The nurse is caring for a client who has just been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The nurse is using silence as an effective therapeutic response. How is silence an effective therapeutic response?
It is not therapeutic; it implies that the nurse is not listening.
It encourages the client to keep her feelings to herself.
It allows the client time to think and reflect and lead the conversation.
It allows the nurse to think about other tasks she needs to tackle to provide efficient care to all of her clients.
Number 3 is correct.
Silence allows the client time to think and reflect and lead the conversation in the desired direction. Silence does not imply that the nurse is not listening, nor does it encourage the client to keep her feelings to herself. Silence is part of listening; the nurse should be focused on the client and not thinking ahead to what else she needs to do.
