An adolescent hospitalized after a physical outburst tells the nurse, "I’m going to kill my father, but you can’t tell anyone." Select the nurse’s best response.

Choice A reason: Direct questions like "Did you feel angry?" may elicit specific information but can feel confrontational, limiting open dialogue. They focus on the nurse’s agenda rather than signaling attentive listening, which is critical for therapeutic communication in mental health, making this choice less effective.

Choice B reason: Asking "Why did you do that?" can seem judgmental, causing defensiveness and hindering open communication. It shifts focus to justification rather than fostering a safe space for the patient to share feelings, making it non-therapeutic and incorrect for showing listening interest.

Choice C reason: Maintaining eye contact and nodding are nonverbal cues that demonstrate active listening and empathy, encouraging patients to share openly. These align with therapeutic communication principles in psychiatric nursing, creating a supportive environment and fostering trust, making this the correct choice for showing interest.

Choice D reason: Offering advice based on personal experience shifts focus to the nurse, undermining the patient’s perspective. It risks blurring professional boundaries and is non-therapeutic, as it does not prioritize the patient’s feelings or encourage open dialogue, making this choice incorrect.

Choice A reason: Offering self involves making oneself available to the patient, fostering trust through presence and empathy. Sitting with the patient to facilitate comfort aligns with therapeutic communication, creating a safe space for dialogue, critical in psychiatric nursing, making this the correct choice.

Choice B reason: Sharing the nurse’s personal experiences shifts focus from the patient, risking boundary violations. This is non-therapeutic, as it does not prioritize the patient’s needs or foster their openness, failing to demonstrate the "offering self" technique, making this choice incorrect.

Choice C reason: Asking why the patient struggled with adjustment is a probing question that may feel confrontational. It does not convey availability or empathy, key to "offering self," but instead seeks explanation, potentially hindering trust, making this choice non-therapeutic and incorrect.

Choice D reason: Discussing the treatment plan focuses on clinical tasks, not emotional availability. While collaborative, it does not specifically demonstrate "offering self," which emphasizes presence and support to build trust, making this choice less aligned with the therapeutic technique described.