ATI LPN
Test Bank for Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice
Chapter 9 : Communication and the Therapeutic Relationship Questions
Question 1 of 5
While providing care to a patient with a mental disorder, the patient asks the nurse, 'Does mental illness run in your family?' Which response by the nurse would be most inappropriate?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Self-disclosure, especially personal details like a family member?s mental illness, is inappropriate in therapeutic communication unless it directly benefits the patient. Option C risks shifting focus to the nurse. Other responses redirect to the patient?s concerns or provide general information, maintaining therapeutic focus.
Question 2 of 5
A nursing instructor is describing the nurse-patient relationship to a group of nursing students. Which of the following would the instructor emphasize as crucial for establishing and maintaining the relationship?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Rapport, a trusting and harmonious connection, is crucial for establishing and maintaining the nurse-patient relationship, fostering open communication. Empathy and self-awareness support rapport, but rapport is the foundation. Values guide practice but are less directly tied to the relationship.
Question 3 of 5
A group of students are reviewing the process of verbal communication. The students demonstrate understanding of the information when they identify which of the following as the first component of the process?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Verbal communication begins with formulating an idea, which is then encoded, transmitted, and received. Formulation is the initial step where the speaker conceptualizes the message.
Question 4 of 5
A nurse responds to a patient?s statement with silence based on the rationale that this technique is used primarily to do which of the following?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Silence in therapeutic communication allows the patient to gather thoughts, process emotions, or continue speaking, promoting deeper exploration. It?s not primarily for the nurse?s response planning, self-reflection, or passive listening, which is nontherapeutic.
Question 5 of 5
A group of nursing students are preparing a class presentation on therapeutic and nontherapeutic techniques of communication. The students demonstrate understanding of the information when they select which techniques to demonstrate as therapeutic? Select all that apply.
Correct Answer: B,C
Rationale: Open-ended statements and reflection are therapeutic techniques, encouraging patient exploration and self-expression. Confrontation and challenges can be therapeutic in specific contexts but are often nontherapeutic if poorly timed. Reassurance and agreement risk dismissing patient concerns or aligning too closely, reducing therapeutic value.