C HAPTER 08: T HERAPEUTIC R ELATIONSHIPS
Halter: Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psyc hiatric-Mental Health Nursing: A
Clinical Approach, 9th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. What action should a nurse take to demonstrate genuineness with a patient
diagnosed with schizophrenia?
a. Restate what the patient says.
b. Use congruent communication strategies.
c. Use self-revelation in patient i nteractions.
d. Consistentl y interpret the patient’s behaviors.
ANS: B
Genuineness is a desirable characteristic involving awareness of one’s
own feelings as they arise and the abilit y to communicate them when
appropriate. The incorrect options are undesira ble in a therapeutic
relationship.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client
Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
2. A nurse caring for a withdrawn, suspicious patient recognizes
development of fe elings of anger toward the patient. The nurse should
take what action?
a. Suppress the angry feelings.
, b. Express the anger openl y and directl y with the patient.
c. Ask the nurse manager to assign the patient to another nurse.
d. Discuss the anger with a clinician dur ing 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 countertransference feelings.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: Client Needs:
Psychosocial Integrity
3. A nurse wants to enhance growth of a patient by showing positive regard.
What nursing action most likel y achieve this goal?
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 tas ks that could
be part of an assignment and do not necessaril y reflect positive regard.
Examining feelings regarding a patient addresses the nurse’s abilit y to
be therapeutic.
, PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Imple mentation MSC: Client
Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
4. When a patient says, “I’ve done a lot of cheating and manipulating in m y
relationships.”, what nonjudgmental response should the nurse provide?
a. “How do you feel about that?”
b. “I am glad that you realize this.”
c. “That’s 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 encourages the patient
to explore feelings and values. The remaining options offer negative
judgments.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client
Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
5. A patient says, “People should be allowed to commit suicide without
interference from others.” A nurse replies, “You’re 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 reflec ted in the two statements.
Halter: Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psyc hiatric-Mental Health Nursing: A
Clinical Approach, 9th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. What action should a nurse take to demonstrate genuineness with a patient
diagnosed with schizophrenia?
a. Restate what the patient says.
b. Use congruent communication strategies.
c. Use self-revelation in patient i nteractions.
d. Consistentl y interpret the patient’s behaviors.
ANS: B
Genuineness is a desirable characteristic involving awareness of one’s
own feelings as they arise and the abilit y to communicate them when
appropriate. The incorrect options are undesira ble in a therapeutic
relationship.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client
Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
2. A nurse caring for a withdrawn, suspicious patient recognizes
development of fe elings of anger toward the patient. The nurse should
take what action?
a. Suppress the angry feelings.
, b. Express the anger openl y and directl y with the patient.
c. Ask the nurse manager to assign the patient to another nurse.
d. Discuss the anger with a clinician dur ing 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 countertransference feelings.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: Client Needs:
Psychosocial Integrity
3. A nurse wants to enhance growth of a patient by showing positive regard.
What nursing action most likel y achieve this goal?
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 tas ks that could
be part of an assignment and do not necessaril y reflect positive regard.
Examining feelings regarding a patient addresses the nurse’s abilit y to
be therapeutic.
, PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Imple mentation MSC: Client
Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
4. When a patient says, “I’ve done a lot of cheating and manipulating in m y
relationships.”, what nonjudgmental response should the nurse provide?
a. “How do you feel about that?”
b. “I am glad that you realize this.”
c. “That’s 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 encourages the patient
to explore feelings and values. The remaining options offer negative
judgments.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client
Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
5. A patient says, “People should be allowed to commit suicide without
interference from others.” A nurse replies, “You’re 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 reflec ted in the two statements.
