Therapeutic Comm Q 10
A student nurse tells the instructor, “I’m concerned that when a client asks me for advice I won’t have a good solution.” Which should be the nursing instructor’s best response?
A. "It's scary to feel put on the spot by a client. Nurses don't always have the answer."
B. "Remember, clients, not nurses, are responsible for their own choices and decisions."
C. "Just keep the client's best interests in mind and do the best that you can."
D. "Set a goal to continue to work on this aspect of your practice."
Correct Answer: B. “Remember, clients, not nurses, are responsible for their own choices and decisions.”
Giving advice tells the client what to do or how to behave. It implies that the nurse knows what is best and that the client is incapable of any self-direction. It discourages independent thinking. It implies that the client cannot handle life decisions and only the nurse knows what is best for the client.
Option A: Ignoring the client or refusing to consider the client’s idea is nontherapeutic. When the nurse rejects any topic, he closes it off from exploration. In turn, the client may feel personally rejected along with his ideas.
Option C: Keeping the client’s best interests may not always be the best for clients. The nurse may not approve or disapprove of the client’s behaviors, or he may not agree or disagree with the client’s ideas. The nurse may allow the client to lead the interaction and help the client formulate a plan of action to increase the likelihood of the client effectively coping in certain situations.
Option D: The nurse must include the client in their plan of action and setting of goals. Offering to share, to strive, to work with the client for his benefit suggests collaboration. The nurse seeks to offer a relationship in which the client can identify problems in living with others, grow emotionally, and improve the ability to form satisfactory relationships.