A patient says, “The voices keep telling me that I am worthless.” Which response is most therapeutic?
Correct answer: B. I do not hear the voices, but I understand they are distressing to you.
- A. You should ignore the voices and think positively.
- B. I do not hear the voices, but I understand they are distressing to you.
- C. Those voices are real, so you must obey what they say.
- D. Why do you listen to voices that are not really there?
Explanation
The response acknowledges the patient's distress without agreeing that the hallucinations are real. Arguing, validating the hallucination, or giving simple advice is nontherapeutic and may reduce trust.
Report an error
The more specific you are, the faster it gets fixed. A source beats an opinion.
Prefer email? support@testustad.com
About Therapeutic Communication
Therapeutic communication covers active listening, empathy, clarification, reflection, silence, open-ended questioning, and purposeful responses that help patients express thoughts and feelings. It distinguishes therapeutic techniques from barriers such as false reassurance, advice-giving, judgment, changing the subject, probing, and asking repeated or closed questions.
Practise Therapeutic Communication
40 free Therapeutic Communication MCQs from Mental Health Nursing, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.
Discussion
Stuck on an option, or know a faster way to get there? Ask or explain it here.
No comments yet. Be the first to explain this one.
Exams that ask Mental Health Nursing questions like this
Mental Health Nursing is on 8 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.
More Therapeutic Communication questions
Which question is most appropriate for beginning an assessment of a patient's anxiety?
A patient becomes silent after discussing the death of a spouse. What is the most therapeutic nursing action?
A patient says, “My treatment is not working.” Which response is an example of clarification?
A patient says, “I cannot cope with my diagnosis.” Which response should the nurse use first?
Which nurse statement is a barrier to therapeutic communication?
A patient repeatedly describes conflict with a sibling, then asks the nurse, “What should I do?” Which response best maintains a therapeutic relationship?