Mental Health HESI 2023 Related

Review Mental Health HESI 2023 related questions and content

During the admission assessment, a female client requests that her husband be allowed to stay in the room. While interviewing the client, the nurse notes a discrepancy between the client's verbal and nonverbal communication. What action should the nurse take?

  • A. Pay close attention and document the nonverbal messages
  • B. Ask the client's husband to interpret the discrepancy
  • C. Ignore the nonverbal behavior and focus on the client's verbal messages
  • D. Integrate the verbal and nonverbal messages and interpret them as one
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Noting both verbal and nonverbal cues is crucial to fully understand the client's condition and any potential underlying issues. Verbal communication may not always align with nonverbal cues, which can provide valuable insights into the client's emotional state and concerns. By paying close attention to and documenting the nonverbal messages, the nurse can gather a more comprehensive understanding of the client's situation. Asking the client's husband to interpret the discrepancy may not be appropriate as it could lead to misinterpretation or breach of confidentiality. Ignoring the nonverbal behavior could result in missing essential cues affecting the overall assessment. Integrating both verbal and nonverbal messages helps in forming a holistic view of the client's needs and concerns, enabling better care delivery.