A client with recurrent headaches has been told by the physician that the cause is likely psychosomatic

The client reports this conversation to the nurse and says, "That just can't be true! My head hurts so bad sometimes that it makes me sick to my stomach." The nurse's best response is: A) To give the client some privacy and time to calm down
B) To say nothing and sit quietly with the client
C) To say, "the pain in your head is very real"
D) To say, "well, that's not what your doctor thinks"


C
Feedback: The client is asking for some type of validation, and the nurse's best response is to validate the client's pain as real. In the situation presented, the client's headaches are very real to him and he needs to talk out his feelings regarding what the physician said. It is inappropriate to give the client time to calm down or to say nothing. Answer D would put the client on the defensive.

Nursing

You might also like to view...

A patient has been treated in the hospital for an episode of acute pancreatitis The patient has acknowledged the role that his alcohol use played in the development of his health problem, but has not expressed specific plans for lifestyle changes after discharge. What is the nurse's most appropriate response?

A) Educate the patient about the link between alcohol use and pancreatitis. B) Ensure that the patient knows the importance of attending follow-up appointments. C) Refer the patient to social work or spiritual care. D) Encourage the patient to connect with a community-based support group.

Nursing

Which practice would be least effective in promoting bonding and attachment?

A) Allowing unlimited visiting hours on maternity units B) Offering round-the-clock nursery care for all infants C) Promoting rooming-in D) Encouraging infant contact immediately after birth

Nursing

In the circular transactional model of communication,

a. questions are framed in order to recognize the context of the message. b. people take only complementary roles in the communication. c. the context of the communication is unimportant. d. the purpose of communication is to influence the receiver.

Nursing

The nurse completes the admission process of a client to an acute care facility. Which statement by the nurse demonstrates the communication technique of focusing?

A) "You have been having a great deal of fatigue for the last 3 months." B) "You are hoping to figure out the cause of your extreme fatigue during this hospital stay." C) "You are frustrated because you are too tired to perform normal activities." D) "You are unsure of what helps or prevents your fatigue."

Nursing