Nokea
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.
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Termination takes place during the resolution phase of a nurse-patient relationship. During the termination process, a patient brings up resolved problems and presents them as new issues to work toward. The nurse interprets the patient?s action as indicating which of the following?
- A. The patient is angry that the nurse is abandoning him.
- B. The patient requires additional therapy.
- C. The patient is unhappy that the therapy was ineffective
- D. The patient is attempting to prolong the nurse-patient relationship.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Bringing up resolved issues as new problems during termination suggests the patient is reluctant to end the therapeutic relationship, a common reaction to avoid closure. Anger, need for more therapy, or perceived ineffectiveness are less likely interpretations without additional evidence.
A patient is a successful insurance salesman; however, because of market changes, his level of sales has dropped. His boss tells him he will consequently be receiving a $2,000 per year cut in his salary. When the patient arrives home from work, the family dog runs to greet him as he always does, barking and jumping up and down and begging for attention. The patient yells at the dog, 'Get away from me; I can?t take your barking right now.' The patient?s response reflects a defense mechanism because it was which of the following?
- A. An intentional behavior performed to let the dog know his behavior was inappropriate
- B. Automatic, protecting the patient from the anxiety related to his upcoming pay cut
- C. Implemented to keep the patient from having to cope with his upcoming pay cut
- D. Implemented so the patient could rationalize his upcoming pay cut
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The patient?s response reflects displacement, a defense mechanism where emotions (anxiety about the pay cut) are redirected to a less threatening target (the dog). This is automatic and protects the patient from directly confronting anxiety. The response is not intentional training, avoidance of coping, or rationalization.
While providing care to a patient with a mental disorder, the patient asks the nurse, 'Does mental illness run in your family?' Which response by the nurse would be most inappropriate?
- A. Mental illnesses do run in families, and I?ve had a lot of experience caring for people with mental illness.
- B. It sounds like you are concerned that there may be a family connection to your current problem?
- C. Yes, it does. I have a sister who was diagnosed several years ago with severe major depression.
- D. Mental illness can be family related. Let?s focus the discussion on you and how you?re doing today.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Self-disclosure, especially personal details like a family member?s mental illness, is inappropriate in therapeutic communication unless it directly benefits the patient. Option C risks shifting focus to the nurse. Other responses redirect to the patient?s concerns or provide general information, maintaining therapeutic focus.
When engaged in therapeutic communication in a therapeutic relationship with a patient with a mental health problem, which of the following would be most important for the nurse to keep in mind?
- A. The nurse should self-disclose when indicated.
- B. The patient is the primary focus of the interaction.
- C. The nurse should have an empathetic relationship with the patient.
- D. The patient?s conversations should be recorded.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Therapeutic communication prioritizes the patient?s needs and perspective, making the patient the primary focus. Self-disclosure is used cautiously and only when beneficial, empathy is important but secondary to patient focus, and recording conversations is inappropriate without consent and not a primary concern.
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.