Chapter 10: Therapeutic Communication
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A male client with a diagnosis of schizophrenia begins to have hallucinations during a conversation
with the nurse; this prevents him from receiving the message that the nurse is trying to communicate
to him. According to Ruesch’s theory of communication, this unsuccessful interaction is called:
a. Disturbed communication
b. Nontherapeutic communication
c. Blocked communication
d. Therapeutic communication
ANS: A
Ruesch called this type of interrupted communication disturbed communication. In addition to
interference with receiving a message, as in the case of this client, the term applies to interference
with the sending of messages, problems in language between people, insufficient information, and
lack of the opportunity for feedback. Ruesch’s theory did not coin the term nontherapeutic or blocked
communication, and this interaction would not be considered therapeutic.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 103
OBJ: 1 TOP: Ruesch’s Theory
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Evaluation MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
2. The theorist Eric Berne theorized that an individual’s three ego states of parent, child, and adult make
up one’s:
a. Conscience
b. Personality
c. Thought processes
d. Ability to communicate
ANS: B
The three ego states, according to Berne, make up an individual’s personality. The parent ego focuses
on rules and values, the child ego focuses on emotions and desires, and the focal point of the adult ego
is previous observations. He did not address any of the other three options.
, PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 93
OBJ: 1 TOP: Transactional Analysis
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
3. The nursing student is assigned a client to interview and is asked to practice the therapeutic
communication technique of sharing perceptions. Which statement made by the student nurse best
describes this technique?
a. “I noticed that you pace the halls, and you have a tense look on your face. I sense that you are anxious
about something.”
b. “Can you tell me more about how you feel when you are arguing with your daughter?”
c. “I would like to talk with you about your plan of care.”
d. “Tell me if I understand you correctly.”
ANS: A
Sharing perceptions lets the client know that you are listening and ensures that you understand what
he or she is communicating. Asking the client to describe how he or she feels when arguing with his
or her daughter describes focusing. Speaking to the client about the plan of care describes informing,
and the nursing student is using clarification when asking whether
he or she understands the client correctly.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 104
OBJ: 7 TOP: Interacting Skills
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Intervention MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
4. The nurse is talking with a male client regarding his recent relapse of alcohol addiction. The client
alludes to the fact that he started to drink again after a fight with his wife. The nurse uses clarification
to ensure an accurate understanding of the client. Which statement is the best example of
clarification?
a. “You said that the fight you had with your wife caused you to start drinking again?”
b. “Let’s discuss what made you feel the need to drink.”
c. “Could you tell me again when and what happened that you feel caused you to start drinking again?”
d. “Tell me what your childhood was like.”
ANS: C
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A male client with a diagnosis of schizophrenia begins to have hallucinations during a conversation
with the nurse; this prevents him from receiving the message that the nurse is trying to communicate
to him. According to Ruesch’s theory of communication, this unsuccessful interaction is called:
a. Disturbed communication
b. Nontherapeutic communication
c. Blocked communication
d. Therapeutic communication
ANS: A
Ruesch called this type of interrupted communication disturbed communication. In addition to
interference with receiving a message, as in the case of this client, the term applies to interference
with the sending of messages, problems in language between people, insufficient information, and
lack of the opportunity for feedback. Ruesch’s theory did not coin the term nontherapeutic or blocked
communication, and this interaction would not be considered therapeutic.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 103
OBJ: 1 TOP: Ruesch’s Theory
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Evaluation MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
2. The theorist Eric Berne theorized that an individual’s three ego states of parent, child, and adult make
up one’s:
a. Conscience
b. Personality
c. Thought processes
d. Ability to communicate
ANS: B
The three ego states, according to Berne, make up an individual’s personality. The parent ego focuses
on rules and values, the child ego focuses on emotions and desires, and the focal point of the adult ego
is previous observations. He did not address any of the other three options.
, PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 93
OBJ: 1 TOP: Transactional Analysis
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
3. The nursing student is assigned a client to interview and is asked to practice the therapeutic
communication technique of sharing perceptions. Which statement made by the student nurse best
describes this technique?
a. “I noticed that you pace the halls, and you have a tense look on your face. I sense that you are anxious
about something.”
b. “Can you tell me more about how you feel when you are arguing with your daughter?”
c. “I would like to talk with you about your plan of care.”
d. “Tell me if I understand you correctly.”
ANS: A
Sharing perceptions lets the client know that you are listening and ensures that you understand what
he or she is communicating. Asking the client to describe how he or she feels when arguing with his
or her daughter describes focusing. Speaking to the client about the plan of care describes informing,
and the nursing student is using clarification when asking whether
he or she understands the client correctly.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 104
OBJ: 7 TOP: Interacting Skills
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Intervention MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
4. The nurse is talking with a male client regarding his recent relapse of alcohol addiction. The client
alludes to the fact that he started to drink again after a fight with his wife. The nurse uses clarification
to ensure an accurate understanding of the client. Which statement is the best example of
clarification?
a. “You said that the fight you had with your wife caused you to start drinking again?”
b. “Let’s discuss what made you feel the need to drink.”
c. “Could you tell me again when and what happened that you feel caused you to start drinking again?”
d. “Tell me what your childhood was like.”
ANS: C
