Therapeutic Comm Q 4
Which nursing statement is a good example of the therapeutic communication technique of giving recognition?
A. "You did not attend group today. Can we talk about that?"
B. "I'll sit with you until it is time for your family session."
C. "I notice you are wearing a new dress and you have washed your hair."
D. "I'm happy that you are now taking your medications. They will really help."
Correct Answer: C. “I notice you are wearing a new dress and you have washed your hair.”
This is an example of the therapeutic communication technique of giving recognition. Giving recognition acknowledges and indicates awareness. This technique is more appropriate than complimenting the client which reflects the nurse’s judgment. It shows that the nurse recognizes the client as an individual. Such recognition does not carry the notion of value, that is, of being “good” or “bad”.
Option A: Theme identification refers to underlying issues or problems experienced by the client that emerge repeatedly during a nurse-client relationship. It allows the nurse to best promote the client’s exploration and understanding of important problems.
Option B: Offering self refers to making oneself available. The nurse can offer his presence, interest, and desire to understand. It is important that this offer is unconditional, that is, the client does not have to respond verbally to get the nurse’s attention.
Option D: Giving approval or sanctioning the client’s behavior or ideas can be nontherapeutic. Saying what the client thinks or feels is “good” implies that the opposite is “bad”. Approval, then, tends to limit the client’s freedom to think, speak, or act in a certain way.