CPNRE Therapeutic Nurse-Client Relationship 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client begins sharing personal details about their private life during every interaction. Which nursing response best maintains the therapeutic relationship?
- Gently redirect conversations to focus on the client's health and goals. (Correct answer)
- Listen attentively to all personal details to strengthen rapport.
- Tell the client to stop sharing personal information.
- Avoid spending extra time with the client to discourage over-sharing.
Correct answer: Gently redirect conversations to focus on the client's health and goals.
Redirecting conversations to health-focused topics maintains professional boundaries while preserving a respectful, therapeutic relationship.
Question 2: A nurse uses silence during an interaction with a grieving client. What is the primary therapeutic purpose of this technique?
- It gives the nurse time to think of the next question.
- It communicates presence, acceptance, and provides space for the client to process emotions. (Correct answer)
- It discourages the client from speaking about distressing topics.
- It demonstrates the nurse's discomfort with emotional conversations.
Correct answer: It communicates presence, acceptance, and provides space for the client to process emotions.
Therapeutic silence conveys empathy and gives clients the space to reflect, feel heard, and continue at their own pace.
Question 3: Which scenario best illustrates transference in the nurse-client relationship?
- The nurse feels irritated by a demanding client.
- The client treats the nurse as an authority figure similar to a strict parent from their past. (Correct answer)
- The nurse shares personal experiences to help the client feel less alone.
- The client agrees with everything the nurse says to avoid conflict.
Correct answer: The client treats the nurse as an authority figure similar to a strict parent from their past.
Transference occurs when the client unconsciously redirects feelings from past significant relationships onto the nurse.
Question 4: A nurse self-discloses personal information to a client to 'even the playing field.' This behavior is best described as:
- Appropriate use of self-disclosure to build rapport.
- A boundary violation that shifts focus from the client to the nurse. (Correct answer)
- An example of effective therapeutic communication.
- A strategy to reduce power imbalance in the relationship.
Correct answer: A boundary violation that shifts focus from the client to the nurse.
Excessive or inappropriate self-disclosure violates therapeutic boundaries and redirects focus away from the client's needs.
Question 5: Which statement reflects the key difference between a therapeutic relationship and a social relationship?
- Social relationships are less meaningful than therapeutic relationships.
- Therapeutic relationships have defined goals, professional boundaries, and exist primarily to benefit the client. (Correct answer)
- Therapeutic relationships require less communication skill than social ones.
- Social relationships are limited to specific topics, while therapeutic ones are not.
Correct answer: Therapeutic relationships have defined goals, professional boundaries, and exist primarily to benefit the client.
Therapeutic relationships are purposeful, time-limited, and client-focused, distinguishing them from mutual social relationships.
Question 6: A nurse is working with a client from a different cultural background. Which action best demonstrates cultural sensitivity within the therapeutic relationship?
- Assume the client shares the same health beliefs as the nurse.
- Ask the client about their cultural values and preferences related to care. (Correct answer)
- Avoid discussing cultural differences to prevent discomfort.
- Provide care based on standard protocols without customization.
Correct answer: Ask the client about their cultural values and preferences related to care.
Inquiring about cultural values demonstrates respect and ensures care is individualized and culturally sensitive within the therapeutic relationship.
Question 7: A nurse responds to a client's disclosure of abuse by saying, 'That must have been terrifying. I want to make sure you are safe. Can you tell me more about what happened?' This response demonstrates:
- Premature problem-solving without gathering information.
- Therapeutic communication combining empathy, safety focus, and open-ended exploration. (Correct answer)
- Inappropriate questioning that may re-traumatize the client.
- A breach of confidentiality by encouraging further disclosure.
Correct answer: Therapeutic communication combining empathy, safety focus, and open-ended exploration.
This response validates feelings, addresses safety, and uses open-ended questions to gather information in a trauma-informed, therapeutic manner.
CPNRE Therapeutic Nurse-Client Relationship 5
A client begins sharing personal details about their private life during every interaction.
Which nursing response best maintains the therapeutic relationship?