A woman is receiving outpatient treatment at a mental health center. She starts crying and tells the nurse her husband has filed for divorce. The best response from the nurse is
“I am so sorry. I am divorced too, but it worked out for the best.”
“About half of marriages end in divorce these days.”
“You have to let him go and move on with your life.”
“Tell me what happened.”
Number 4 is correct.
Rationale: The nurse should practice therapeutic communication by exploring the situation, allowing the client to verbalize her thoughts and feelings openly. The first three choices are not open-ended questions; some are judgmental and do not allow the client to express her feelings.
