A client says, 'I'm so scared about my surgery tomorrow.' Which response by the nurse is MOST therapeutic?

The MOST therapeutic response reflects the client's feeling (empathy), validates the emotion, and invites further communication with an open-ended statement. 'You sound scared. Tell me more about what's worrying you' does all three: it names the emotion the client expressed (acknowledging the feeling), validates it as real and worth exploring, and opens the conversation with a non-pressuring invitation.

Therapeutic communication techniques: ACTIVE LISTENING — full attention, eye contact, non-verbal engagement; EMPATHY — acknowledging feelings without judgment; REFLECTION — restating content or feelings to show understanding; OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS/STATEMENTS — 'Tell me more,' 'What are you feeling?' (not yes/no questions); CLARIFICATION — 'I'm not sure I understand, could you explain?'; SILENCE — allowing time to process and think without rushing to fill it; FOCUSING — directing conversation to important areas; SUMMARIZING — pulling together main themes.

Non-therapeutic responses: FALSE REASSURANCE — 'Don't worry, everything will be fine' — minimizes legitimate feelings and often isn't truthful; GIVING ADVICE — 'You should...' — removes client autonomy; DEFENSIVE — 'Our doctor is excellent' — shifts focus from the client; MINIMIZING — 'It's just a minor surgery' — invalidates concern; PROBING — asking intrusive questions before establishing trust; CHANGING THE SUBJECT — cutting off emotional expression.

Why false reassurance is harmful: it ends communication, can be dishonest, and leaves the client feeling unheard. The client may stop sharing concerns. Medicating the client without exploring the underlying fear would not address the root issue and could be inappropriate.