ATI LPN
Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice 6th Edition
Chapter 9 : Communication and the Therapeutic Relationship Questions
Question 1 of 5
A nurse has engaged in self-awareness and has come to understand his own personal beliefs and attitudes and has recognized some prejudicial ideas. Based on this understanding, which of the following would the nurse now be able to accomplish?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Self-awareness, including recognizing personal biases, allows the nurse to set aside prejudices and engage objectively with patients, fostering a therapeutic relationship. Influencing patients with biases is unethical, changing behaviors requires more than self-awareness, and formulating values and morals is a broader personal process not directly tied to patient care.
Question 2 of 5
When engaged in therapeutic communication in a therapeutic relationship with a patient with a mental health problem, which of the following would be most important for the nurse to keep in mind?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Therapeutic communication prioritizes the patient?s needs and perspective, making the patient the primary focus. Self-disclosure is used cautiously and only when beneficial, empathy is important but secondary to patient focus, and recording conversations is inappropriate without consent and not a primary concern.
Question 3 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 4 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 5 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.