A child, aged 11 years, stays home from school to care for his siblings while his mother works, because the family cannot afford a babysitter. The home is cluttered and dirty when the community mental health nurse visits to investigate the child's school absences. When the parents arrive home from work, the child's father behaves angrily. He orders his wife and son about. He finds fault with the son, asking him twice, 'Why are you such a stupid kid?' The wife tells the nurse she has difficulty disciplining the children and gets frustrated easily. The nurse desires to build some trust and continue to gather assessment data. The remark or question that would interfere with the nurse's goals is:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D. Asking about physical abuse can be perceived as accusatory, defensive, or judgmental, hindering trust-building and data collection. It may lead to denial or termination of communication. Choices A and B are relevant to understanding parenting skills, while C shows empathy. These questions align with the nurse's goal of assessing the family's dynamics without inciting defensiveness or shutting down communication.