Therapeutic Communication Final EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(ALREADY GRADED A+) (2024 UPDATE) 100% GUARANTEED
A patient with a diagnosis of major depression who has attempted suicide says to the nurse, "I
should have died! I've always been a failure. Nothing ever goes right for me." Which response
demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. "You have everything to live for."
B. "Why do you see yourself as a failure?"
C. "Feeling like this is all part of being depressed."
D. "You've been feeling like a failure for a while?" - ANSWER- Answer: D. "You've been
feeling like a failure for a while?"
Responding to the feelings expressed by a patient is an effective therapeutic communication
technique. The correct option is an example of the use of restating. The remaining options block
communication because they minimize the patient's experience and do not facilitate exploration of
the patient's expressed feelings. In addition, use of the word "why" is nontherapeutic.
When the community health nurse visits a patient at home, the patient states, "I haven't slept the
last couple of nights." Which response by the nurse illustrates a therapeutic communication
response to this patient.
A. "I see."
B. "Really?"
C. "You're having difficulty sleeping?"
D. "Sometimes, I have trouble sleeping too." - ANSWER- Answer: C. "You're having difficulty
sleeping?"
The correct option uses the therapeutic communication technique of restatement. Although
restatement is a technique that has a prompting component to it, it repeats the patients major theme,
which assists the nurse to obtain a more specific perception of the problem from the patient. The
,remaining options are not therapeutic responses since none encourage the patient to expand on the
problem. Offering personal experiences moves the focus away from the patient and onto the nurse.
A patient experiencing disturbed thought processes believes that his food is being poisoned. Which
communication technique should the use to encourage the patient to eat?
A. Using open-ended questions and silence
B. Sharing personal preference regarding food choices
C. Documenting reasons why the patient does not want to eat
D. Offering opinions about the necessity of adequate nutrition - ANSWER- Answer: A. Using
open-ended questions and silence
Open-ended questions and silence are strategies use to encourage patients to discuss their
problems. Sharing personal food preferences is not a patient-centered intervention. The remaining
options are not helpful to the patient because they do not encourage the patient to express feelings.
The nurse should not offer opinions and should encourage the patient to identify the reasons for
the behavior.
A patient admitted to a mental health unit for treatment of psychotic behavior spends hours at the
locked exit door shouting. "Let me out. There's nothing wrong with me. I don't belong here." What
defense mechanism is the patient implementing?
A. Denial
B. Projection
C. Regression
D. Rationalization - ANSWER- Answer: A. Denial.
Denial is refusal to admit to a painful reality, which is treated as if it does not exist. In projection,
a person unconsciously rejects emotionally unacceptable features and attributes them to other
persons, objects, or situations. Regression allows the patient to return to an earlier, more
comforting, although less mature, way of behaving. Rationalization is justifying illogical or
unreasonable ideas, actions, or feelings by developing acceptable explanations that satisfy the
teller and the listener.
,5. A patient diagnosed with terminal cancer says to the nurse "I'm going to die, and I wish my
family would stop hoping for a cure! I get so angry when they carry on like this. After all, I'm the
one who's dying." Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
A. "Have you shared your feelings with your family?"
B. "I think we should talk more about your anger with your family."
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." - ANSWER-
Answer: C. "You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope for you to be cured?"
Restating is a therapeutic communication technique in which the nurse repeats what the patient
says to show understanding and to review what was said. While it is appropriate for the nurse to
attempt to assess the patient's ability to discuss feelings openly with family members, it does not
help the patient discuss the feelings causing the anger. The nurse's attempt to focus on the central
issue of anger is premature. The nurse would never make a judgment regarding the reason for the
patient's feeling, this is non-therapeutic in the one-to-one relationship.
On review of the patients record, the nurse notes the admission was voluntary. Based on this
information, the nurse anticipates which patient behavior?
A. Fearfulness regarding treatment measures.
B. Anger and aggressiveness directed toward others.
C. An understanding of the pathology and symptoms of the diagnosis.
D. A willingness to participate in the planning of the care and treatment plan. - ANSWER-
Answer: D. A willingness to participate in the planning of the care and treatment plan.
In general, patients seek voluntary admission. If a patient seeks voluntary admission, the most
likely expectations is the patient will participate in the treatment program since they are actively
seeking help. The remaining options are not characteristics of this type of admission. Fearfulness,
anger, and aggressiveness are more characteristic of an involuntary admission. Voluntary
admission does not guarantee a patient's understanding of their illness, only of their desire for help.
, A patient admitted voluntarily for treatment of an anxiety disorder demands to be released from
the hospital. Which action should the nurse take INITIALLY?
A. Contact the patient's health care provider (HCP).
B. Call the patient's family to arrange for transportations.
C. Attempt to persuade the patient to stay for only a few more days.
D. Tell the patient that leaving would likely result in an involuntary commitment. - ANSWER-
Answer: A. Contact the patient's health care provider (HCP).
In general, patients seek, voluntary admission. Voluntary patients have the right to demand and
obtain release. The nurse needs to be familiar with the state and facility policies and procedures.
The best nursing action is to contact the HCP, who has the authority to discuss discharge with the
patient. While arranging for safe transportation is appropriate it is premature in this situation and
should be done only with the patient's' permission. While it is appropriate to discuss why the patient
feels the need to leave and the possible outcomes of leaving against 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 notes that a patient was admitted to the
mental health unit involuntarily. Based on this type of admission, the nurse should provide which
intervention for this patient?
A. Monitor closely for harm to self or others.
B. Assist in completing an application for 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. -
ANSWER- Answer: A. Monitor closely for harm to self or others.
Involuntary admission is necessary when a person is a danger to self or others or is in need of
psychiatric treatment regardless of the patient's willingness to consent to the hospitalization. A
written request is a component of a voluntary admission. Providing written information regarding
(ALREADY GRADED A+) (2024 UPDATE) 100% GUARANTEED
A patient with a diagnosis of major depression who has attempted suicide says to the nurse, "I
should have died! I've always been a failure. Nothing ever goes right for me." Which response
demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. "You have everything to live for."
B. "Why do you see yourself as a failure?"
C. "Feeling like this is all part of being depressed."
D. "You've been feeling like a failure for a while?" - ANSWER- Answer: D. "You've been
feeling like a failure for a while?"
Responding to the feelings expressed by a patient is an effective therapeutic communication
technique. The correct option is an example of the use of restating. The remaining options block
communication because they minimize the patient's experience and do not facilitate exploration of
the patient's expressed feelings. In addition, use of the word "why" is nontherapeutic.
When the community health nurse visits a patient at home, the patient states, "I haven't slept the
last couple of nights." Which response by the nurse illustrates a therapeutic communication
response to this patient.
A. "I see."
B. "Really?"
C. "You're having difficulty sleeping?"
D. "Sometimes, I have trouble sleeping too." - ANSWER- Answer: C. "You're having difficulty
sleeping?"
The correct option uses the therapeutic communication technique of restatement. Although
restatement is a technique that has a prompting component to it, it repeats the patients major theme,
which assists the nurse to obtain a more specific perception of the problem from the patient. The
,remaining options are not therapeutic responses since none encourage the patient to expand on the
problem. Offering personal experiences moves the focus away from the patient and onto the nurse.
A patient experiencing disturbed thought processes believes that his food is being poisoned. Which
communication technique should the use to encourage the patient to eat?
A. Using open-ended questions and silence
B. Sharing personal preference regarding food choices
C. Documenting reasons why the patient does not want to eat
D. Offering opinions about the necessity of adequate nutrition - ANSWER- Answer: A. Using
open-ended questions and silence
Open-ended questions and silence are strategies use to encourage patients to discuss their
problems. Sharing personal food preferences is not a patient-centered intervention. The remaining
options are not helpful to the patient because they do not encourage the patient to express feelings.
The nurse should not offer opinions and should encourage the patient to identify the reasons for
the behavior.
A patient admitted to a mental health unit for treatment of psychotic behavior spends hours at the
locked exit door shouting. "Let me out. There's nothing wrong with me. I don't belong here." What
defense mechanism is the patient implementing?
A. Denial
B. Projection
C. Regression
D. Rationalization - ANSWER- Answer: A. Denial.
Denial is refusal to admit to a painful reality, which is treated as if it does not exist. In projection,
a person unconsciously rejects emotionally unacceptable features and attributes them to other
persons, objects, or situations. Regression allows the patient to return to an earlier, more
comforting, although less mature, way of behaving. Rationalization is justifying illogical or
unreasonable ideas, actions, or feelings by developing acceptable explanations that satisfy the
teller and the listener.
,5. A patient diagnosed with terminal cancer says to the nurse "I'm going to die, and I wish my
family would stop hoping for a cure! I get so angry when they carry on like this. After all, I'm the
one who's dying." Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
A. "Have you shared your feelings with your family?"
B. "I think we should talk more about your anger with your family."
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." - ANSWER-
Answer: C. "You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope for you to be cured?"
Restating is a therapeutic communication technique in which the nurse repeats what the patient
says to show understanding and to review what was said. While it is appropriate for the nurse to
attempt to assess the patient's ability to discuss feelings openly with family members, it does not
help the patient discuss the feelings causing the anger. The nurse's attempt to focus on the central
issue of anger is premature. The nurse would never make a judgment regarding the reason for the
patient's feeling, this is non-therapeutic in the one-to-one relationship.
On review of the patients record, the nurse notes the admission was voluntary. Based on this
information, the nurse anticipates which patient behavior?
A. Fearfulness regarding treatment measures.
B. Anger and aggressiveness directed toward others.
C. An understanding of the pathology and symptoms of the diagnosis.
D. A willingness to participate in the planning of the care and treatment plan. - ANSWER-
Answer: D. A willingness to participate in the planning of the care and treatment plan.
In general, patients seek voluntary admission. If a patient seeks voluntary admission, the most
likely expectations is the patient will participate in the treatment program since they are actively
seeking help. The remaining options are not characteristics of this type of admission. Fearfulness,
anger, and aggressiveness are more characteristic of an involuntary admission. Voluntary
admission does not guarantee a patient's understanding of their illness, only of their desire for help.
, A patient admitted voluntarily for treatment of an anxiety disorder demands to be released from
the hospital. Which action should the nurse take INITIALLY?
A. Contact the patient's health care provider (HCP).
B. Call the patient's family to arrange for transportations.
C. Attempt to persuade the patient to stay for only a few more days.
D. Tell the patient that leaving would likely result in an involuntary commitment. - ANSWER-
Answer: A. Contact the patient's health care provider (HCP).
In general, patients seek, voluntary admission. Voluntary patients have the right to demand and
obtain release. The nurse needs to be familiar with the state and facility policies and procedures.
The best nursing action is to contact the HCP, who has the authority to discuss discharge with the
patient. While arranging for safe transportation is appropriate it is premature in this situation and
should be done only with the patient's' permission. While it is appropriate to discuss why the patient
feels the need to leave and the possible outcomes of leaving against 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 notes that a patient was admitted to the
mental health unit involuntarily. Based on this type of admission, the nurse should provide which
intervention for this patient?
A. Monitor closely for harm to self or others.
B. Assist in completing an application for 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. -
ANSWER- Answer: A. Monitor closely for harm to self or others.
Involuntary admission is necessary when a person is a danger to self or others or is in need of
psychiatric treatment regardless of the patient's willingness to consent to the hospitalization. A
written request is a component of a voluntary admission. Providing written information regarding
