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NCLEX · Mental Health Concepts

What is the general purpose of 'active listening' in nurse-client interactions?

Reviewed by Jordan Morley, Editorial Lead at 247SimpleTests. Written by the 247SimpleTests Editorial Team from the official source material cited on every question.

Correct answer

To fully attend to the client — through eye contact, attentive body language, and focus — so the client feels heard and understood

  1. A To finish the client's sentences
  2. B To multitask during the conversation
  3. C To fully attend to the client — through eye contact, attentive body language, and focus — so the client feels heard and understood
  4. D To plan what to say next while the client talks

Why this is the answer

Active listening means fully attending to the client — using eye contact, attentive body language, and genuine focus, and avoiding distractions — so the client feels heard and understood. It is a foundational therapeutic communication skill that builds trust and encourages the client to share. It is not planning one's reply while the client speaks, finishing their sentences, or multitasking, all of which signal inattention. Active listening, often paired with techniques like reflecting and clarifying, supports the therapeutic relationship. Understanding active listening as full, focused attention is a core psychosocial-communication concept. (Verify against current NCLEX prep materials.)
Source: NCLEX-PN Psychosocial — Active Listening

Practice more questions

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About this topic: Mental Health Concepts

Mental health concepts cover anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, eating disorders and personality disorders — the signs, the priority nursing concerns (safety first) and the therapeutic approach. This is one of 18 PN: Psychosocial Integrity questions on mental health concepts, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our NCLEX exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

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