Nokea
The home health nurse cares for an obese adult client. In the client's medical record, the nurse reads, 'The client has a sprained right ankle, has not exercised for more than 1 week, and has missed the last two physical therapy appointments.' The client says, 'I attend therapy for my ankle and I do my exercises three times a day.' Which response should the nurse use with the client?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In the correct option, the nurse employs the therapeutic communication technique of confrontation. Because the client is employing avoidance, the nurse presents the facts according to the medical record to assess the client's perspective without accusing, threatening, or humiliating the client about the missed physical therapy. By confronting, the nurse assists the client with problem-solving. Option 1 is potentially helpful when the client is complying with therapy. In option 2, the nurse provides an opinion and this statement admonishes the client for the behavior. In option 3, the nurse is nontherapeutic in giving approval and is mirroring the client's avoidance and passivity by not dealing directly with the problem of missed appointments.