Silence can be a helpful therapeutic tool for group participants by giving each an opportunity to contemplate what has transpired, weigh alternatives, and formulate ideas. Which statement best supports this?

Choice A reason: Silence in group therapy provides space for reflection, allowing members to process emotions and thoughts. This supports therapeutic goals by fostering insight and self-awareness, aligning with psychiatric principles of facilitating emotional processing, making this the correct choice.

Choice B reason: Silence does not encourage immediate verbal responses; it promotes contemplation. Encouraging quick responses may pressure participants, disrupting therapeutic processing, which relies on reflective pauses, making this statement contrary to the therapeutic use of silence and incorrect.

Choice C reason: Using silence to discipline is punitive, not therapeutic. Silence in therapy aims to facilitate reflection, not control behavior, which contradicts psychiatric nursing principles of fostering a supportive environment, making this choice incorrect and non-therapeutic.

Choice D reason: Silence complements, not replaces, active listening. Active listening involves verbal and nonverbal engagement, while silence provides reflective space. Replacing listening with silence undermines therapeutic communication, making this statement incorrect for the role of silence in therapy.

Choice A reason: Administering an antipsychotic without a completed care plan risks inappropriate treatment, as the plan outlines specific needs and interventions. This could lead to adverse effects or mismanagement of the patient’s condition, violating evidence-based practice in psychiatric care, making this choice incorrect.

Choice B reason: Completing the care plan promptly ensures individualized, evidence-based interventions, critical for effective psychiatric treatment. It addresses the patient’s specific needs, guides therapy, and ensures safety, aligning with nursing standards and patient-centered care principles, making this the correct choice for prioritization.

Choice C reason: Transferring the patient to another unit does not address the immediate need for a care plan and may disrupt continuity of care. Staffing issues should be managed locally, and transfer is not a primary solution for incomplete planning, making this choice incorrect.

Choice D reason: Documenting staffing issues, while important for administrative purposes, does not directly address the patient’s immediate care needs. A completed care plan is critical for guiding treatment and ensuring safety, making this choice a lower priority compared to completing the plan.