Which therapeutic technique best communicates to a patient that the nurse is interested in listening?
Asking a direct question, such as "Did you feel angry?"
Asking the patient, "Why did you do that?"
Maintaining eye contact and nodding
Offering advice based on personal experience
The Correct Answer is C
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.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter, reduces neuronal activity, not enhances cognitive functions like memory. Memory improvement is associated with cholinergic or glutamatergic systems, not GABA, making this choice incorrect for the expected effect of GABA potentiation.
Choice B reason: Fewer visual hallucinations are associated with antipsychotics affecting dopamine, not GABA. GABA’s inhibitory effects calm the brain but do not directly target psychotic symptoms like hallucinations, making this choice incorrect for the medication’s effect.
Choice C reason: GABA potentiation, as with benzodiazepines, enhances inhibitory effects, reducing neuronal excitability and calming the central nervous system. This directly alleviates anxiety, a primary therapeutic effect, aligning with GABA’s role in anxiety disorders, making this the correct choice.
Choice D reason: Increased alertness is contrary to GABA’s inhibitory effects, which promote sedation. Stimulants, not GABAergic drugs, enhance alertness, making this choice incorrect, as GABA potentiation leads to calming, not stimulating, effects on the brain.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: Zolpidem, a nonbenzodiazepine sedative, affects the central nervous system, causing sedation and impaired coordination, particularly in the elderly. Age-related declines in metabolism and balance increase fall risk, a critical nursing consideration. Monitoring mobility and ensuring safety measures are essential to prevent injuries, making this the correct choice.
Choice B reason: While zolpidem may cause daytime drowsiness, this is not the primary nursing consideration compared to fall risk in the elderly. Drowsiness is a general side effect, but the elderly’s heightened vulnerability to falls due to sedation and impaired coordination takes precedence, making this choice less critical.
Choice C reason: Zolpidem has a lower dependence risk than benzodiazepines, and dependence is not inevitable. This assumption overstates the risk and is not the primary nursing consideration. Fall prevention, especially in vulnerable populations like the elderly, is more urgent due to immediate safety concerns, making this choice incorrect.
Choice D reason: Zolpidem induces sedation rapidly, typically within 15–30 minutes, not requiring 4 weeks. This choice is factually incorrect, as prolonged use is not necessary for efficacy. The primary concern is immediate side effects like falls, not a delayed onset, making this an invalid nursing consideration.
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