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Difficulty: MediumTherapeutic Communication

A nurse at an outpatient clinic is interacting with a client who is awaiting the results of a biopsy for a suspicious breast mass. The client is pacing the room and states, "If this is cancer, I do not know how I will tell my children. They are still in school, and they need their mother." Which of the following is the most therapeutic response by the nurse?

  1. You are terrified about receiving a cancer diagnosis and how it might impact your children.Answer
  2. B
    Try to stay positive; the vast majority of these biopsies turn out to be completely benign.
  3. C
    Why are you focusing on the worst-case scenario before the provider has even given you the results?
  4. D
    I think you should wait until you have the final pathology report before worrying about your family.

Answer

The statement that reflects the client's fear about the diagnosis and its impact on the children is the most therapeutic response.
The correct response utilizes the therapeutic communication technique of reflection. By identifying and mirroring the client's underlying feelings of fear regarding their children, the nurse validates the client's emotional state and encourages further open expression of feelings without judgment.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the client's statement to identify the core emotion and concern.
The client is expressing severe anxiety and anticipatory fear regarding a potential cancer diagnosis and the effect it would have on their young children.
Identifying the underlying emotion is the first step in formulating a therapeutic response.
2
Evaluate each option against therapeutic communication principles.
The correct response must validate the client's feelings without judging, minimizing, or interrogating.
Therapeutic communication aims to build trust, validate feelings, and encourage the client to express themselves freely.
3
Select the option that uses reflection or empathy to address the client's stated fears.
The statement reflecting the terror of the diagnosis and its impact on the children directly validates the client's emotional state.
Reflection demonstrates active listening and allows the client to feel heard and understood.

Key Concept

Therapeutic Communication: Reflection and Validation
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Topics

Therapeutic Communication

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