NCLEX Therapeutic
Communication Questions
2026 | Q&A & Detailed
Rationales
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Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
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Rationales
Included
,A patient admitted to a mental health unit for treatment of A
psychotic behavior spends hours at the locked exit door Denial is refusal to admit to a painful reality, which is treated as if it does not exist.
shouting. "Let me out. There's nothing wrong with me. I In projection, a person unconsciously rejects emotionally unacceptable features
don't belong here." What defense mechanism is the and attributes them to other persons, objects, or situations. Regression allows the
patient implementing? patient to return to an earlier, more comforting, although less mature, way of
A Denial behaving. Rationalization is justifying illogical or unreasonable ideas, actions, or
B Projection feelings by developing acceptable explanations that satisfy the teller and the
C Regression listener.
D Rationalization
A patient diagnosed with terminal cancer says to the C
nurse "I'm going to die, and I wish my family would stop Restating is a therapeutic communication technique in which the nurse repeats
hoping for a cure! I get so angry when they carry on like what the patient says to show understanding and to review what was said. While it
this. After all, I'm the one who's dying." Which response is appropriate for the nurse to attempt to assess the patient's ability to discuss
by the nurse is therapeutic? feelings openly with family members, it does not help the patient discuss the
A "Have you shared your feelings with your family?" feelings causing the anger. The nurse's attempt to focus on the central issue of
B "I think we should talk more about your anger with your anger is premature. The nurse would never make a judgment regarding the reason
family." for the patient's feeling, this is non-therapeutic in the one-to-one relationship.
C "You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope
for you to be cured?"
D "You are probably very depressed, which is
understandable with such a diagnosis."
On review of the patient's record, the nurse notes the D
admission was voluntary. Based on this information, the In general, patients seek voluntary admission. If a patient seeks voluntary
nurse anticipates which patient behavior? admission, the most likely expectations is the patient will participate in the
A Fearfulness regarding treatment measures. treatment program since they are actively seeking help. The remaining options are
B Anger and aggressiveness directed toward others. not characteristics of this type of admission. Fearfulness, anger, and
C An understanding of the pathology and symptoms of aggressiveness are more characteristic of an involuntary admission. Voluntary
the diagnosis. admission does not guarantee a patient's understanding of their illness, only of
D A willingness to participate in the planning of the care their desire for help.
and treatment plan.
A patient admitted voluntarily for treatment of an anxiety A
disorder demands to be released from the hospital. In general, patients seek, voluntary admission. Voluntary patients have the right to
Which action should the nurse take INITIALLY? demand and obtain release. The nurse needs to be familiar with the state and
A Contact the patient's health care provider (HCP). facility policies and procedures. The best nursing action is to contact the HCP,
B Call the patient's family to arrange for transportations. who has the authority to discuss discharge with the patient. While arranging for
C Attempt to persuade the patient to stay for only a few safe transportation is appropriate it is premature in this situation and should be
more days. done only with the patient's' permission. While it is appropriate to discuss why the
D Tell the patient that leaving would likely result in an patient feels the need to leave and the possible outcomes of leaving against
involuntary commitment. medical advice, attempting to get the patient to agree to staying "a few more
days" has little value and will not likely be successful. Many states require that the
patient submit a written release notice to the facility staff members, who
reevaluate the patient's condition for possible conversion to involuntary status if
necessary, according to criteria established by law. While this is a possibility, it
should not be used as a threat to the patient.
, When reviewing the admission assessment, the nurse A
notes that a patient was admitted to the mental health Involuntary admission is necessary when a person is a danger to self or others or
unity involuntarily. Based on this type of admission, the is in need of psychiatric treatment regardless of the patient's willingness to
nurse should provide which intervention for this patient? consent to the hospitalization. A written request is a component of a voluntary
A Monitor closely for harm to self or others. admission. Providing written information regarding the illness is likely premature
B Assist in completing an application for admission. initially. The family may have had no role to play in the patient's' admission.
C Supply the patient with written information about their
mental illness.
D Provide an opportunity for the family to discuss why
they felt the admission was needed.
The nurse is preparing a patient for the termination phase B
of the nurse-patient relationship. The nurse prepares to Tasks of the termination phase include evaluating patient performance, evaluating
implement which nursing task that is MOST APPROPRIATE achievement of expected outcomes, evaluating future needs, making appropriate
for this phase? referrals and dealing with the common behaviors associated with termination. The
A Planning short-term goals remaining options identify tasks appropriate for the working phase of the
B Making appropriate referrals relationship.
C Developing realistic solutions
D Identifying expected outcomes
The nurse employed in a mental health clinic is greeted A
by a neighbor in a local grocery store. The neighbors says The nurse is required to maintain confidentiality regarding the patient and the
to the nurse, "How is Mary doing? She is my best friend patient's care. Confidentiality is basic to the therapeutic relationship and is a
and is seen at your clinic every week." Which is the MOST patient's right. The most appropriate response to the neighbor is the statement of
APPROPRIATE nursing response? that responsibility in a direct, but polite manner. A blunt statement that does not
A "I can not discuss any patient situation with you." acknowledge why the nurse cannot reveal patient information may be taken as
B "If you want to know about Mary, you need t ask her disrespectful and uncaring. The remaining options identify statements that do not
yourself." maintain patient confidentiality.
C "Only because you're worried about a friend, I'll tell
you that she is improving."
D "Being her friend, you know she is having a difficult time
and deserves her privacy."
The nurse calls security and has physical restraints BCE
applied when a client who was admitted voluntarily False imprisonment is an act with the intent to confine a person to a specific area.
becomes both physically and verbally abusive while The nurse can be charged with false imprisonment if the nurse prohibits a patient
demanding to be discharged from the hospital. Which from leaving the hospital if the patient has been admitted voluntarily and if no
represents the possible legal ramifications for the nurse agency or legal policies exist for detaining the patient. Assault and battery are
associated with these interventions? Select all that apply. related to the act of restraining the patient in a situation that did not meet criteria
A Libel for such an intervention. Libel and slander are not applicable here since the nurse
B Battery did not write or verbally make untrue statements about the patient
C Assault
D Slander
E False Imprisonment
Libel A written defamation of a person's character, reputation, business, or property
rights.
Slander Spoken defamation
battery Illegal touching of another person
Communication Questions
2026 | Q&A & Detailed
Rationales
|Graded A+ | Guaranteed
success|
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales
Included
,A patient admitted to a mental health unit for treatment of A
psychotic behavior spends hours at the locked exit door Denial is refusal to admit to a painful reality, which is treated as if it does not exist.
shouting. "Let me out. There's nothing wrong with me. I In projection, a person unconsciously rejects emotionally unacceptable features
don't belong here." What defense mechanism is the and attributes them to other persons, objects, or situations. Regression allows the
patient implementing? patient to return to an earlier, more comforting, although less mature, way of
A Denial behaving. Rationalization is justifying illogical or unreasonable ideas, actions, or
B Projection feelings by developing acceptable explanations that satisfy the teller and the
C Regression listener.
D Rationalization
A patient diagnosed with terminal cancer says to the C
nurse "I'm going to die, and I wish my family would stop Restating is a therapeutic communication technique in which the nurse repeats
hoping for a cure! I get so angry when they carry on like what the patient says to show understanding and to review what was said. While it
this. After all, I'm the one who's dying." Which response is appropriate for the nurse to attempt to assess the patient's ability to discuss
by the nurse is therapeutic? feelings openly with family members, it does not help the patient discuss the
A "Have you shared your feelings with your family?" feelings causing the anger. The nurse's attempt to focus on the central issue of
B "I think we should talk more about your anger with your anger is premature. The nurse would never make a judgment regarding the reason
family." for the patient's feeling, this is non-therapeutic in the one-to-one relationship.
C "You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope
for you to be cured?"
D "You are probably very depressed, which is
understandable with such a diagnosis."
On review of the patient's record, the nurse notes the D
admission was voluntary. Based on this information, the In general, patients seek voluntary admission. If a patient seeks voluntary
nurse anticipates which patient behavior? admission, the most likely expectations is the patient will participate in the
A Fearfulness regarding treatment measures. treatment program since they are actively seeking help. The remaining options are
B Anger and aggressiveness directed toward others. not characteristics of this type of admission. Fearfulness, anger, and
C An understanding of the pathology and symptoms of aggressiveness are more characteristic of an involuntary admission. Voluntary
the diagnosis. admission does not guarantee a patient's understanding of their illness, only of
D A willingness to participate in the planning of the care their desire for help.
and treatment plan.
A patient admitted voluntarily for treatment of an anxiety A
disorder demands to be released from the hospital. In general, patients seek, voluntary admission. Voluntary patients have the right to
Which action should the nurse take INITIALLY? demand and obtain release. The nurse needs to be familiar with the state and
A Contact the patient's health care provider (HCP). facility policies and procedures. The best nursing action is to contact the HCP,
B Call the patient's family to arrange for transportations. who has the authority to discuss discharge with the patient. While arranging for
C Attempt to persuade the patient to stay for only a few safe transportation is appropriate it is premature in this situation and should be
more days. done only with the patient's' permission. While it is appropriate to discuss why the
D Tell the patient that leaving would likely result in an patient feels the need to leave and the possible outcomes of leaving against
involuntary commitment. medical advice, attempting to get the patient to agree to staying "a few more
days" has little value and will not likely be successful. Many states require that the
patient submit a written release notice to the facility staff members, who
reevaluate the patient's condition for possible conversion to involuntary status if
necessary, according to criteria established by law. While this is a possibility, it
should not be used as a threat to the patient.
, When reviewing the admission assessment, the nurse A
notes that a patient was admitted to the mental health Involuntary admission is necessary when a person is a danger to self or others or
unity involuntarily. Based on this type of admission, the is in need of psychiatric treatment regardless of the patient's willingness to
nurse should provide which intervention for this patient? consent to the hospitalization. A written request is a component of a voluntary
A Monitor closely for harm to self or others. admission. Providing written information regarding the illness is likely premature
B Assist in completing an application for admission. initially. The family may have had no role to play in the patient's' admission.
C Supply the patient with written information about their
mental illness.
D Provide an opportunity for the family to discuss why
they felt the admission was needed.
The nurse is preparing a patient for the termination phase B
of the nurse-patient relationship. The nurse prepares to Tasks of the termination phase include evaluating patient performance, evaluating
implement which nursing task that is MOST APPROPRIATE achievement of expected outcomes, evaluating future needs, making appropriate
for this phase? referrals and dealing with the common behaviors associated with termination. The
A Planning short-term goals remaining options identify tasks appropriate for the working phase of the
B Making appropriate referrals relationship.
C Developing realistic solutions
D Identifying expected outcomes
The nurse employed in a mental health clinic is greeted A
by a neighbor in a local grocery store. The neighbors says The nurse is required to maintain confidentiality regarding the patient and the
to the nurse, "How is Mary doing? She is my best friend patient's care. Confidentiality is basic to the therapeutic relationship and is a
and is seen at your clinic every week." Which is the MOST patient's right. The most appropriate response to the neighbor is the statement of
APPROPRIATE nursing response? that responsibility in a direct, but polite manner. A blunt statement that does not
A "I can not discuss any patient situation with you." acknowledge why the nurse cannot reveal patient information may be taken as
B "If you want to know about Mary, you need t ask her disrespectful and uncaring. The remaining options identify statements that do not
yourself." maintain patient confidentiality.
C "Only because you're worried about a friend, I'll tell
you that she is improving."
D "Being her friend, you know she is having a difficult time
and deserves her privacy."
The nurse calls security and has physical restraints BCE
applied when a client who was admitted voluntarily False imprisonment is an act with the intent to confine a person to a specific area.
becomes both physically and verbally abusive while The nurse can be charged with false imprisonment if the nurse prohibits a patient
demanding to be discharged from the hospital. Which from leaving the hospital if the patient has been admitted voluntarily and if no
represents the possible legal ramifications for the nurse agency or legal policies exist for detaining the patient. Assault and battery are
associated with these interventions? Select all that apply. related to the act of restraining the patient in a situation that did not meet criteria
A Libel for such an intervention. Libel and slander are not applicable here since the nurse
B Battery did not write or verbally make untrue statements about the patient
C Assault
D Slander
E False Imprisonment
Libel A written defamation of a person's character, reputation, business, or property
rights.
Slander Spoken defamation
battery Illegal touching of another person
