Question 1

When a patient is late for three consecutive therapy sessions,the nurse implements perception sharing as a communication technique when stating:

Accepted Answer

Sharing perceptions involves asking the patient to verify the nurse's understanding of what the patient is thinking or feeling.The nurse can provide information and then ask for feedback.The other options do not focus on clarification.

Question 2

A teenager being treated for oppositional defiance behavior states: "I wish my parents would stop treating me like an irresponsible child." The nurse implements confrontation as a therapeutic technique when responding:

Accepted Answer

Confrontation is an expression by the nurse of discrepancies in the patient's behavior such as being irresponsible and untrustworthy while wanting to be treated like an adult.The remaining options are not confrontational since they are not identifying such discrepancies.

Question 3

Which statement is true of planning the timing for the use of confrontation?

Accepted Answer

Confrontation,when posed as an observation of incongruent behavior,can be used infrequently during the orientation phase of the relationship,but it is more useful during the working stage to expand the patient's awareness and to help him or her move to a higher level of functioning.The remaining options are not true statements.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

Suggesting is the presentation of alternative ideas.It is useful in the working phase of the relationship,when the patient has analyzed the problem and is exploring alternative coping mechanisms.At that time,nurse suggestions will increase the patient's perceived options.

Question 5

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

Immediacy involves focusing on the current interaction of the nurse and the patient in the relationship.In this situation the client is focusing on past issues of trust and the nurse correctly identifies a reasonable reaction to the client's need to trust the nurse.The remaining options do not deal with the immediate need for trust on the part of the client.

Question 6

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

Clarification involves the nurse attempting to put into words the vague ideas or thoughts that are implicit or explicit in the patient's conversation.

Question 7

A chronically depressed patient has been diagnosed with having a dependent personality.The nurse suspects that the situation has resulted in dependence transference when the patient shares that:

Accepted Answer

Dependent reaction transference is characterized by submissive,ingratiating behavior,regarding the nurse as a godlike figure,and overvaluing the nurse's characteristics and qualities.The remaining options demonstrate gratitude but lack that submissive element.

Question 8

A nurse tells the unit supervisor,"I'm having a difficult time empathizing with my patient especially since he is so unwilling to change.Talking with him makes me feel both frustrated and depressed." The supervisor may suspect that the cause of the barrier in this nurse-client relation is the:

Accepted Answer

Countertransference is a therapeutic impasse created by the nurse's specific emotional response to the qualities of the patient.This response is inappropriate to the content and context of the therapeutic relationship or inappropriate in the degree of intensity of emotion.The remaining options do not relate to inappropriate emotional responses especially by the nurse.

Quiz 2: Therapeutic Nurse-Patient Relationship