ATI LPN
Test Bank for Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice
Chapter 9 : Communication and the Therapeutic Relationship Questions
Question 1 of 5
A hospitalized patient diagnosed with depression asks the nurse, 'Should I go home this weekend?' Which response by the nurse uses the technique of reflection?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Reflection involves restating the patient?s words to encourage further exploration of their thoughts. Repeating 'Should you go home for the weekend?' mirrors the patient?s question, promoting self-reflection. Other options involve clarification, interpretation, or judgment, which are not reflective techniques.
Question 2 of 5
A patient who is hospitalized with depression tells the nurse, 'I don?t want to take the medication because I?m afraid I?ll become suicidal.' Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The patient?s fear of becoming suicidal warrants immediate assessment for suicidal ideation. Asking 'Have you ever thought about hurting yourself?' directly addresses this concern and ensures patient safety. Other responses dismiss the fear, agree inappropriately, or provide irrelevant anecdotes, none of which address the patient?s concern effectively.
Question 3 of 5
A female psychiatric patient is talking to the nurse about her reasons for being hospitalized. She begins to discuss her relationship with her female significant other. The patient is describing the things in her relationship that are making her uncomfortable, and she asks, 'Should I break up with my partner?' Which response by the nurse would be most effective in building rapport between the patient and nurse?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Building rapport requires a nonjudgmental, empathetic response that acknowledges the patient?s feelings. 'It sounds like you?re beginning to be uncomfortable in this relationship' reflects the patient?s emotions, fostering trust. Options A and B are judgmental and biased, and option D shifts focus prematurely, potentially dismissing the patient?s concerns.
Question 4 of 5
A patient is talking to the nurse about the recent death of her grandmother. She is obviously very sad, and a tear rolls down her cheek as she talks. The nurse remembers how she felt when her own grandmother died the previous summer. The nurse puts her hand on the patient?s shoulder and says, 'This must be very difficult for you.' The nurse is demonstrating empathy based on which of the following?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Empathy involves understanding and communicating the patient?s feelings. The nurse?s statement and touch reflect an attempt to convey understanding of the patient?s grief, aligning with empathy. Option C describes countertransference, and options B and D describe compassion but not the specific mechanism of empathy.
Question 5 of 5
A nurse engaged in an interaction with a patient recognizes body space zones. Which of the following would the nurse identify as the individual?s personal zone?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The personal zone, per Hall?s proxemics theory, extends from 1.5 to 4 feet, beginning at the boundary of the intimate zone (0?1.5 feet) and ending at the social zone (4?12 feet). It?s used for comfortable interactions. Other options describe the social zone, a general concept, or the public zone, respectively.