A nurse is working with a client who has a history of repeated abusive intimate relationships. The nurse has difficulty understanding why a woman would repeatedly enter into relationships with abusive partners. When working with this client, the nurse can best maintain a therapeutic relationship through which of the following approaches?

Question

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Nurses may believe that a woman who stays in an abusive relationship might deserve or enjoy the abuse or that abuse between husband and wife is private. The nurse may also feel horror or revulsion. Because clients often watch for the nurse's reaction, containing these feelings and focusing on the client's needs are important. The nurse must be prepared to listen to the client's story, no matter how disturbing, and support and validate the client's feelings with comments such as That must have been terrifying or Sounds like you were afraid for your life. The nurse must remember that he or she cannot fix or change things; the nurse's role is to listen and convey acceptance and support for the client.

A Nurse Is Working with a Client Who Has a History