NR 326 Mental Health Nursing: Therapeutic Communication Practice
Pack 2026 |Chamberlain College
1. A nurse is conducting an initial assessment on a client with depression. Which
statement by the nurse best demonstrates the use of a broad opening?
A. Are you feeling better than you were yesterday?
B. How long have you been feeling this way?
C. What would you like to talk about today?
D. I noticed you didn’t eat your breakfast.
Answer: C
Rationale: Broad openings allow the client to take the initiative in introducing the topic
and emphasize the importance of the client’s role in the communication process.
2. The nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing a high level of anxiety.
Which non-verbal communication technique should the nurse use to promote a
sense of safety?
A. Sitting at the same eye level as the client.
B. Maintaining continuous, intense eye contact.
C. Standing directly in front of the client.
D. Crossing arms to maintain professional boundaries.
Answer: A
Rationale: Sitting at the same level as the client conveys equality and reduces the
perceived threat, which helps in de-escalating anxiety.
,3. A client tells the nurse, ‘I feel like my family would be better off without me.’
Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
A. Why would you say something like that?
B. You shouldn’t feel that way; your family loves you.
C. You feel as though your family would be better off if you weren’t here?
D. Things will get better once your medication starts working.
Answer: C
Rationale: Restating or reflecting the client’s statement allows the client to validate that
they were heard and encourages further expression of feelings.
4. Which statement by the nurse represents the therapeutic technique of
‘offering self’?
A. Everyone feels sad sometimes.
B. Tell me more about your childhood.
C. I think you are making great progress.
D. I will stay here with you for a while.
Answer: D
Rationale: Offering self involves making oneself available on an unconditional basis, which
increases the client’s feeling of self-worth.
5. During a session, a client becomes silent for several minutes. Which action
should the nurse take?
A. Ask a new question to break the silence.
B. Suggest that the session end early.
C. Remain silent and attentive.
D. Tell the client that silence is not helpful.
Answer: C
Rationale: Silence allows the client time to collect their thoughts or process feelings; the
nurse should remain present to show support.
, 6. A client says, ‘I can’t talk to you. You’re just like my mother.’ This is an
example of which phenomenon?
A. Countertransference
B. Transference
C. Resistance
D. Splitting
Answer: B
Rationale: Transference occurs when a client unconsciously displaces feelings and
attitudes held for significant others onto the nurse.
7. The nurse is in the orientation phase of the nurse-client relationship. Which
of the following is a priority task?
A. Promoting the client’s insight into their problems.
B. Implementing the plan of care.
C. Evaluating the progress toward goal attainment.
D. Establishing a rapport and a contract for the relationship.
Answer: D
Rationale: The orientation phase focuses on building trust, establishing boundaries, and
defining the parameters of the relationship.
8. A nurse tells a client, ‘If I were you, I would leave your spouse.’ This is an
example of which non-therapeutic communication barrier?
A. Giving advice
B. Requesting an explanation
C. Probing
D. Defending
Answer: A
Rationale: Giving advice implies that the nurse knows what is best and inhibits the client’s
independent problem-solving.
Pack 2026 |Chamberlain College
1. A nurse is conducting an initial assessment on a client with depression. Which
statement by the nurse best demonstrates the use of a broad opening?
A. Are you feeling better than you were yesterday?
B. How long have you been feeling this way?
C. What would you like to talk about today?
D. I noticed you didn’t eat your breakfast.
Answer: C
Rationale: Broad openings allow the client to take the initiative in introducing the topic
and emphasize the importance of the client’s role in the communication process.
2. The nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing a high level of anxiety.
Which non-verbal communication technique should the nurse use to promote a
sense of safety?
A. Sitting at the same eye level as the client.
B. Maintaining continuous, intense eye contact.
C. Standing directly in front of the client.
D. Crossing arms to maintain professional boundaries.
Answer: A
Rationale: Sitting at the same level as the client conveys equality and reduces the
perceived threat, which helps in de-escalating anxiety.
,3. A client tells the nurse, ‘I feel like my family would be better off without me.’
Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
A. Why would you say something like that?
B. You shouldn’t feel that way; your family loves you.
C. You feel as though your family would be better off if you weren’t here?
D. Things will get better once your medication starts working.
Answer: C
Rationale: Restating or reflecting the client’s statement allows the client to validate that
they were heard and encourages further expression of feelings.
4. Which statement by the nurse represents the therapeutic technique of
‘offering self’?
A. Everyone feels sad sometimes.
B. Tell me more about your childhood.
C. I think you are making great progress.
D. I will stay here with you for a while.
Answer: D
Rationale: Offering self involves making oneself available on an unconditional basis, which
increases the client’s feeling of self-worth.
5. During a session, a client becomes silent for several minutes. Which action
should the nurse take?
A. Ask a new question to break the silence.
B. Suggest that the session end early.
C. Remain silent and attentive.
D. Tell the client that silence is not helpful.
Answer: C
Rationale: Silence allows the client time to collect their thoughts or process feelings; the
nurse should remain present to show support.
, 6. A client says, ‘I can’t talk to you. You’re just like my mother.’ This is an
example of which phenomenon?
A. Countertransference
B. Transference
C. Resistance
D. Splitting
Answer: B
Rationale: Transference occurs when a client unconsciously displaces feelings and
attitudes held for significant others onto the nurse.
7. The nurse is in the orientation phase of the nurse-client relationship. Which
of the following is a priority task?
A. Promoting the client’s insight into their problems.
B. Implementing the plan of care.
C. Evaluating the progress toward goal attainment.
D. Establishing a rapport and a contract for the relationship.
Answer: D
Rationale: The orientation phase focuses on building trust, establishing boundaries, and
defining the parameters of the relationship.
8. A nurse tells a client, ‘If I were you, I would leave your spouse.’ This is an
example of which non-therapeutic communication barrier?
A. Giving advice
B. Requesting an explanation
C. Probing
D. Defending
Answer: A
Rationale: Giving advice implies that the nurse knows what is best and inhibits the client’s
independent problem-solving.
