C HAPTER 08: T HERAPEUTIC R ELATIONSHIPS
Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric -Mental Health Nursing: 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A nurse wants to demonstrate genuineness with a patient diagnosed with
schizophrenia. The nurse should:
a. restate what the patient says.
b. use congruent com munication strategies.
c. use self-revelation in patient interactions.
d. consistentl y interpret the patients behaviors.
ANS: B
Genuineness is a desirable characteristic involving awareness of ones
own feelings as they arise and the abilit y to communicate them when
appropriate. The incorrect options are undesirable in a therapeutic
relationship.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
REF: 132 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
2. A nurse caring for a withdrawn, suspicious patient recognizes
development of feelings of anger toward the patient. The nurse should:
a. suppress the angry feelings.
b. express the anger openl y and directl y with the patient.
c. tell the nurse manager to assign the patient to another nurse.
, d. discuss the anger with a clinician during a supervisory session.
ANS: D
The nurse is accountable for the relationship. Objectivit y is threatened
by strong positive or negative feelings toward a patient. Supervision is
necessary to work through cou ntertransference feelings.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
REF: 125 TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC:
Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
3. A nurse wants to enhance growth of a patient by showing positive regard.
The nurses action most likel y to achieve this goal is:
a. making rounds dail y.
b. staying with a tearful patient.
c. administering medication as prescribed.
d. examining personal feelings about a patient.
ANS: B
Staying with a crying patient offers support and shows positive regard.
Administering dail y medication and making rounds are tasks that could
be part of an assignment and do not necessaril y reflect positive regard.
Examining feelings regarding a patient addresses the nurses abilit y to
be therapeutic.
, PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
REF: 132 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
4. A patient says, Ive done a lot of cheating and manipulating in m y
relationships. Select a nonjudgmental response by the nurse.
a. How do you feel about that?
b. I am glad that you realize this.
c. Thats not a good way to behave.
d. Have you outgrown that t ype of behavior?
ANS: A
Asking a patient to reflect on feelings about his or her actions does not
impl y any judgment about those actions, and it enc ourages the patient
to explore feelings and values. The remaining options offer negative
judgments.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
REF: 136 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
5. A patient says, People should be allowed to commit suicide without
interference from others. A nurse replies, Youre wrong. Nothing is bad
enough to justify death. What is the best anal ysis of this interchange?
a. The patient is correct.
b. The nurse is correct.
c. Neither person is correct.
d. Differing values are reflected in the two statements.
Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric -Mental Health Nursing: 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A nurse wants to demonstrate genuineness with a patient diagnosed with
schizophrenia. The nurse should:
a. restate what the patient says.
b. use congruent com munication strategies.
c. use self-revelation in patient interactions.
d. consistentl y interpret the patients behaviors.
ANS: B
Genuineness is a desirable characteristic involving awareness of ones
own feelings as they arise and the abilit y to communicate them when
appropriate. The incorrect options are undesirable in a therapeutic
relationship.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
REF: 132 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
2. A nurse caring for a withdrawn, suspicious patient recognizes
development of feelings of anger toward the patient. The nurse should:
a. suppress the angry feelings.
b. express the anger openl y and directl y with the patient.
c. tell the nurse manager to assign the patient to another nurse.
, d. discuss the anger with a clinician during a supervisory session.
ANS: D
The nurse is accountable for the relationship. Objectivit y is threatened
by strong positive or negative feelings toward a patient. Supervision is
necessary to work through cou ntertransference feelings.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
REF: 125 TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC:
Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
3. A nurse wants to enhance growth of a patient by showing positive regard.
The nurses action most likel y to achieve this goal is:
a. making rounds dail y.
b. staying with a tearful patient.
c. administering medication as prescribed.
d. examining personal feelings about a patient.
ANS: B
Staying with a crying patient offers support and shows positive regard.
Administering dail y medication and making rounds are tasks that could
be part of an assignment and do not necessaril y reflect positive regard.
Examining feelings regarding a patient addresses the nurses abilit y to
be therapeutic.
, PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
REF: 132 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
4. A patient says, Ive done a lot of cheating and manipulating in m y
relationships. Select a nonjudgmental response by the nurse.
a. How do you feel about that?
b. I am glad that you realize this.
c. Thats not a good way to behave.
d. Have you outgrown that t ype of behavior?
ANS: A
Asking a patient to reflect on feelings about his or her actions does not
impl y any judgment about those actions, and it enc ourages the patient
to explore feelings and values. The remaining options offer negative
judgments.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
REF: 136 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
5. A patient says, People should be allowed to commit suicide without
interference from others. A nurse replies, Youre wrong. Nothing is bad
enough to justify death. What is the best anal ysis of this interchange?
a. The patient is correct.
b. The nurse is correct.
c. Neither person is correct.
d. Differing values are reflected in the two statements.
