A client scheduled for hip replacement surgery expresses anxiety to the nurse regarding the upcoming surgery. Which response by the nurse is most therapeutic?
A client scheduled for hip replacement surgery expresses anxiety to the nurse regarding the upcoming surgery. Which response by the nurse is most therapeutic?
A. “Everyone is nervous before any surgery. What you feel is completely normal.”
[6%]
B. “Here’s what’s going to happen to you during the procedure. I will explain it to you in detail.”
[6%]
C. “Can you tell me what you have been told about the surgery?”
[78%]
D. “Let me tell you about the care you will receive and the pain you should anticipate after the surgery.”
[10%]
Statistics
Subject/Lesson
Subject
Mental Health
Lesson
Mental Health
Client Need
Test Plan
Psychosocial Integrity
Related Topic
Therapeutic Communication
Item Type
Item Type
Application
Explanation
Choice C is correct. Here, the nurse uses an open-ended question to provide the client with an opportunity to elaborate further on the client's previous statement and provide the nurse with a baseline understanding of the client's knowledge and readiness for the surgery. By ascertaining this information, the nurse can determine the client's current knowledge level and identify relevant educational needs. Here, open-ended questions are the most therapeutic communication technique in this situation as these questions facilitate further discussion.
Choice A is incorrect. This response is an example of a nontherapeutic communication technique known as an automated response. Automatic responses are often triggered by stereotypes that are generalized beliefs held about people. These automatic phrases often communicate that the nurse is not taking the client's concern(s) seriously or responding thoughtfully.
Choice B is incorrect. This statement by the nurse is nontherapeutic, as it likely offers false reassurance. Although there is a surgical plan, no one (including the nurse) can say with absolute certainty that a surgical procedure will progress in a specific manner. Additionally, the nurse appears to be changing the subject in an attempt to circumvent a conversation regarding the client's anxiety.
Choice D is incorrect. This response is an example of nontherapeutic communication, as the nurse appears to be changing the subject once the client attempts to discuss anxiety related to the upcoming hip surgery. Changing the subject when another person is trying to communicate their feelings is impolite, demonstrates a lack of empathy, and blocks further communication.
Learning Objective
Identify the open-ended question as the most therapeutic response the nurse could provide to the client.
Related Videos
2 Key Topics
Open-Ended Questions
13.10 Therapeutic Communication
Additional Info
- Therapeutic communication techniques are specific responses that encourage the expression of feelings and ideas and convey acceptance and respect.
- Nontherapeutic techniques discourage the expression of feelings and ideas and engender negative responses or behaviors in others.
