therapeutic Communication Techniques

Question 1

Accepting

Answer 1

Indicating reception

-An accepting response indicates the nurse has HEARD and FOLLOWED the train of thought

“yes”
“I understand what you said”
Nodding

Question 2

Board Openings

Answer 2

Allowing clinet to take initiative in introducing the topic

• Broad openings make explicit that the client has the lead in the interaction

“Is there something you’d like to talk about?”
“Where would you like to begin”

Question 3

Consensual Validation

Answer 3

Searching for mutual understanding, for accord in the meaining of the words

• For verbal communication to be meaningful, the words used must have the same meaning for both (all) participants

“Tell me whether my understanding of it agrees with yours”

Question 4

Encouraging Comparison

Answer 4

Asking that similarities and differences be noted

• comparing ideas, experiences, or relationships brings out many recurrent themes

“Was it something like…?”
“Have you had similar experiences?”

Question 5

Encouraging descriptions of prescriptions

Answer 5

Asking the client to verbalize what they perceve

• To understand the client, the nurse must see things from their perspective

“Tell me when you feel anxious”
“Do tell me what is happening?”
“What does the voice seem to be saying?”

Question 6

Encouraging expression

Answer 6

Asking the client to appraise the quality of their experiences

• the nurse asks the client to consider people and events in light of their own values

“What are your feelings regarding…?”
“Does this contribute to your distress?

Question 7

Exploring

Answer 7

Delving further into a subject or idea

• When clients deal with topics superficially, explorign can help them examine the issue more fully

“Tell me more about that”
“Would you describe it more fully?”

Question 8

Focusing

Answer 8

Concentrating on a single point

• The nurse encourages the client to concentrate the energies on a single point, preventing many factors or problems from overwhelming the clinet

“This point seems worth looking at more closely”

Question 9

Formulating a plan of action

Answer 9

Asking the client to consider the kinds of behavior likely to be appropriate in future situations

• it may be helpful for the client to plan what they might do in future similar situations

“What could you do to let your anger out harmlessly?”

Question 10

General Leads

Answer 10

Encouraging to continue

• general leads indicate that the nurse is listening and following what the client is saying without taking away the initiative for interaction

“Go on.”
“And then?”

Question 11

Giving information

Answer 11

Making available the facts that the client needs

-Informing the client of facts increases their knowledge about a topic or lets them know what to expect

“My name is…”
“These are your medications…”
“Visiting hours are…”

Question 12

Giving Recognition

Answer 12

Aknowledging, indicating awareness

• Greeting the client by name, indicating awareness of change, or oting efforts the client has mad all show that the nurse recognizes the client as a person, as an individual.

“good morning Mr….”
“you’ve finished your list of things to do.”

Question 13

Making observations

Answer 13

Verbelizing what the nurse precieves

-Sometimes clients cannot verbalize or make themselves understood

“You appear tense.”
“Are you uncomfortable when…?”

Question 14

Offering self

Answer 14

Making oneself available

-the nurse can offer their presence, interest, and desire to understand

“I’ll sit with you awhile.”

Question 15

Placing events in time or sequence

Answer 15

Clarifying the relationships of events in time

• Putting events in proper sequence helps both the nurse and client to see them in perspective

“What seemed to lead up to..?”

Question 16

Placing events in time or sequence

Answer 16

Clarifying the relationship of events in time

-Putting events in proper sequence helps both the nurse and client to see them in perspective

“what seemed to lead up to…?”

Question 17

Presenting reality

Answer 17

Offering for consideration that which is real

• When it is obvious that the client is misinterpreting reality, the nurse can indicate what is real

“I see no one else in the room”

Question 18

Reflecting

Answer 18

Directing client actions, thoughts, and feelings back to the client

• reflection encourages the client to recognize or accept their own feelings

client: “Do you think i should tell the doctor?”
nurse: “Do you think you should?”

Question 19

Restating

Answer 19

Repeating the main idea expressed

• The nurse repeats what the client has said in approximately the same words the client has used

client: “I can’t sleep. I stay awake all night.”
nurse: “you have difficulty sleeping”

Question 20

Seeking information

Answer 20

seeking to make clear that which is not meaningful or that which is vague

• the nurse should seek clarification through interactions with clients

“I’m not sure that I follow. Could you tell me more?”

Question 21

Silence

Answer 21

The absence of verbal communication allows the client to put thoughts or feelings into words, regain composure, or continue talking

• Silence often encourages the client to verbalize, providing that it is interesting and expectant

“the nurse says nothing but continues to make eye contact and conveys interest”

Question 22

Suggesting Collaberation

Answer 22

Offering to share, to strive, to work with the client for their benefit

• The nurse seeks to offer a relationship in which the client can identify problesms in living with others, grow emotionally, and improve the ability to form satisfactory relationships

“perhaps you and I can discuss and discover the triggers for your anxiety

Question 23

Summarizing

Answer 23

Organizing and summing up that which has gone before

• Summarization seeks to bring out te important points of the discussion and increase both participant’s awareness and understanding

“So, in summary…”
“Have I got this straight?”

Question 24

Translating into feelings

Answer 24

Seeking to verbalize client’s feelings that they express only indirectly

• often what the client says, when taken literally, seems meaningless or far removed from reality

client: “I’m dead.”
nurse: “are you suggesting that you feel lifeless?”

Question 25

Verbalizing the implied

Answer 25

Voicing what the client has hinted or suggested

-putting into words what the client has implied or said indirectly tends to make the discussion less obscure

Client: “I can’t talk to you or anyone. It’s a waste of time
Nurse: “Do you feel that no one understands?”

Question 26

Voicing doubt

Answer 26

expressing uncertainty abbout the reality of the client’s perception

• another means of responding to distortions of reality is to express doubt

“isn’t that unusual?
“really?”

Question 27

Open-ended comments

Answer 27

Unfinished sentences prompt the client to continue. Questions that cannot be answered with a one-word answer.

• allows the client to decide what content is relevant

“tell me more about your pain”
“tell me about your family”

Question 28

Clarifying

Answer 28

It makes the meaning of the client’s message clear

• it prevents nurses from making assumptions about the client’s message

Client: “whenever I talk to my doctor, I feel so upset.”
Nurse: “tell me what is making you upset”

Question 29

Confronting

Answer 29

Nurse’s verbal response to incongruence between client’s words and actions

• encourages client to recognize potential areas for change

Client: “Im so angry at her!”
Nurse: “you said you are angry, yet you are smiling?”

Question 30

Setting Limits

Answer 30

Stating expectations for appropriate behavior

-Establishing behavioral parameters

Nurse: “it seems that you are feeling unsure of how yo behave right now”
Client: “what do you mean?”
Nurse: “well, you are asking me a lot of personal questions. The reason you are here is that you have some health issues and problems. Tell me more clearly what brought you her to the clinic so i can help you.?”