A patient is talking to the nurse about the recent death of her grandmother. She is obviously very sad, and a tear rolls down her cheek as she talks. The nurse remembers how she felt when her own grandmother died the previous summer. The nurse puts her hand on the patient?s shoulder and says, 'This must be very difficult for you.' The nurse is demonstrating empathy based on which of the following?
- A. The response comment reflects an attempt to communicate understanding of patient?s feelings.
- B. The nurse?s response and use of reassuring touch reinforce the nurse?s concern for the patient.
- C. The nurse demonstrates understanding of how the patient feels because of her own grandmother?s death.
- D. The nurse?s statement expresses compassion and kindness toward the patient.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Empathy involves understanding and communicating the patient?s feelings. The nurse?s statement and touch reflect an attempt to convey understanding of the patient?s grief, aligning with empathy. Option C describes countertransference, and options B and D describe compassion but not the specific mechanism of empathy.
You may also like to solve these questions
A patient who is hospitalized with depression tells the nurse, 'I don?t want to take the medication because I?m afraid I?ll become suicidal.' Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate?
- A. Have you ever thought about hurting yourself?
- B. It?s important that you take this medication.
- C. I agree with you. I wouldn?t want to take this medication either.
- D. Another patient took that medication, and he really felt better.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The patient?s fear of becoming suicidal warrants immediate assessment for suicidal ideation. Asking 'Have you ever thought about hurting yourself?' directly addresses this concern and ensures patient safety. Other responses dismiss the fear, agree inappropriately, or provide irrelevant anecdotes, none of which address the patient?s concern effectively.
A nurse engaged in an interaction with a patient recognizes body space zones. Which of the following would the nurse identify as the individual?s personal zone?
- A. Beginning at the boundary of the intimate zone and ending at the social zone
- B. Extending outward from the border to the public zone
- C. Surrounding and protecting an individual from others, especially outsiders
- D. The most distant boundary that can be used for recognizing intruders
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The personal zone, per Hall?s proxemics theory, extends from 1.5 to 4 feet, beginning at the boundary of the intimate zone (0?1.5 feet) and ending at the social zone (4?12 feet). It?s used for comfortable interactions. Other options describe the social zone, a general concept, or the public zone, respectively.
A nursing instructor is describing the nurse-patient relationship to a group of nursing students. Which of the following would the instructor emphasize as crucial for establishing and maintaining the relationship?
- A. Rapport
- B. Empathy
- C. Self-awareness
- D. Values
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Rapport, a trusting and harmonious connection, is crucial for establishing and maintaining the nurse-patient relationship, fostering open communication. Empathy and self-awareness support rapport, but rapport is the foundation. Values guide practice but are less directly tied to the relationship.
The nurse is engaged in a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship. The relationship is in the working phase. With which of the following would the patient be involved? Select all that apply.
- A. Beginning to identify a need
- B. Testing new ways for problem solving
- C. Testing the relationship
- D. Discussing problems related to needs
- E. Examining personal issues
Correct Answer: B,D,E
Rationale: In the working phase of the nurse-patient relationship (per Peplau), the patient actively engages in problem-solving, discussing needs, and examining personal issues to achieve therapeutic goals. Identifying needs and testing the relationship occur in the orientation phase.
When communicating with a patient, which of the following would the nurse use to convey positive body language?
- A. Sitting erect with back against the chair
- B. Crossing the arms over the chest
- C. Sitting at the patient?s eye level
- D. Keeping the feet flat on the floor with the legs crossed
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Sitting at the patient?s eye level conveys openness, respect, and engagement, fostering positive communication. Crossing arms or legs can appear defensive, and sitting erect with back against the chair may seem rigid, less conducive to rapport.
Nokea