The nurse enters a client's room and finds that the client and spouse are crying. The spouse states that the health care provider just diagnosed the client with Alzheimer disease. What is the best response by the nurse? A)"Do you have any questions about the diagnosis?" B)"There are medications available to treat Alzheimer disease." C)"This new diagnosis must be frightening for you." D)"We can help you make decisions about your care."

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Reflecting is a therapeutic communication technique that reiterates the feeling, idea, or message conveyed by the client. Therapeutic communication encourages the client and family to express feelings and thoughts, increases the nurse's understanding, and conveys support. Emotional expression is an important part of the coping process for the client and family. The nurse provides support by expressing empathy, actively listening, and encouraging open communication. Nontherapeutic responses can block communication by shifting the receiver's focus away from the expression of feelings and thoughts. (Option A) Questions or statements that prevent the client from expressing feelings (eg, changing the subject) when a client and family are trying to cope with a new diagnosis are not therapeutic and can block communication. Once the nurse understands the client's thoughts and feelings, information can be provided. (Option B) Providing false reassurance is not therapeutic and can block communication. A client and family may not fully understand the progression of Alzheimer disease immediately after receiving the diagnosis. Stating that medications are available to treat the disease may lead to a false belief that it can be cured. (Option D) A client diagnosed with Alzheimer disease may need assistance with care planning, but the nurse should first support the process of coping when the client receives the life-changing diagnosis. Educational objective: When clients and families are faced with significant life changes, the nurse should support the process of coping by encouraging emotional expression. The nurse provides support by expressing empathy, actively listening, and encouraging therapeutic communication.

The Nurse Enters a Client's Room and Finds That the Client