Therapeutic Communication

Question 1

1. Which statement best describes the professional psychiatric nurse/patient role?
   a. It involves helping the patient explore areas that the patient identifies as important concerns.
   b. It is limited to administering medications and monitoring responses to these.
   c. It involves providing intensive psychotherapy daily.
   d. It focuses solely on nutritional and sleep needs of the patients.

Answer 1

a. It involves helping the patient explore areas that the patient identifies as important concerns.

Question 2

2. A psychotic patient tells the nurse he has no internal organs. Which of these is a therapeutic
   response? MARK ALL THAT APPLY.
   a. You wouldn’t be alive if you had no internal organs.
   b. Listen to your heart with my stethoscope.
   c. I understand that you are feeling that way.
   d. That would be somewhat unusual.
   e. Sometimes I feel that way when I’m hungry.

Answer 2

c. I understand that you are feeling that way.
d. That would be somewhat unusual.

Question 3

3. A patient tells the nurse that a computer is controlling his thoughts. What is an example of a literal
   response to this?
   a. “That would be unusual”.
   b. “Did you sleep well?”
   c. “How are you feeling today?”
   d. “Is the computer an Apple or a Dell?”

Answer 3

d. “Is the computer an Apple or a Dell?”

Question 4

4. A patient tells the nurse he has nothing to live for. Which response is a belittling response to this?
   a. Everyone gets down in the dumps sometimes.
   b. Tell me more about that.
   c. You sound very hopeless right now.
   d. Are you having suicidal thoughts?

Answer 4

a. Everyone gets down in the dumps sometimes.

Question 5

5. The nurse asks how the patient’s weekend went and the patient says, “OK, I guess” and then sits
   quietly. What is the best response by the nurse?
   a. “That’s good. Sounds like it went well”.
   b. “Could you tell me more about it?”
   c. “So, it wasn’t too great”.
   d. “I think you should explore this with your therapist”.

Answer 5

b. “Could you tell me more about it?”

Question 6

6. A suicidal nurse anesthetist patient says, “I don’t want to be here. The staff don’t give a damn”.
   What is the nurse’s best response?
   a. “Your doctor and staff have your best interests at heart”.
   b. “If you die, think of how your family will feel”.
   c. “It seems hard for you to know if anyone really cares here”.
   d. “Where exactly do you work as an anesthetist?”

Answer 6

c. “It seems hard for you to know if anyone really cares here”.

Question 7

7. A patient very anxiously tells the nurse she is worried she will lose her children and her job since
   she has been admitted involuntarily to the psychiatric unit. What is the nurse’s best response?
   a. “Let’s hope for the best”.
   b. “Everything will work out fine I’m sure”.
   c. “I don’t want to hear you catastrophizing”.
   d. “I see that you are very worried. Let’s sit here and talk”.

Answer 7

d. “I see that you are very worried. Let’s sit here and talk”.

Question 8

8. A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia says, “I’m hearing voices, weird, they’ll get me” and looks
   fearful. How should the nurse respond? Select all that apply.
   a. You are probably just hearing the T.V.
   b. Are the voices telling you to do anything?
   c. I’m not hearing them, but I understand that you are.
   d. I can give you a medication that will help reduce the voices.
   e. You seem scared so I’ll stay with you.

Answer 8

b. Are the voices telling you to do anything?
c. I’m not hearing them, but I understand that you are.
d. I can give you a medication that will help reduce the voices.
e. You seem scared so I’ll stay with you.

Question 9

9. A patient says her boyfriend is not supportive and does not understand her mental health problems.
   What is the nurse’s best response?
   a. Tell the patient about the nurse’s own problems with a partner.
   b. Advise the patient to leave the relationship now.
   c. Explore with the patient what she would like to do about this situation.
   d. Tell the patient all relationships have some problems.

Answer 9

c. Explore with the patient what she would like to do about this situation.

Question 10

10. A patient says “I’ll be going away soon. I’ve been so depressed lately. I want you to have my chess
    set that I love so much”.
    a. Say thank you and take the chess set.
    b. Ask directly if the patient is having suicidal thoughts.
    c. Ask where the patient will be going on vacation.
    d. Tell the patient you know he’ll be feeling better if he tries harder.

Answer 10

b. Ask directly if the patient is having suicidal thoughts.