Videbeck Ch 6, Therapeutic Communication Flashcards
What is therapeutic communication?
An interpersonal interaction between the nurse and the client focused on the client’s specific needs to promote effective information exchange.
It helps nurses understand and empathize with the client’s experience.
Why do all nurses need skills in therapeutic communication?
To effectively apply the nursing process and meet standards of care for their clients.
These skills are essential for providing high-quality patient care.
What are the goals of therapeutic communication? List at least three.
- Establish a therapeutic nurse-client relationship.
- Identify the most important client concern.
- Assess the client’s perception of the problem.
Additional goals include facilitating emotional expression, teaching self-care skills, and recognizing the client’s needs, implement interventions to address the client’s needs, and guide the client toward acceptable solutions.
What is the importance of establishing a therapeutic relationship?
It is one of the most important responsibilities of the nurse when working with clients.
Communication is essential for initiating, maintaining, and terminating this relationship.
What factors must a nurse consider for effective therapeutic communication?
- Privacy and respect of boundaries
- Use of touch
- Active listening and observation
These factors contribute to the effectiveness of the communication process.
True or False: Therapeutic communication is only about providing information to the client.
False
It involves understanding the client’s needs and fostering a two-way communication process.
Fill in the blank: Therapeutic communication helps in _______ the client’s expression of emotions.
[facilitating]
This is crucial for emotional support and understanding.
What is the role of a nurse in guiding the client during therapeutic communication?
To help the client identify a plan of action toward a satisfying and socially acceptable resolution.
This guidance is essential in empowering clients to take charge of their own care.
What is one of the goals of therapeutic communication?
Therapeutic nurse-client relationship
This goal focuses on creating a connection between the nurse and the client.
What is another goal of therapeutic communication?
Identify the client’s most important concerns and needs.
What does therapeutic communication aim to facilitate?
Client’s expression of emotions
What is a teaching goal of therapeutic communication?
Necessary self-care skills for Clients and families
What should be recognized in therapeutic communication?
The client’s needs
What is implemented in therapeutic communication?
Interventions that address the client’s needs.
What is guided in therapeutic communication?
The client is guided toward acceptable solutions to their concerns.
What is assessed in the therapeutic nurse-client relationship?
The most important client’s concerns; assess client’s perceptions
This assessment helps prioritize care based on the client’s view of their issues.
What is the focus of the therapeutic nurse-client relationship?
Client’s needs
Understanding and addressing the client’s specific needs is crucial for effective communication.
Fill in the blank: Therapeutic communication aims to recognize the client’s expression of _______.
emotions
Recognizing emotions is essential for effective therapeutic communication.
What is the comfortable distance for therapeutic communication between a nurse and a patient?
3 to 6 feet
What is active listening?
Refraining from other internal mental activities and concentrating exclusively on what the client says.
What does active observation entail?
Watching the speaker’s nonverbal actions as they communicate.
Who used observation as the first step in therapeutic interaction?
Peplau (1952).
What is the purpose of the nurse’s observation in therapeutic communication?
To observe the client’s behavior and guide them in giving detailed descriptions of that behavior.
What should the nurse do with the information obtained from observations?
Analyze the information, determine underlying needs, and connect pieces of information.
What misconception do students often have regarding therapeutic communication?
They must always be ready with questions the instant the client has finished speaking.
What can result from a nurse thinking ahead instead of actively listening?
The nurse may not understand the client’s concerns, leading to vague and superficial conversations.
What can superficial conversations lead nurses to incorrectly believe about clients?
That the client is not cooperating, repeating things, or not taking responsibility for getting better.
What often colors a nurse’s interpretation of a client’s message?
A person’s life experiences, knowledge base, values, and prejudices.
What is empathy in the context of therapeutic communication?
The ability to place oneself into the experience of another for a moment in time.
How can nurses develop empathy?
By gathering as much information about an issue as possible directly from the client.
What should nurses avoid to maintain effective therapeutic communication?
Interjecting their personal experiences and interpretations of the situation.
What are the five objectives of active listening and observation for nurses?
- Helps to recognize the issue that is most important to the client at this time
- Helps to know what further questions to ask the client
- Helps to understand the client’s perceptions of the issue instead of jumping to conclusions.
*Helps use therapeutic communication techniques.
*Helps objectively respond to message.
True or False: Active listening facilitates a nurse’s ability to interpret and respond to a client’s message subjectively.
False.
What is the purpose of accepting in therapeutic communication?
Indicating reception by acknowledging and validating the client’s feelings or statements
Examples include affirmations like ‘Yes.’ or ‘I follow what you said.’ Nodding. Does not indicate agreement and is nonjudgmental.
What does broad openings technique entail in therapeutic communication?
Allowing the client to take the initiative in introducing the topic
Examples include questions like ‘Is there something you’d like to talk about?’ or ‘Where would you like to begin?’
Define consensual validation in therapeutic communication.
Searching for mutual understanding and accord in the meaning of the words
Examples include inquiries like ‘Tell me whether my understanding of it agrees with yours.’ ‘Are you using this word to convey that…?’
What is the purpose of encouraging comparison in therapeutic communication?
To ask that similarities and differences be noted
Examples include questions like ‘Have you had similar experiences?’
Fill in the blank: Encouraging description of perceptions involves asking the client to verbalize what they _______.
perceive
Examples include questions like ‘What is happening?’ or ‘What does the voice seem to be saying?’ or ‘Tell me when you feel anxious.’
What type of response is demonstrated by nodding in therapeutic communication?
Accepting-indicating reception
Nodding serves as a non-verbal affirmation of the client’s statements.
True or False: Encouraging description of perceptions is only about asking the client to express feelings.
False
It involves asking the client to verbalize their perceptions, which may include thoughts and sensory experiences.
What does encouraging description of perceptions help the client do?
Verbalize their perceptions
This can reduce anxiety by helping them articulate their thoughts and feelings.
What is the therapeutic communication technique that encourages a client to appraise the quality of their experiences?
Encouraging expression
Examples include questions like “What are your feelings in regard to…?” and “Does this contribute to your distress?”
Which therapeutic communication technique involves delving / examining further into a subject or an idea?
Exploring
Examples include asking “Tell me more about that.” and “Would you describe it more fully?”
What does the focusing technique in therapeutic communication involve?
Concentrating on a single point
For example, saying “This point seems worth looking at more closely.” “Of all the concerns you’ve mentioned, which is the most troublesome?”
Fill in the blank: The technique of _______ involves asking the client to consider appropriate behaviors in future situations.
Formulating a plan of action
An example is asking, “What could you do to let your anger out harmlessly?”
What is the purpose of general leads in therapeutic communication?
Giving encouragement to continue
Examples include prompts like “go on.” and “Tell me about it.” “And then?”
What does giving information in therapeutic communication entail?
Making available the facts that the client needs
This can include stating, “My name is…” or “Visiting hours are…”
What is the technique of giving recognition in therapeutic communication?
Acknowledging, indicating awareness
Examples include, “Good morning, Mr. S…” and “You’ve finished your list of things to do.”
What does making observations in therapeutic communication involve?
Verbalizing what the nurse perceives
For instance, saying, “You appear tense.” or “I notice that you’re biting your lip.”
What does offering self mean in the context of therapeutic communication?
Making oneself available
Examples include statements like, “I’ll sit with you awhile.”
“I’m interested in what you think”
