Test Bank for Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice - Addiction and Substance-Related Disorders Related

Review Test Bank for Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice - Addiction and Substance-Related Disorders related questions and content

A nurse is using motivational therapy with a female client with alcoholism. The client, who is unwilling to consider changing her drinking behavior, emphatically states, I am not an alcoholic; you can?t make me stop drinking. Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate?

  • A. You have to stop drinking and driving; you could kill someone.
  • B. You?re right; you?re not an alcoholic.
  • C. You should consider what you are doing to your marital relationship.
  • D. You?re the only one who can make yourself stop drinking.
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Motivational interviewing emphasizes autonomy, making the response that only the client can choose to stop drinking (D) most appropriate. Confronting about driving (A) or relationships (C) may increase resistance, and agreeing with denial (B) is non-therapeutic.