A 17-year-old single mother is describing how difficult it is to raise a 3-year-old child by herself. During the course of the interview she states, "I can't believe my boyfriend left me to do this by myself! What a terrible thing to do to me!"
Which of these responses by the nurse uses empathy?
a.
"You feel alone."
b.
"You can't believe he left you alone?"
c.
"It must be so hard to face this all alone."
d.
"I would be angry, too; raising a child alone is no picnic."
ANS: C
An empathetic response recognizes the feeling and puts it into words. It names the feeling, allows its expression, and strengthens rapport. Other empathetic responses are, "This must be very hard for you," "I understand," or simply placing your hand on the person's arm. Simply reflecting the person's words or agreeing with the person is not an empathetic response.
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