NAME: ABDUL HAMID NOOR BSN3-A

CRITICALTINKING EXERCISE

THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION

Situation: A 40year old male client is discussing his family situation with a nurse. State whether the
nurse’s responses are therapeutic or nontherapeutic and give your rationale

1. Client: “I don’t know what to do anymore. My wife has left me and she took the children.”

Nurse: “Go on.”

ANSWER: The nurse response is a Therapeutic technique

General leads: Giving Encouragement to continue.

RATIONALE: General leads indicate that the nurse is listening and following what the client is
saying without taking away the initiative for the interaction. They also encourage the client to
continue if he or she is hesitant or uncomfortable about the topic.

2. Client: “Our 15-yearl-old son has been smoking dope and he says it’s because I don’t spend enough
time with him.”

Nurse:: “Smoking marijuana leads to the use of other drugs. That is terrible for a 15-year-old. Why don’t
you put him into sports?”

ANSWER: The nurse response is Nontherapeutic communication technique

Advising: Telling the client what to do.
RATIONALE: Giving advice implies that only the nurse what is best for the client.

3. Client: “What will I do without her?”

Nurse: (Sits silently with the client)

ANSWER: The nurse response is Nontherapeutic Communication Technique

Rejecting: Refusing to consider or showing contempt for the client’s ideas or behaviors.
RATIONALE: When the nurse rejects any topic, he or she closes it off from exploration. In turn,
the client may feel personally rejected along with his or her ideas.
NAME: ABDUL HAMID NOOR BSN3-A

4. Client: “I feel sad and empty without her and the kids. The house is empty and there’s nothing left of
me.”

Nurse: “You feel sad and empty without your wife and children.”

ANSWER: The nurse response is therapeutic Communication technique.

Translating into feelings: Seeking to verbalize client’s feelings that he or she expresses
only indirectly.
RATIONALE: Often what the client says, when taken literally, seems meaningless or far removed
from reality. To understand, the nurse must concentrate on what the client might be feeling to
express him or herself this way.