Accepted Answer

A)  meets the patient's unmet dependency needs. 
B)  shifts responsibility from the patient to the health care professional. 
C)  is used during the working stage to present alternative coping strategies. 
D)  is used early in the nurse-patient relationship to provide sound, everyday advice.

Exam 2: Therapeutic Nurse-Patient Relationship