Communication and Documentation Related

Review Communication and Documentation related questions and content

The nurse is preparing a client for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). After the client signs the informed consent form for the procedure, a family member states, 'I don't think that this ECT will be helpful, especially since it makes people's memory worse.' What form of communication should the nurse implement to address the family member's concern?

  • A. Ask other family members and the client if they think that ECT makes people worse.
  • B. Immediately reassure the client and family that ECT will help and that the memory loss is only temporary.
  • C. Involve the family member in a dialog to ascertain how the family member arrived at this conclusion.
  • D. Reinforce with the client and the family member that depression causes more memory impairment than ECT.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Involving the family member in a dialog allows the nurse to understand their concerns and provide accurate information about ECT, addressing misconceptions about memory loss. Option 1 shifts focus away from the family member's concern, option 2 provides premature reassurance without exploring the concern, and option 4 makes an assumption about the cause of memory impairment without addressing the family member's specific worry.