A nurse is teaching a newly licensed nurse about palliative care.
Which of the following information should the nurse include?

a. Using medical jargon

• Rationale: Medical jargon can be precise and efficient for communication among healthcare professionals. However, it can be confusing and intimidating for patients or non-medical staff, which is not therapeutic.

b. Active listening

• Rationale: Active listening involves fully focusing, understanding, responding and then remembering what is being said. It is a fundamental component of therapeutic communication as it shows respect and understanding for the speaker, builds trust, and helps to facilitate a deeper understanding of a patient’s perspective and needs.

c. Giving advice

• Rationale: While it might seem helpful to give advice, it can often disempower the patient or make them feel like they are not being heard. Therapeutic communication should be patient-centered and empowering.

d. Using closed-ended questions

• Rationale: Closed-ended questions can be useful for gathering specific information quickly. However, they limit the depth of response and can shut down communication, making them less therapeutic.

The correct answer isb. Active listening. This technique is a key component of therapeutic communication as it encourages a deeper understanding and is respectful and patient-centered. It helps in building a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship.

Choice A rationale:

Phlebitis is inflammation of a vein, often associated with pain, redness, and warmth at the catheter site. In this case, the client's catheter site is described as cool and taut, which is not consistent with the manifestations of phlebitis.

Choice B rationale:

Infection typically presents with signs such as redness, warmth, swelling, and pain at the catheter site. The description of the client's catheter site as cool and taut is not indicative of infection.

Choice C rationale:

The client's symptoms, including a cool and taut catheter site and IV fluid leaking, are indicative of infiltration. Infiltration occurs when IV fluids inadvertently enter the surrounding tissue instead of the vein. It can lead to localized swelling and discomfort.

Choice D rationale:

Circulatory overload is characterized by symptoms such as shortness of breath, elevated blood pressure, and tachycardia. These symptoms are not consistent with the client's description of a cool and taut catheter site with IV fluid leaking.