The nurse caring for a patient with recurrent abdominal pain of unknown origin addresses the patient by name and puts her hand on her shoulder and offers reassuring words: "You'll be okay.Try not to think about things too much,if you can." How would you evaluate the nurse's verbal and nonverbal communication?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Although addressing the patient by her preferred name and using nonthreatening,therapeutic touch (light hand on the shoulder),all convey caring and comfort and contribute to a therapeutic and trusting nurse-patient relationship,but the nurse telling the patient that everything will be fine is inappropriate when the situation is unknown.These well-meaning words are actually false reassurance,and can sabotage a trusting relationship.Such a response is uninformed,inaccurate,and may feel dismissive-even condescending-to the patient and acts as a barrier to therapeutic communication.

The Nurse Caring for a Patient with Recurrent Abdominal Pain