The psychiatric-mental health nurse is caring for a patient with mental illness. What action by the nurse best exemplifies authenticity?
1. Sitting quietly with patient.
2. Showing empathy toward the patient.
3. Showing sympathy toward the patient.
4. Sharing personal information with the patient.
Answer: 2
Explanation: The nurse's authenticity is reflected in how the nurse directs energy toward getting to know the patient as the patient is, in the patient's world. Thus, the best example of authenticity is showing empathy towards the patient. Empathy is the ability to feel for others, whereas sympathy is feeling pity toward others. Sitting quietly with the patient is displaying the therapeutic communication technique of silence. Sharing personal information with the patient is not therapeutic and does not exemplify authenticity.
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