Ch 7 Davis advantage for psychiatric mental health nursing Revision
Questions with Answers
1. Which therapeutic communication technique is being used in this nurse-client
interaction?
Client: "When I get angry, I get into a fistfight with my partner or I take it out on the
kids."
Nurse: "I notice that you are smiling as you talk about this physical violence."
1. Encouraging comparison
2. Exploring
3. Formulating a plan of action
4. Making observations - correct answers4. This is correct. The nurse is using the therapeutic
communication technique of
making observations by noting that the client smiles when talking about physical
violence. The technique of making observations encourages the client to compare
personal perceptions with those of the nurse.
2. Which therapeutic communication technique is being used in this nurse-client
interaction?
Client: "My father spanked me often."
Nurse: "Your father was a harsh disciplinarian."
1. Restating
2. Offering general leads
3. Focusing
4. Accepting - correct answers1. This is correct. The nurse is using the therapeutic communication
technique of
restating. Restating involves repeating the main idea of what the client has said. The
nurse uses this technique to communicate that the client's statement has been heard
and understood.
3. Which therapeutic communication technique is being used in this nurse-client
,interaction?
Client: "When I am anxious, the only thing that calms me down is alcohol."
Nurse: "Other than drinking, what alternatives have you explored to decrease anxiety?"
1. Reflecting
2. Making observations
3. Formulating a plan of action
4. Giving recognition - correct answers3. This is correct. The nurse is using the therapeutic
communication technique offormulating a plan of action to help the client explore alternatives to
drinking
alcohol. The use of this technique, rather than direct confrontation regarding the
client's poor coping choice, may serve to prevent anger or anxiety from escalating
4. The nurse is interviewing a newly admitted psychiatric client. Which nursing
statement is an example of offering a general lead?
1. "Do you know why you are here?"
2. "Are you feeling depressed or anxious?"
3. "Yes, I see. Go on."
4. "Can you chronologically order the events that led to your admission?" - correct answers3. This is
correct. The nurse's statement is an example of the therapeutic
communication technique of a general lead. Offering a general lead encourages the
client to continue sharing information
5. A nurse states to a client, "Things will look better tomorrow after a good night's
sleep." This is an example of which communication technique?
1. The nontherapeutic technique of "giving advice"
2. The therapeutic technique of "formulating a plan of action"
3. The therapeutic technique of "presenting reality"
4. The nontherapeutic technique of "giving false reassurance" - correct answers4. This is correct. The
nurse's statement is an example of the nontherapeutic technique
of giving false reassurance. Giving false reassurance indicates to the client that there
, is no cause for anxiety, thereby devaluing the client's feelings.
6. A client diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder is admitted to an inpatient
psychiatric unit for evaluation and medication stabilization. Which utterance made by
the nurse is an example of a broad opening?
1. "What occurred prior to the traumatic event, and when did you go to the emergency
department?"
2. "What would you like to talk about?"
3. "I notice you seem uncomfortable discussing this."
4. "How can we help you feel safe during your stay here?" - correct answers2. This is correct. The nurse's
question "What would you like to talk about?" is an
example of the therapeutic communication technique of giving broad openings.
Using a broad opening allows the client to take the initiative in introducing the topic
and emphasizes the importance of the client's role in the interaction
7. A nurse is assessing a client diagnosed with schizophrenia for the presence of
hallucinations. Which therapeutic communication technique used by the nurse is an
example of making observations?
1. "You appear to be talking to someone I do not see."
2. "Please describe what you are seeing."
3. "Why do you continually look in the corner of this room?"
4. "If you hum a tune, the voices may not be so distracting." - correct answers1. This is correct. The
nurse is making an observation when stating, "You appear to be
talking to someone I do not see." Making observations involves verbalizing what is
observed or perceived. This encourages the client to recognize specific behaviors
and make comparisons with the nurse's perceptions.
8. A nurse maintains an uncrossed arm and leg posture. This nonverbal behavior is
reflective of which letter of the SOLER acronym for active listening?
Questions with Answers
1. Which therapeutic communication technique is being used in this nurse-client
interaction?
Client: "When I get angry, I get into a fistfight with my partner or I take it out on the
kids."
Nurse: "I notice that you are smiling as you talk about this physical violence."
1. Encouraging comparison
2. Exploring
3. Formulating a plan of action
4. Making observations - correct answers4. This is correct. The nurse is using the therapeutic
communication technique of
making observations by noting that the client smiles when talking about physical
violence. The technique of making observations encourages the client to compare
personal perceptions with those of the nurse.
2. Which therapeutic communication technique is being used in this nurse-client
interaction?
Client: "My father spanked me often."
Nurse: "Your father was a harsh disciplinarian."
1. Restating
2. Offering general leads
3. Focusing
4. Accepting - correct answers1. This is correct. The nurse is using the therapeutic communication
technique of
restating. Restating involves repeating the main idea of what the client has said. The
nurse uses this technique to communicate that the client's statement has been heard
and understood.
3. Which therapeutic communication technique is being used in this nurse-client
,interaction?
Client: "When I am anxious, the only thing that calms me down is alcohol."
Nurse: "Other than drinking, what alternatives have you explored to decrease anxiety?"
1. Reflecting
2. Making observations
3. Formulating a plan of action
4. Giving recognition - correct answers3. This is correct. The nurse is using the therapeutic
communication technique offormulating a plan of action to help the client explore alternatives to
drinking
alcohol. The use of this technique, rather than direct confrontation regarding the
client's poor coping choice, may serve to prevent anger or anxiety from escalating
4. The nurse is interviewing a newly admitted psychiatric client. Which nursing
statement is an example of offering a general lead?
1. "Do you know why you are here?"
2. "Are you feeling depressed or anxious?"
3. "Yes, I see. Go on."
4. "Can you chronologically order the events that led to your admission?" - correct answers3. This is
correct. The nurse's statement is an example of the therapeutic
communication technique of a general lead. Offering a general lead encourages the
client to continue sharing information
5. A nurse states to a client, "Things will look better tomorrow after a good night's
sleep." This is an example of which communication technique?
1. The nontherapeutic technique of "giving advice"
2. The therapeutic technique of "formulating a plan of action"
3. The therapeutic technique of "presenting reality"
4. The nontherapeutic technique of "giving false reassurance" - correct answers4. This is correct. The
nurse's statement is an example of the nontherapeutic technique
of giving false reassurance. Giving false reassurance indicates to the client that there
, is no cause for anxiety, thereby devaluing the client's feelings.
6. A client diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder is admitted to an inpatient
psychiatric unit for evaluation and medication stabilization. Which utterance made by
the nurse is an example of a broad opening?
1. "What occurred prior to the traumatic event, and when did you go to the emergency
department?"
2. "What would you like to talk about?"
3. "I notice you seem uncomfortable discussing this."
4. "How can we help you feel safe during your stay here?" - correct answers2. This is correct. The nurse's
question "What would you like to talk about?" is an
example of the therapeutic communication technique of giving broad openings.
Using a broad opening allows the client to take the initiative in introducing the topic
and emphasizes the importance of the client's role in the interaction
7. A nurse is assessing a client diagnosed with schizophrenia for the presence of
hallucinations. Which therapeutic communication technique used by the nurse is an
example of making observations?
1. "You appear to be talking to someone I do not see."
2. "Please describe what you are seeing."
3. "Why do you continually look in the corner of this room?"
4. "If you hum a tune, the voices may not be so distracting." - correct answers1. This is correct. The
nurse is making an observation when stating, "You appear to be
talking to someone I do not see." Making observations involves verbalizing what is
observed or perceived. This encourages the client to recognize specific behaviors
and make comparisons with the nurse's perceptions.
8. A nurse maintains an uncrossed arm and leg posture. This nonverbal behavior is
reflective of which letter of the SOLER acronym for active listening?
