Therapeutic Comm Q 47

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A client’s younger daughter is ignoring curfew. The client states, “I’m afraid she will get pregnant.” The nurse responds, “Hang in there. Don’t you think she has a lot to learn about life?” This is an example of which communication block?

  

     A. Requesting an explanation

     B. Belittling the client

     C. Making stereotyped comments

     D. Probing

    

    

Correct Answer: C. Making stereotyped comments

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This is an example of the nontherapeutic communication block of making stereotyped comments. Clichés and trite expressions are meaningless in a therapeutic nurse-client relationship. Such comments are of no value in the nurse-client relationship. Any automatic responses will lack the nurse’s consideration or thoughtfulness.

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Option A: Requesting an explanation or asking the client to provide reasons for thoughts, feelings, behaviors or events is nontherapeutic. There is a difference between asking the client to describe what is occurring or has taken place and asking him to explain why. Usually, a “why” question is intimidating.

Option B: Belittling the client refers to misjudging the degree of the client’s discomfort. When the nurse tries to equate the intense and overwhelming feelings the client has expressed to “everybody” or to the nurse’s own feelings, the nurse implies that the discomfort is temporary, mild, self-limiting, or not very important. The client is focused on his or her own worries and feelings’ hearing the problems or feelings of others is not helpful.

Option D: Probing is the persistent questioning of the client. Probing tends to make the client feel used or invaded. Clients have the right not to talk about issues or concerns if they choose. Pushing and probing by the nurse will not encourage the client to talk.

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