A nurse is caring for an adolescent client who has full-thickness burns on their leg. The client expresses concern about their future. Which of the following is a therapeutic response by the nurse?

A. "You shouldn't worry about the future so you can concentrate on getting well.":

This response dismisses the client's concerns and may make them feel invalidated. It implies that their worry is not justified and may hinder open communication about their feelings.

B. "If you work hard on your physical therapy, you won't need to worry.":

While encouragement and motivation are essential, this response may come across as minimizing the client's emotional concerns. It focuses solely on the physical aspect of recovery and does not address the broader emotional and psychological aspects of the client's worry about the future.

C. "You're concerned about what will happen when you leave the hospital?":

This response reflects active listening and empathy, acknowledging the client's expressed concern and inviting further discussion. It allows the client to express their feelings and concerns about the future, fostering a therapeutic nurse-client relationship.

D. "Why are you concerned even though everyone is here to help you?":

This response might be perceived as judgmental or dismissive of the client's feelings. It could make the client feel defensive and hesitant to share their concerns. It does not encourage open communication or exploration of the client's emotions.

A. "Tell me more about your partner.":

While understanding the client's feelings about their partner is important, the immediate concern is the client's statement expressing a desire to die. Therefore, focusing on the client's thoughts about self-harm (Option B) takes precedence in ensuring their safety.

B. "Have you thought about harming yourself?":

This response is appropriate because it directly addresses the client's statement expressing a desire to die. It opens a dialogue about the client's thoughts and intentions related to self-harm, allowing the nurse to assess the client's risk and initiate appropriate interventions.

C. "Why did you stop taking your medication?":

While understanding the reasons behind medication non-compliance is important, the immediate concern is the client's current statement indicating suicidal ideation. Exploring the client's medication adherence can be addressed after addressing the acute safety concern.

D. "You should discuss these feelings with your provider.":

This response might be seen as avoiding the client's immediate expression of distress. It is important for the nurse to directly assess the client's risk and initiate appropriate interventions rather than deferring the responsibility to another healthcare provider at this moment.