When engaged in therapeutic communication with a client who has been diagnosed with a mental disorder, which is the most important principle for a nurse to keep in mind?

The nurse should have an empathetic relationship with the client.

The client is the primary focus of the interaction.

The nurse should self-disclose when indicated.

The client’s conversations should be recorded.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

Choice A reason:

Having an empathetic relationship with the client is important, but it is not the most important principle. Empathy helps build trust and rapport, but the primary focus should always be on the client’s needs and experiences.

Choice B reason:

The client being the primary focus of the interaction is the most important principle in therapeutic communication. This ensures that the nurse’s attention and efforts are directed towards understanding and addressing the client’s concerns, promoting their well-being and recovery.

Choice C reason:

Self-disclosure by the nurse should be used sparingly and only when it benefits the client. While it can help build rapport, it is not the primary focus of therapeutic communication. The nurse’s primary role is to listen and support the client.

Choice D reason:

Recording the client’s conversations is not a standard practice in therapeutic communication and can breach confidentiality. The focus should be on creating a safe and trusting environment where the client feels comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A reason:
Dependence on parents to participate in the client’s care indicates that the client is not progressing towards independence. Effective in-home mental health care aims to empower clients to manage their own health and reduce reliance on others. Therefore, this response does not demonstrate effective care.
Choice B reason:
A need for continued intensive monitoring in the home suggests that the client’s condition remains unstable and requires constant supervision. Effective care should lead to improved stability and a reduction in the need for intensive monitoring.
Choice C reason:
A decrease in admission frequency to inpatient psychiatric hospitals indicates that the client’s condition is stabilizing and that they are managing their mental health more effectively at home. This outcome demonstrates that the in-home mental health care is effective in reducing the need for hospitalization.
Choice D reason:
A need for crisis intervention services on an ongoing basis suggests that the client continues to experience frequent crises. Effective in-home mental health care should help the client develop coping strategies and support systems to manage their condition, reducing the need for frequent crisis interventions.

A. Illusion B. Hallucination C. Attention-seeking behavior D. Self-mutilation

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A reason:
An illusion is a misinterpretation of a real external stimulus. For example, seeing a shadow and thinking it is a person. The client’s statement does not indicate a misinterpretation of reality but rather a desire to inflict harm on themselves.
Choice B reason:
A hallucination is a false sensory perception without any real external stimulus, such as hearing voices or seeing things that are not there. The client’s statement does not suggest they are experiencing a hallucination but rather expressing a desire to self-harm.
Choice C reason:
Attention-seeking behavior involves actions taken to gain attention from others. While the client’s statement could be seen as a cry for help, it is more accurately identified as a risk for self-mutilation due to the explicit mention of wanting to cut themselves.
Choice D reason:
Self-mutilation refers to deliberate self-inflicted harm, often as a way to cope with emotional pain. The client’s statement, “Give me your pen to cut the pain out of my chest,” clearly indicates a risk for self-mutilation, as they are expressing a desire to harm themselves to alleviate emotional distress.

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When engaged in therapeutic communication with a client who has been diagnosed with a mental disorder, which is the most important principle for a nurse to keep in mind?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is providing in-home mental health care and determines that the care is effective when the client demonstrates which response?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A nurse is caring for a client who has bipolar disorder. The client says to the nurse, “Give me your pen to cut the pain out of my chest.” The nurse should identify that the client is at risk for which of the following?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A nurse is caring for a client who has schizophrenia and is taking haloperidol. The nurse should monitor for which of the following adverse effects of haloperidol?

When describing the continuum of care for mental health, which would the nurse identify as the primary goal?

After experiencing increasing conflict in the home, a social worker calls and schedules a therapy meeting. A 24-year-old, his sister, his mother, and the mother’s live-in boyfriend are asked to attend the therapy meeting. Who is the “client” who will be treated during this session?

A nurse is providing education to a group of staff members about schizophrenia. Which of the following age groups should the nurse include as the age when schizophrenia is typically diagnosed?

A nurse is preparing to assist with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Which of the following pieces of equipment should the nurse set up in the room prior to the treatment? (Select all that apply)

A nurse is performing an admission assessment for a client who has schizophrenia. Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as a negative symptom?