Question

What is the best analysis of this described nurse-patient interaction?

Patient: I get discouraged when I realize I've been struggling with my problems for over a year.
Nurse: Yes you have, but many people take even longer to resolve their issues. You shouldn't be so hard on yourself.
a. The nurse has responded ineffectively to the patient's concerns.
b. The patient is expressing lack of willingness to collaborate with the nurse.
c. The patient is offering the opportunity for the nurse to revise the plan of care.
d. The nurse is using techniques that are consistent with the evaluation step of the nursing process.

Answer 1

The nurse's response is ineffective as it does not appropriately acknowledge the patient's feelings of discouragement, and compares the patient's progress with others, which can be unhelpful.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best analysis of the described nurse-patient interaction is that the nurse has responded ineffectively to the patient's concerns. The patient is expressing frustration and discouragement over the length of time they have been dealing with their issues. The appropriate response from the nurse should involve active listening and providing support that directly addresses the patient's feelings of discouragement. Telling the patient that others take even longer to resolve their issues can undermine the patient's experience and may not be considered an effective therapeutic communication technique. Instead, the nurse should acknowledge the patient's feelings, provide reassurance, and engage the patient in discussing strategies that could positively impact their care plan.