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When observing a patient's verbal and nonverbal communication, the nurse notices a discrepancy. Which of the following statements about this situation is true?

  • A. The nurse should focus on the patient's verbal message and try to ignore the nonverbal behaviors.
  • B. The nurse should ask someone who knows the patient well to help interpret this discrepancy.
  • C. The nurse should try to integrate the verbal and nonverbal messages and then interpret them as an 'average.'
  • D. The nurse should focus on the patient's nonverbal behaviors because these are often more reflective of a patient's true feelings.
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because asking someone who knows the patient well can provide valuable insight into the meaning behind the verbal and nonverbal communication discrepancy. This helps in understanding the context and potential reasons for the inconsistency. Option A is incorrect as ignoring nonverbal behaviors can lead to missing important cues. Option C of interpreting messages as an 'average' may oversimplify the complexity of communication. Option D is incorrect as while nonverbal behaviors can provide valuable information, solely focusing on them may not give a complete understanding of the situation.