CH6 Therapeutic Communication

Question 0

Define Process as it relates to non-verbal communication.

Answer 0

Process - denotes all all non-verbal messages that the speaker uses to give meaning and context to the message.

Question 1

Define the Content and Context as it relates to verbal communication.

Answer 1

1) Content - The literal words that a person speaks
2) Context - The environment in which communication occurs and can include the time and the physical, social, emotional, and cultural environments. Context includes the situation or circumstances that clarify the meaning of the content of the message.

Question 2

Define Congruent and Incongruent messages.

Answer 2

1) Congruent - Action and words agree (i.e., someone says they are sorry and has an ashamed look on their face).
2) Incongruent - Action and words don’t match (i.e., someone says I’m sorry but they are smiling).

Question 3

What are the 8 goals of Therapeutic Communication?

Answer 3

1) Establish a therapeutic nurse-client relationship
2) Identify the most important c,isn’t concern at that moment
3) Assess the Clint’s perception of the problem
4) Facilitates the client’s expression of emotions
5) Teach the client and family necessary self-care skills
6) Recognize the Clint’s needs
7) Implement interventions designed to address the client’s needs
8) Guide the client towards identifying a plan of action to a satisfying and socially acceptable resolution.

Question 4

Define Proxemics

Answer 4

Proxemics - The study of distance zones between people during communication.

Question 5

What are the 4 Distance Zones as they relate to communication?

Answer 5

1) Intimate Zone (0-18 inches)
2) Personal Zone (18-36 inches)
3) Social Zone (4-12 feet)
4) Public Zone (12-25 feet)

Question 6

Describe the 5 types of touch

Answer 6

1) Functional/Professional
2) Social/Polite
3) Friendship/Warmth
4) Love/Intimacy
5) Sexual/Arousal

Question 7

Define Active Listening and Active Observation

Answer 7

1) Active Listening - Refraining from other internal mental activities and concentrating on what the client says.
2) Active Observation - Watching the speaker’s non-verbal actions as he or she communicates.

Question 8

Define Concrete and Abstract Messages

Answer 8

1) Concrete Messages - A message in which the words are explicit and need no interpretation.
2) Abstract Messages - A message in with unclear patterns of words that often contain figures of speech that are difficult to interpret.

Question 9

Define Overt Cues and Covert Cues.

Answer 9

1) Overt Cues - Clear, direct statements of intent, such as “I want to die”. The messages is clear that the client is thinking of suicide or self-harm.
2) Covert Cues - Vague or indirect messages that need interpretation and explanation. i.e., “Nothing can help me”.

Question 10

Define the following terms as they relate to verbal communication:

1) Theme
2) Metaphors
3) Proverbs
4) Clichés

Answer 10

1) Theme - The subject of talk
2) Metaphors - A phrase that describes an object or situation by comparing it to something else familiar.
3) Proverbs - Old accepted sayings with generally accepted meanings.
4) Clichés - An expression that has become trite and generally conveys a stereotype.

Question 11

What are the 3 categories of Facial Expression?

Answer 11

1) Expressive - Portrays the person’s moment by moment thoughts, feelings and needs. The expressions may be evident even when the person does not want to reveal his or her emotions.
2) Impassive - When the face is frozen into an emotionless deadpan expression similar to a mask.
3) Confusing - A facial expression that is opposite of what the person wants to convey.

Question 12

Define Circumstantiality

Answer 12

Circumstantiality - The use of extraneous words with long, tedious, descriptions. It can indicate the client is confused about what is important or is a poor historian.

Question 13

Define Spirituality. How does spirituality defer from religion?

Answer 13

Spirituality is a client’s belief about life, health, illness, death, and one’s relationship to the universe. It defers from religion which is an organized system of beliefs about one or more all-powerful, all-knowing forces that govern the universe and offer guidelines for loving in harmony with the universe and others.

Question 14

What are the 7 goals of Therapeutic Commnication?

Answer 14

1) Establish a rapport
2) Identifying issues of concern
3) Being empathetic, genuine, and caring, unconditionally accepting of the person.
4) Exploring the clients thought and feelings
5) Developing problem solving skills
6) Promoting the client’s evaluation of solutions

Question 15

Define Directive Roles Vs. Non-Directive Roles

Answer 15

1) Directive Roles - Asking direct, yes/no questions and using problem solving to help the client develop new coping mechanisms to deal with the present, here and now issues.
2) Non-Directive Roles - Using broad openings and open-ended questions to collect information and help the client to identify and discuss the topic of concern.

Question 16

Define Assertive Communication

Answer 16

Assertive Communication - The ability to express positive and negative ideas and feelings in an open, honest, and direct way.