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Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Saunders NCLEX
Review Questions and Complete Solutions Graded A+
A client with a diagnosis of depression who has attempted suicide says to the
nurse, "I should have died. I've always been a failure. Nothing ever goes right for
me." Which response by the nurse demon- strates therapeutic communication?
1. "You have everything to live for."
2. "Why do you see yourself as a failure?"
3. "Feeling like this is all part of being depressed."
4. "You've been feeling like a failure for a while?" - (answers)4
Rationale: Responding to the feelings expressed by a client is an effective
therapeutic communication technique. The correct option is an example of the
use of restating. The remaining options block communication because they
minimize the cli- ent's experience and do not facilitate exploration of the client's
expressed feelings. In addition, use of the word why is nontherapeutic.
The nurse visits a client at home. The client states, "I haven't slept at all the last
couple of nights." Which response by the nurse demonstrates thera- peutic
communication?
1. "I see."
2. "Really?"
3. "You're having difficulty sleeping?"
4. "Sometimes I have trouble sleeping too." - (answers)3
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Rationale: The correct option uses the therapeutic communica- tion technique of
restatement. Although restatement is a tech- nique that has a prompting
component to it, it repeats the client's major theme, which assists the nurse to
obtain a more specific perception of the problem from the client. The remain- ing
options are not therapeutic responses since none encourages the client to expand
on the problem. Offering personal experi- ences moves the focus away from the
client and onto the nurse.
A client experiencing disturbed thought processes believes that his food is being
poisoned. Which communication technique should the nurse use to encourage
the client to eat?
1. Using open-ended questions and silence
2. Sharing personal preference regarding food choices
3. Documenting reasons why the client does not want to eat
4. Offering opinions about the necessity of adequate nutrition - (answers)1
Rationale: Open-ended questions and silence are strategies used to encourage
clients to discuss their problems. Sharing personal food preferences is not a
client-centered intervention. The remaining options are not helpful to the client
because they do not encourage the client to express feelings. The nurse should
not offer opinions and should encourage the client to identify the reasons for the
behavior.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Saunders NCLEX
Review Questions and Complete Solutions Graded A+
A client with a diagnosis of depression who has attempted suicide says to the
nurse, "I should have died. I've always been a failure. Nothing ever goes right for
me." Which response by the nurse demon- strates therapeutic communication?
1. "You have everything to live for."
2. "Why do you see yourself as a failure?"
3. "Feeling like this is all part of being depressed."
4. "You've been feeling like a failure for a while?" - (answers)4
Rationale: Responding to the feelings expressed by a client is an effective
therapeutic communication technique. The correct option is an example of the
use of restating. The remaining options block communication because they
minimize the cli- ent's experience and do not facilitate exploration of the client's
expressed feelings. In addition, use of the word why is nontherapeutic.
The nurse visits a client at home. The client states, "I haven't slept at all the last
couple of nights." Which response by the nurse demonstrates thera- peutic
communication?
1. "I see."
2. "Really?"
3. "You're having difficulty sleeping?"
4. "Sometimes I have trouble sleeping too." - (answers)3
, 2|Page
Rationale: The correct option uses the therapeutic communica- tion technique of
restatement. Although restatement is a tech- nique that has a prompting
component to it, it repeats the client's major theme, which assists the nurse to
obtain a more specific perception of the problem from the client. The remain- ing
options are not therapeutic responses since none encourages the client to expand
on the problem. Offering personal experi- ences moves the focus away from the
client and onto the nurse.
A client experiencing disturbed thought processes believes that his food is being
poisoned. Which communication technique should the nurse use to encourage
the client to eat?
1. Using open-ended questions and silence
2. Sharing personal preference regarding food choices
3. Documenting reasons why the client does not want to eat
4. Offering opinions about the necessity of adequate nutrition - (answers)1
Rationale: Open-ended questions and silence are strategies used to encourage
clients to discuss their problems. Sharing personal food preferences is not a
client-centered intervention. The remaining options are not helpful to the client
because they do not encourage the client to express feelings. The nurse should
not offer opinions and should encourage the client to identify the reasons for the
behavior.
