Question

A client who has a diagnosis of depression is attending group therapy. When it is the client's turn to identify one goal for the day, they do not respond. Which of the following actions should the nurse take before repeating the request to the client?

A) Allow the client time to formulate an answer.
B) Prompt the client to give a response.
C) Move on to the next client.
D) Offer the client a suggestion for a goal.

Answer 1

Before repeating the request, the nurse should allow the client time to formulate an answer. Prompting the client too soon, moving on to the next client, or offering a suggestion for a goal may not be appropriate.

Step-by-step explanation:

In this scenario, a client with depression is attending group therapy and is asked to identify one goal for the day, but does not respond. Before repeating the request, the nurse should allow the client time to formulate an answer. Depression can often affect a person's ability to process information and respond, so giving the client some additional time can be helpful.

Prompting the client to give a response too soon (option B) may cause anxiety and make the client withdraw further. Moving on to the next client (option C) without giving the client an opportunity to respond may be dismissive and not address the client's needs. Offering a suggestion for a goal (option D) before allowing the client to respond may not be appropriate as it can limit the client's autonomy and individuality.