Assessment of a Patient Nursing Practice Question
A client has been using crutches to ambulate for 1 week and now reports pain, fatigue, and frustration with crutch walking. How should the nurse respond when the client states, 'I feel like I will always be crippled'?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct option demonstrates the therapeutic communication technique of clarification and validation and indicates that the nurse is dealing with the client's problem from the client's perspective. Option 2 devalues the client's feelings and thus blocks communication. Option 3 gives advice and is a communication block. Option 4 provides false reassurances because the client may not be done with the crutches in another month. Additionally, it does not focus on the present problem.