A widowed 39-year-old who has experienced a mild stroke asks what his sons will do if anything happens to him. Which of the following nursing responses would be therapeutic?

A widowed 39-year-old who has experienced a mild stroke asks what his sons will do if anything happens to him. Which of the following nursing responses would be therapeutic?

• A. You seem to be feeling very troubled.
• B. You should not worry about that right now.
• C. Tell me more about your concerns regarding your sons.
• D. There is no point in worrying.

Answer: (A)

Therapeutic communication starts with acknowledging and validating the patient’s emotions. Saying “You seem to be feeling very troubled” does exactly that by reflecting his emotional state back to him in a nonjudgmental way. This opens the door for him to express his fears and concerns about his sons and his future, which helps build trust and encourages further dialogue rather than shutting him down. This approach avoids minimizing his distress or telling him not to worry, which can shut down communication. It also allows the nurse to assess the depth of his anxiety and identify needs for planning or support, such as advance care planning or family discussions, in a sensitive, patient-centered way. While asking to tell more about his concerns is also useful, leading with a reflection of his feelings helps establish rapport and demonstrates empathy first, making it easier for him to then share specifics about his worries.

Therapeutic communication starts with acknowledging and validating the patient’s emotions. Saying “You seem to be feeling very troubled” does exactly that by reflecting his emotional state back to him in a nonjudgmental way. This opens the door for him to express his fears and concerns about his sons and his future, which helps build trust and encourages further dialogue rather than shutting him down.

This approach avoids minimizing his distress or telling him not to worry, which can shut down communication. It also allows the nurse to assess the depth of his anxiety and identify needs for planning or support, such as advance care planning or family discussions, in a sensitive, patient-centered way.

While asking to tell more about his concerns is also useful, leading with a reflection of his feelings helps establish rapport and demonstrates empathy first, making it easier for him to then share specifics about his worries.