Chapter 9 Therapeutic Relationships and the Clinical
Interview ALL ANSWERS LATEST SOLUTION 100%
CORRECT GUARANTEED GRADE A+
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A nurse assesses a confused older adult. The nurse experiences sadness and reflects, “The
patient is like one of my grandparents . . . so helpless.” What feelings does the nurse describe?
a. Transference
b. Countertransference
c. Catastrophic reaction
d. Defensive coping reaction
ANS: B
Countertransference is the nurse’s transference or response to a patient that is based on the nurse’s
unconscious needs, conflicts, problems, or view of the world.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension (Understanding) REF: Pages: 138-139
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
2. Which statement shows a nurse has empathy for a patient who made a suicide attempt?
a. “You must have been very upset when you tried to hurt yourself.”
b. “It makes me sad to see you going through such a difficult experience.”
c. “If you tell me what is troubling you, I can help you solve your problems.”
d. “Suicide is a drastic solution to a problem that may not be such a serious matter.”
ANS: A
Empathy permits the nurse to see an event from the patient’s perspective, understand the patient’s
feelings, and communicate this to the patient. The incorrect responses are nurse centered (focusing
on the nurse’s feelings rather than the patient’s), belittling, and sympathetic.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application (Applying) REF: Page: 146
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
3. After several therapeutic encounters with a patient who recently attempted suicide, which
occurrence should cause the nurse to consider the possibility of countertransference?
a. The patient’s reactions toward the nurse seem realistic and appropriate.
b. The patient states, “Talking to you feels like talking to my parents.”
c. The nurse feels unusually happy when the patient’s mood begins to lift.
d. The nurse develops a trusting relationship with the patient.
ANS: C
Strong positive or negative reactions toward a patient or an overidentification with a patient signals
possible countertransference. Nurses must carefully monitor their own feelings and reactions to
detect countertransference and then seek supervision. Realistic and appropriate reactions from a
patient toward a nurse are desirable. One incorrect response suggests transference. A trusting
relationship with the patient is desirable.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application (Applying) REF: Page: 139
TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
4. A patient says, “Please don’t share information about me with the other people.” How should the
nurse respond?
a. “I won’t share information with others without your permission, but I will share information about
you with other staff members.”
, b. “A therapeutic relationship is just between the nurse and the patient. It’s up to you to tell others
what you want them to know.”
c. “It really depends on what you choose to tell me. I will be glad to disclose at the end of each
session what I will report to others.”
d. “I cannot tell anyone about you. It will be as though I am talking about my own problems, and we
can help each other by keeping it between us.”
ANS: A
A patient has the right to know with whom the nurse will share information and that confidentiality will
be protected. Although the relationship is primarily between the nurse and patient, other staff
members need to know pertinent data. The other incorrect responses promote incomplete disclosure
on the part of the patient, require daily renegotiation of an issue that should be resolved as the
nurse-patient contract is established, and suggest mutual problem solving. The relationship must be
patient centered.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application (Applying) REF: Pages: 143-144
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment
5. A nurse is talking with a patient, and 5 minutes remain in the session. The patient has been silent
for most of the session. Another patient comes to the door of the room, interrupts, and says to the
nurse, “I really need to talk to you right now.” The nurse should:
a. say to the interrupting patient, “I am not available to talk with you at the present time.”
b. end the unproductive session with the current patient and spend time with the patient who has just
interrupted.
c. invite the interrupting patient to join in the session with the current patient.
d. tell the patient who interrupted, “This session is 5 more minutes; then, I will talk with you.”
ANS: D
When a specific duration for a session has been set, the nurse must adhere to the schedule.
Leaving the first patient would be equivalent to abandonment and would destroy any trust the patient
had in the nurse. Adhering to the contract demonstrates that the nurse can be trusted and that the
patient and the sessions are important. The incorrect responses preserve the nurse-patient
relationship with the silent patient but may seem abrupt to the interrupting patient, abandon the silent
patient, or fail to observe the contract with the silent patient.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application (Applying) REF: Pages: 140-142
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment
6. Termination of a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship with a patient has been successful when
the nurse:
a. avoids upsetting the patient by shifting focus to other patients before the discharge.
b. gives the patient a personal telephone number and permission to call after discharge.
c. discusses with the patient changes that have happened during the relationship and evaluates the
outcomes.
d. offers to meet the patient for coffee and conversation three times a week after discharge.
ANS: C
Summarizing and evaluating progress help validate the experience for the patient and the nurse and
facilitate closure. Termination must be discussed; avoiding the discussion by spending little time with
the patient promotes feelings of abandonment. Successful termination requires that the relationship
be brought to closure without the possibility of dependency-producing ongoing contact.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application (Applying) REF: Pages: 144-145
TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment
Interview ALL ANSWERS LATEST SOLUTION 100%
CORRECT GUARANTEED GRADE A+
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A nurse assesses a confused older adult. The nurse experiences sadness and reflects, “The
patient is like one of my grandparents . . . so helpless.” What feelings does the nurse describe?
a. Transference
b. Countertransference
c. Catastrophic reaction
d. Defensive coping reaction
ANS: B
Countertransference is the nurse’s transference or response to a patient that is based on the nurse’s
unconscious needs, conflicts, problems, or view of the world.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension (Understanding) REF: Pages: 138-139
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
2. Which statement shows a nurse has empathy for a patient who made a suicide attempt?
a. “You must have been very upset when you tried to hurt yourself.”
b. “It makes me sad to see you going through such a difficult experience.”
c. “If you tell me what is troubling you, I can help you solve your problems.”
d. “Suicide is a drastic solution to a problem that may not be such a serious matter.”
ANS: A
Empathy permits the nurse to see an event from the patient’s perspective, understand the patient’s
feelings, and communicate this to the patient. The incorrect responses are nurse centered (focusing
on the nurse’s feelings rather than the patient’s), belittling, and sympathetic.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application (Applying) REF: Page: 146
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
3. After several therapeutic encounters with a patient who recently attempted suicide, which
occurrence should cause the nurse to consider the possibility of countertransference?
a. The patient’s reactions toward the nurse seem realistic and appropriate.
b. The patient states, “Talking to you feels like talking to my parents.”
c. The nurse feels unusually happy when the patient’s mood begins to lift.
d. The nurse develops a trusting relationship with the patient.
ANS: C
Strong positive or negative reactions toward a patient or an overidentification with a patient signals
possible countertransference. Nurses must carefully monitor their own feelings and reactions to
detect countertransference and then seek supervision. Realistic and appropriate reactions from a
patient toward a nurse are desirable. One incorrect response suggests transference. A trusting
relationship with the patient is desirable.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application (Applying) REF: Page: 139
TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
4. A patient says, “Please don’t share information about me with the other people.” How should the
nurse respond?
a. “I won’t share information with others without your permission, but I will share information about
you with other staff members.”
, b. “A therapeutic relationship is just between the nurse and the patient. It’s up to you to tell others
what you want them to know.”
c. “It really depends on what you choose to tell me. I will be glad to disclose at the end of each
session what I will report to others.”
d. “I cannot tell anyone about you. It will be as though I am talking about my own problems, and we
can help each other by keeping it between us.”
ANS: A
A patient has the right to know with whom the nurse will share information and that confidentiality will
be protected. Although the relationship is primarily between the nurse and patient, other staff
members need to know pertinent data. The other incorrect responses promote incomplete disclosure
on the part of the patient, require daily renegotiation of an issue that should be resolved as the
nurse-patient contract is established, and suggest mutual problem solving. The relationship must be
patient centered.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application (Applying) REF: Pages: 143-144
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment
5. A nurse is talking with a patient, and 5 minutes remain in the session. The patient has been silent
for most of the session. Another patient comes to the door of the room, interrupts, and says to the
nurse, “I really need to talk to you right now.” The nurse should:
a. say to the interrupting patient, “I am not available to talk with you at the present time.”
b. end the unproductive session with the current patient and spend time with the patient who has just
interrupted.
c. invite the interrupting patient to join in the session with the current patient.
d. tell the patient who interrupted, “This session is 5 more minutes; then, I will talk with you.”
ANS: D
When a specific duration for a session has been set, the nurse must adhere to the schedule.
Leaving the first patient would be equivalent to abandonment and would destroy any trust the patient
had in the nurse. Adhering to the contract demonstrates that the nurse can be trusted and that the
patient and the sessions are important. The incorrect responses preserve the nurse-patient
relationship with the silent patient but may seem abrupt to the interrupting patient, abandon the silent
patient, or fail to observe the contract with the silent patient.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application (Applying) REF: Pages: 140-142
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment
6. Termination of a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship with a patient has been successful when
the nurse:
a. avoids upsetting the patient by shifting focus to other patients before the discharge.
b. gives the patient a personal telephone number and permission to call after discharge.
c. discusses with the patient changes that have happened during the relationship and evaluates the
outcomes.
d. offers to meet the patient for coffee and conversation three times a week after discharge.
ANS: C
Summarizing and evaluating progress help validate the experience for the patient and the nurse and
facilitate closure. Termination must be discussed; avoiding the discussion by spending little time with
the patient promotes feelings of abandonment. Successful termination requires that the relationship
be brought to closure without the possibility of dependency-producing ongoing contact.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application (Applying) REF: Pages: 144-145
TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment
