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Which of the following are therapeutic communication techniques that a healthcare professional can use when interacting with clients? Select one that doesn't apply.
- A. Using silence
- B. Offering self
- C. Giving advice
- D. Providing reassurance
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Therapeutic communication techniques aim to promote understanding and trust between the professional and the client. Using silence allows the client to process thoughts, feelings, and information. Offering self involves making oneself available and showing empathy. Providing reassurance helps instill confidence. However, giving advice can sometimes be non-therapeutic as it may undermine the client's autonomy and decision-making process.
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A client with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is experiencing flashbacks. Which of the following interventions should the nurse implement?
- A. Encourage the client to ignore the flashbacks.
- B. Stay with the client and offer reassurance.
- C. Instruct the client to avoid discussing the traumatic event.
- D. Encourage the client to engage in group therapy.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: During a flashback, it is essential for the nurse to stay with the client and offer reassurance. This approach can help the client feel safe and supported during a distressing experience. Encouraging the client to ignore the flashbacks may lead to increased anxiety and distress. Instructing the client to avoid discussing the traumatic event can hinder the therapeutic process of addressing and processing the trauma. While group therapy can be beneficial, it may not be the immediate intervention needed during a flashback.
A client with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is being cared for by a nurse. Which intervention should the nurse include in the plan of care?
- A. Encourage the client to suppress compulsive behaviors.
- B. Set strict limits on the amount of time the client can engage in compulsive behaviors.
- C. Allow the client to perform compulsive behaviors as needed.
- D. Gradually limit the amount of time allotted for compulsive behaviors.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In caring for a client with OCD, it is essential to gradually limit the time allotted for compulsive behaviors. This intervention helps the client develop alternative coping mechanisms. Encouraging suppression or setting strict limits on compulsive behaviors can exacerbate the client's anxiety, making it crucial to approach the care plan with a gradual reduction strategy. Allowing the client to perform compulsive behaviors as needed does not promote progress towards managing OCD symptoms and may reinforce maladaptive patterns of behavior.
A distraught, single, first-time mother cries and asks a nurse, 'How can I go to work if I can't afford childcare?' What is the nurse's initial action in assisting the client with the problem-solving process?
- A. Determine the risks and benefits for each alternative.
- B. Formulate goals for resolution of the problem.
- C. Evaluate the outcome of the implemented alternative.
- D. Assess the facts of the situation.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In this scenario, the nurse's initial step should be to assess the facts of the situation. By gathering accurate information about the client's circumstances, the nurse can better understand the problem and make informed decisions moving forward. This foundational assessment is crucial before proceeding to formulate goals, evaluate outcomes, or consider risks and benefits. Options A, B, and C involve steps that should follow the initial assessment of the situation, making them less suitable as the initial action in this context.
A client with schizophrenia is experiencing delusions. Which of the following interventions should the nurse implement?
- A. Agree with the client's delusions to avoid confrontation.
- B. Challenge the client's delusions directly.
- C. Encourage the client to discuss their delusions in detail.
- D. Present reality and offer reassurance without reinforcing the delusions.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: When caring for a client with schizophrenia experiencing delusions, the nurse should present reality and offer reassurance without reinforcing the client's delusions. This approach helps the client maintain a connection to reality while feeling supported. Agreeing with the delusions may perpetuate false beliefs, while directly challenging them can lead to increased distress for the client. Encouraging the client to discuss their delusions in detail may further exacerbate their symptoms or reinforce their false beliefs. Therefore, the most therapeutic intervention is to gently present reality and provide reassurance to the client.
A client is experiencing occasional feelings of sadness due to the recent death of a beloved pet. The client's appetite, sleep patterns, and daily routine have not changed. How should the nurse interpret the client's behaviors?
- A. The client's behaviors demonstrate mental illness in the form of depression.
- B. The client's behaviors are extensive, indicating the presence of mental illness.
- C. The client's behaviors are not congruent with cultural norms.
- D. The client's behaviors demonstrate no functional impairment, indicating no mental illness.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In this scenario, the nurse should interpret the client's behaviors as not indicative of mental illness. The client is experiencing normal feelings of sadness following the loss of a pet, and the fact that the client's appetite, sleep patterns, and daily routine remain unchanged suggests no functional impairment. It is essential to recognize that experiencing occasional feelings of sadness in response to a significant life event, such as the death of a pet, does not necessarily signify mental illness, especially when there is no significant impairment in daily functioning. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they incorrectly suggest that the client's behaviors indicate mental illness, which is not the case in this context.