A nurse is planning teaching for a client who has a newly implanted implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.
Which of the following information should the nurse include?

Choice A rationale:

Asking the client directly about the hallucinations is essential in understanding the nature and content of the hallucinations. This information is crucial for the nurse to assess the client's mental state accurately and plan appropriate interventions. Direct communication helps establish trust and rapport with the client, making them more likely to share their experiences.

Choice B rationale:

Avoiding eye contact can create a sense of disconnection and may increase the client's anxiety. Establishing eye contact, on the other hand, communicates empathy and attentiveness, which are essential in therapeutic communication.

Choice C rationale:

Encouraging the client to lie down in a quiet room might not be the most appropriate action, as it does not address the hallucinations directly. It's important to address the hallucinations and help the client cope with them effectively.

Choice D rationale:

Referring to the hallucinations as if they are real might validate the client's experience but can also perpetuate the hallucinations. The nurse should acknowledge the client's feelings without reinforcing the false beliefs. Providing reality-based perspectives and encouraging the client to explore the origin of these hallucinations can be more beneficial.

The correct answer is Choice B: Speak in a normal voice at a natural pace.

Choice A rationale: Directing statements to the interpreter is inappropriate because it can make the client feel excluded from the conversation. The focus of communication should be on the client, and the interpreter is present only to facilitate understanding between the nurse and the client. Direct eye contact and addressing the client directly is important for establishing rapport and trust.

Choice B rationale: Speaking in a normal voice at a natural pace is crucial when working with an interpreter to ensure accurate translation and comprehension. It provides the interpreter with enough time to accurately convey the message while maintaining a conversational flow. Speaking too fast or in an unnatural tone can create confusion and lead to misinterpretation, ultimately affecting the quality of care provided to the client.

Choice C rationale: Using gestures while speaking with the client may not be helpful when working with an interpreter. Gestures may be culturally specific and can lead to misunderstandings or misinterpretations. Furthermore, the interpreter may not be able to accurately convey the intended message through gestures, leading to communication errors.

Choice D rationale: Pausing in the middle of sentences is not recommended when working with an interpreter. This practice can disrupt the flow of the conversation, confuse the interpreter, and lead to incomplete translations. It is essential to speak in complete sentences and provide pauses between sentences to enable the interpreter to accurately translate the information to the client.