Question

The client is an 18-month-old in the pediatric intensive care unit. The client is scheduled to have a subgaleal shunt placed tomorrow, and the client's mother is quite nervous about the procedure. The nurse tells the client's mother, "The surgeon has done this a million times. Your son will be fine." This is an example of what type of nontherapeutic communication?

Answer 1

The nurse's statement to the client's mother is an example of false reassurance, a type of nontherapeutic communication that can hinder effective communication and trust.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nontherapeutic communication technique being used by the nurse in this scenario is false reassurance. By telling the client's mother that the surgeon has done the procedure a million times and that her son will be fine, the nurse is providing false comfort without addressing the mother's concerns or providing accurate information about the risks and benefits of the procedure. This type of communication can invalidate a person's feelings and create false hope, ultimately hindering effective communication and trust between the nurse and the client's mother.