Therapeutic Comm Q 16
During a nurse-client interaction, which nursing statement may belittle the client’s feelings and concerns?
A. "Don't worry. Everything will be alright."
B. "You appear uptight."
C. "I notice you have bitten your nails to the quick."
D. "You are jumping to conclusions."
Correct Answer: A. “Don’t worry. Everything will be alright.”
This nursing statement is an example of the nontherapeutic communication block of belittling feelings. Belittling feelings occur when the nurse misjudges the degree of the client’s discomfort. Thus a lack of empathy and understanding may be conveyed.
Option B: Making observations refers to verbalizing what the nurse perceives. Sometimes clients cannot verbalize or make themselves understood. Or the client may not be ready to talk.
Option C: Observations about the appearance, demeanor, or behavior of patients can help draw attention to areas that might pose a problem for them. Observing that they look tired may prompt patients to explain why they haven’t been getting much sleep lately; making an observation that they haven’t been eating much may lead to the discovery of a new symptom.
Option D: The nurse denies the client’s feelings or the seriousness of the situation by dismissing his comments without attempting to discover the feeling or meaning behind them