ATI LPN
Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice 6th Edition
Chapter 9 : Communication and the Therapeutic Relationship Questions
Question 1 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 2 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.
Question 3 of 5
The nurse is in the orientation phase of the nurse-patient relationship with a patient diagnosed with a mental disorder. When interviewing the patient during this first encounter, which information would be most important for the nurse to obtain about the patient?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In the orientation phase, establishing trust and understanding the patient?s perspective is critical. The patient?s perception of the problem provides insight into their mental health needs and guides the therapeutic relationship. Allergies, hospitalizations, and family history are important but secondary in this initial phase.
Question 4 of 5
A patient is a successful insurance salesman; however, because of market changes, his level of sales has dropped. His boss tells him he will consequently be receiving a $2,000 per year cut in his salary. When the patient arrives home from work, the family dog runs to greet him as he always does, barking and jumping up and down and begging for attention. The patient yells at the dog, 'Get away from me; I can?t take your barking right now.' The patient?s response reflects a defense mechanism because it was which of the following?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The patient?s response reflects displacement, a defense mechanism where emotions (anxiety about the pay cut) are redirected to a less threatening target (the dog). This is automatic and protects the patient from directly confronting anxiety. The response is not intentional training, avoidance of coping, or rationalization.
Question 5 of 5
Termination takes place during the resolution phase of a nurse-patient relationship. During the termination process, a patient brings up resolved problems and presents them as new issues to work toward. The nurse interprets the patient?s action as indicating which of the following?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Bringing up resolved issues as new problems during termination suggests the patient is reluctant to end the therapeutic relationship, a common reaction to avoid closure. Anger, need for more therapy, or perceived ineffectiveness are less likely interpretations without additional evidence.