Question

A psychiatric-mental health nurse has been off of work for the past 4 days, as per the normal work schedule on the unit. On the nurse's first day back, a longterm client says, "I haven't seen you around here since Thursday. How was your time off?" What is the nurse's most appropriate response?

Answer 1

The nurse should respond with a general statement that maintains professional boundaries and redirects the focus back to the client's well-being.

Step-by-step explanation:

The psychiatric-mental health nurse’s most appropriate response to a long-term client who inquires about the nurse's time off would be to provide a general, non-specific response that maintains professional boundaries while also being polite and engaging in therapeutic communication. For instance, the nurse might say, “It was nice to have a break, but I’m glad to be back and ready to help. How have you been since I last saw you?” This response deflects the personal aspect, shifts the focus back to the client, and encourages them to talk about their own experiences, which is more in line with therapeutic communication strategies within the nursing profession.