ATI Fundamentals: Chapter 32 (Therapeutic Communication)

Question 1

A nurse is caring for a client who is newly admitted to the unit. Which action should the nurse take to establish a helping relationship with the client?
a. Make sure the communication is equally distributed between the nurse’s and clients desires.
b. Encourage the client to communicate their thoughts and feelings.
c. Give the nurse-client communication no time limits.
d. Allow communication to occur spontaneously thought the nurse-client relationship

Answer 1

a. When taking actions to establish a helping relationship with the client, the nurse should establish communication that is client-focused.
b. CORRECT: Therapeutic communication facilitates a helping relationship that maximizes the client’s ability to express their thoughts and feelings openly.
c. Limit therapeutic communication to the boundaries of the therapeutic relationship, including time.
d. Plan therapeutic communication

Question 2

Which of the following actions should the nurse take when demonstrating an empathic presence to a client? (SATA)
a. Use an open posture
b. Write down what the client says to avoid forgetting details
c. Establish and maintain eye contact
d. Nod in agreement with the client throughout the conversation
e. Sit facing the client

Answer 2

CORRECT: A, C, E
b. Writing down everything the client says can interfere with the ability to convey full attention and interest.
d. If the nurse nods in agreement throughout the conversation, the client could interpret that as agreement with what the client is saying when instead the nurse meant to convey attending to and understanding what they are saying.

Question 3

A nurse is caring for a school-age child who is sitting in a chair. To facilitate effective communication, which of the following actions should the nurse take?
a. Touch the child’s arm
b. Sit at eye level with the child
c. Stand facing the child
d. Stand with a relaxed posture

Answer 3

a. Touching can intimidate the child and block communication.
b. CORRECT: Being at the same eye level as the child facilitates communication.
c. Standing can appear domineering and intimidating, even with a relaxed posture.
d. Standing can appear domineering and intimidating, even with a relaxed posture.

Question 4

Sort the listed skills and techniques into the effective category or the ineffective category.
a. Stereotyping
b. Challenging
c. Clarifying
d. Approving
e. Active Listening
F. Asking for an explanation

Answer 4

Effective: C, E
Ineffective: A, B, D, F

Question 5

A nurse is caring for a client who is concerned about being discharged to home with a new colostomy because of being an avid swimmer. Which of the following statements should the nurse make? (SATA)
a. “You will do great! You just have to get used to it.”
b. “Why are you worried about going home?”
c. “Your daily routines will be different when you get home.”
d. “Tell me about the support system you’ll have after you leave the hospital.”
e. “It sounds like you are not sure how having a colostomy will affect swimming.”

Answer 5

a. Giving false reassurance and minimizing the client’s feelings are both barriers to effective communication.
b. Although this might appear to help the client discuss their feelings, asking “why” is a barrier to effective communication because it could make the client react defensively.
c. CORRECT: Presenting reality is an effective communication technique that can help the client focus on what will really happen after the changes the surgery has made.
d. CORRECT: Asking open-ended questions and offering general leads and broad opening statement are effective communication techniques that encourage the client to express feelings through dialogue and offer additional information.
e. CORRECT: Focusing is an effective communication technique that clearly directs the interaction to a relevant point.