THERAPEUTIC RESPONSES WORKSHEET 1
(Skills Laboratory Activity in Psychiatric Nursing)
INSTRUCTION: Identify the type of techniques used for each situation and indicate rationale for using such
technique/s of communication
A. Name of technique
B. Does it enhance or hinder communication?
C. Write a therapeutic response for those that hinder communication.
Example:
SITUATION TECHNIQUE USED RATIONALE
Nurse: “You really look distressed. A. Making observations Encourages the person to notice
Something must be wrong.” B. Enhances his own behavior in order
C. NA encourage him to further describe
his thoughts and feelings for
mutual understanding.
SITUATION TECHNIQUE USED RATIONALE
1. Patient: “I’ve been pressing my light A. Presenting reality The nurse did not argue with the
for fifteen minutes calling for you.” B. Enhances client; instead, he/she only
C. NA presented the reality or the current
Nurse: “There has been an emergency situation. The nurse explained
on the floor. I’m here now - what his/her reason of being late and said
would you like?” that he/she is already present to help
the client.
2. Patient: “I won’t be getting out of A. Belittling The nurse responded in a way that is
here alive.” B. Hinders non-therapeutic, because he/she
C. Translating int feelings puts down or devalues the patient’s
Nurse: “That’s ridiculous. You feelings. However, encouraging the
shouldn’t even think that way.” client to verbalize his/her feelings
would result to discovering the
reason behind his/her feelings.
3. Nurse: “If I understand you correctly, A. Consensual validation It allows the client to check if his/her
you are upset because your daughter B. Enhances feelings agree to other individual’s
has just told you she is getting C. NA feelings toward the event; this leads
married.” to mutual understanding between
the nurse and patient.
4. Patient: “What will I do if it is A. Reassuring Reassuring only indicates that there
malignant?” B. Hinders is no cause for the patient’s anxiety.
C. Suggesting However, suggesting collaboration
Nurse: “Don’t you worry. Everything collaboration allows the client to work with the
will be all right.” health care team for his own benefit.
5. Nurse: “What proof do you have that A. Challenging Demanding for a proof might put the
your daughter is making a mistake?” B. Hinders patient at risk for harm; instead, the
C. Seeking information nurse can seek more information
behind the client’s feelings to
maximize mutual understanding.
6. Nurse: Why would you do that? Why A. Probing Probing demands an explanation
are you thinking that way? Tell me. B. Hinders from the patient which only puts the
C. Exploring patient in defensive position.
Exploring therapeutically allows both
parties to dig deeper about a subject.
7. Patient: “They are doing a biopsy. I A. Introducing unrelated Changing the subject matter negates
hope it isn’t cancer.” topic what the patient wants to talk about;
Nurse: “Are these your children? B. Hinders while making facts available to the
That’s such a nice-looking family.” C. Giving information patient can alleviate his/her anxiety.
8. Patient: “These problems don’t seem A. Rejecting The nurse’s response indicates
to go away, what shall I do?” B. Hinders refusal to consider the client’s
C. Exploring feelings. Exploring is a therapeutic
Nurse: “All of us have problems, who response that enables the both
doesn’t have?” parties to delve further and discuss
the client’s problems.
9. Nurse: “Would you like to tell me A. Accepting The response of the nurse indicates
about it?” B. Enhances reception and does not show any
, Nurse: “At your age I would suggest C. Encouraging his/her future plans helps in
you give up skateboards.” formulation of plan of developing step-by-step actions to
action solve the problem.
11. Nurse: “Can you tell me more about A. Exploring Exploration of the subject matter
the threat?” B. Enhances that the client brought up, allows
C. NA deeper and fuller understanding of
the situation; and this can lead to
identifying solutions to the problem.
12. Nurse: “I am a good secret-keeper, A. Reassuring Reassuring the client that he/she can
you can tell me everything” B. Hinders tell everything to the nurse only
C. Giving broad opening belittles his/her concerns and may
cause to stop him/her from sharing.
Instead, allowing the client to take
the initiative of choosing the topic
promotes therapeutic
communication.
13. Nurse: “Stop screaming - there are sick A. Disapproving / The nurse labels the behavior as
people here. You are upsetting them.” Disagreeing “upsetting”; this is not therapeutic
B. Hinders (even the patient’s behavior is
C. Giving recognition extreme) because it implies that the
patient must please the nurse. On
the other hand, giving recognition
indicates awareness to the client
without implying good or bad, and
right or wrong.
14. Patient: “If I die, will my parents come A. Belittling The nurse’s response is non-
and cry for me?” B. Hinders therapeutic, because he/she puts
C. Leading down or devalues the patient’s
Nurse: “We never know unless it feelings. It’s also evident that the
happens” nurse is unable to empathize.
However, discussing about the
problem can lead to mutual
understanding and a solution.
15. Patient: “I am nothing, I am worthless” A. Making stereotyped Stereotyped comments are scripted
comments and automatic; it only keeps distance
Nurse: “No you’re not, you are B. Hinders between the two parties. However,
important in the eyes of God” C. Translating into feelings encouraging the client to verbalize
his/her feelings leads to discovering
the reason behind his/her feelings.
16. Nurse: “What is the main point of A. Seeking clarification It helps the client and nurse to clarify
what you just said?” B. Enhances thoughts and come to a shared
C. NA understanding of communications.
17. Nurse: “I am here to give you your A. Giving information Making facts available to the client
medication for this morning, later in B. Enhances allows him/her to be oriented and to
the afternoon it will be Nurse Sheila C. NA be adherent to treatment.
18. Patient: “I can’t sleep. I was awake all A. Restating Restating gives the patient an idea
night.” B. Enhances of what has been communicated to
C. NA the nurse. If the message has been
Nurse: “You have difficulty sleeping?” misunderstood, the patient can
clarify message.
19. Patient: My doctor said I can go home A. Reflecting Reflecting encourages the patient to
now, what will I do when I do?” B. Enhances accept his/her own ideas and
C. NA feelings. It also indicates that the
Nurse: “What Do you think you should patient has the right to have opinions
do?” and make decisions on his/her own.
20. Nurse: “You appear tense whenever I A. Making observations. It makes the patient to be aware of
enter your room?” B. Enhances behavior of which he/she may be
C. NA unaware.
(Skills Laboratory Activity in Psychiatric Nursing)
INSTRUCTION: Identify the type of techniques used for each situation and indicate rationale for using such
technique/s of communication
A. Name of technique
B. Does it enhance or hinder communication?
C. Write a therapeutic response for those that hinder communication.
Example:
SITUATION TECHNIQUE USED RATIONALE
Nurse: “You really look distressed. A. Making observations Encourages the person to notice
Something must be wrong.” B. Enhances his own behavior in order
C. NA encourage him to further describe
his thoughts and feelings for
mutual understanding.
SITUATION TECHNIQUE USED RATIONALE
1. Patient: “I’ve been pressing my light A. Presenting reality The nurse did not argue with the
for fifteen minutes calling for you.” B. Enhances client; instead, he/she only
C. NA presented the reality or the current
Nurse: “There has been an emergency situation. The nurse explained
on the floor. I’m here now - what his/her reason of being late and said
would you like?” that he/she is already present to help
the client.
2. Patient: “I won’t be getting out of A. Belittling The nurse responded in a way that is
here alive.” B. Hinders non-therapeutic, because he/she
C. Translating int feelings puts down or devalues the patient’s
Nurse: “That’s ridiculous. You feelings. However, encouraging the
shouldn’t even think that way.” client to verbalize his/her feelings
would result to discovering the
reason behind his/her feelings.
3. Nurse: “If I understand you correctly, A. Consensual validation It allows the client to check if his/her
you are upset because your daughter B. Enhances feelings agree to other individual’s
has just told you she is getting C. NA feelings toward the event; this leads
married.” to mutual understanding between
the nurse and patient.
4. Patient: “What will I do if it is A. Reassuring Reassuring only indicates that there
malignant?” B. Hinders is no cause for the patient’s anxiety.
C. Suggesting However, suggesting collaboration
Nurse: “Don’t you worry. Everything collaboration allows the client to work with the
will be all right.” health care team for his own benefit.
5. Nurse: “What proof do you have that A. Challenging Demanding for a proof might put the
your daughter is making a mistake?” B. Hinders patient at risk for harm; instead, the
C. Seeking information nurse can seek more information
behind the client’s feelings to
maximize mutual understanding.
6. Nurse: Why would you do that? Why A. Probing Probing demands an explanation
are you thinking that way? Tell me. B. Hinders from the patient which only puts the
C. Exploring patient in defensive position.
Exploring therapeutically allows both
parties to dig deeper about a subject.
7. Patient: “They are doing a biopsy. I A. Introducing unrelated Changing the subject matter negates
hope it isn’t cancer.” topic what the patient wants to talk about;
Nurse: “Are these your children? B. Hinders while making facts available to the
That’s such a nice-looking family.” C. Giving information patient can alleviate his/her anxiety.
8. Patient: “These problems don’t seem A. Rejecting The nurse’s response indicates
to go away, what shall I do?” B. Hinders refusal to consider the client’s
C. Exploring feelings. Exploring is a therapeutic
Nurse: “All of us have problems, who response that enables the both
doesn’t have?” parties to delve further and discuss
the client’s problems.
9. Nurse: “Would you like to tell me A. Accepting The response of the nurse indicates
about it?” B. Enhances reception and does not show any
, Nurse: “At your age I would suggest C. Encouraging his/her future plans helps in
you give up skateboards.” formulation of plan of developing step-by-step actions to
action solve the problem.
11. Nurse: “Can you tell me more about A. Exploring Exploration of the subject matter
the threat?” B. Enhances that the client brought up, allows
C. NA deeper and fuller understanding of
the situation; and this can lead to
identifying solutions to the problem.
12. Nurse: “I am a good secret-keeper, A. Reassuring Reassuring the client that he/she can
you can tell me everything” B. Hinders tell everything to the nurse only
C. Giving broad opening belittles his/her concerns and may
cause to stop him/her from sharing.
Instead, allowing the client to take
the initiative of choosing the topic
promotes therapeutic
communication.
13. Nurse: “Stop screaming - there are sick A. Disapproving / The nurse labels the behavior as
people here. You are upsetting them.” Disagreeing “upsetting”; this is not therapeutic
B. Hinders (even the patient’s behavior is
C. Giving recognition extreme) because it implies that the
patient must please the nurse. On
the other hand, giving recognition
indicates awareness to the client
without implying good or bad, and
right or wrong.
14. Patient: “If I die, will my parents come A. Belittling The nurse’s response is non-
and cry for me?” B. Hinders therapeutic, because he/she puts
C. Leading down or devalues the patient’s
Nurse: “We never know unless it feelings. It’s also evident that the
happens” nurse is unable to empathize.
However, discussing about the
problem can lead to mutual
understanding and a solution.
15. Patient: “I am nothing, I am worthless” A. Making stereotyped Stereotyped comments are scripted
comments and automatic; it only keeps distance
Nurse: “No you’re not, you are B. Hinders between the two parties. However,
important in the eyes of God” C. Translating into feelings encouraging the client to verbalize
his/her feelings leads to discovering
the reason behind his/her feelings.
16. Nurse: “What is the main point of A. Seeking clarification It helps the client and nurse to clarify
what you just said?” B. Enhances thoughts and come to a shared
C. NA understanding of communications.
17. Nurse: “I am here to give you your A. Giving information Making facts available to the client
medication for this morning, later in B. Enhances allows him/her to be oriented and to
the afternoon it will be Nurse Sheila C. NA be adherent to treatment.
18. Patient: “I can’t sleep. I was awake all A. Restating Restating gives the patient an idea
night.” B. Enhances of what has been communicated to
C. NA the nurse. If the message has been
Nurse: “You have difficulty sleeping?” misunderstood, the patient can
clarify message.
19. Patient: My doctor said I can go home A. Reflecting Reflecting encourages the patient to
now, what will I do when I do?” B. Enhances accept his/her own ideas and
C. NA feelings. It also indicates that the
Nurse: “What Do you think you should patient has the right to have opinions
do?” and make decisions on his/her own.
20. Nurse: “You appear tense whenever I A. Making observations. It makes the patient to be aware of
enter your room?” B. Enhances behavior of which he/she may be
C. NA unaware.
