AIIMS Nagpur NO- 2020
Nursing Foundation
Easy

Which of the following techniques are examples of non-therapeutic communication?

Appeared in: AIIMS Nagpur NO- 2020

Explanation

  • Giving advice is a non-therapeutic communication technique because it imposes the nurse's personal opinion and solution on the patient.
  • This approach undermines the patient's autonomy and discourages them from exploring their own feelings and arriving at their own conclusions.
  • It can create dependency on the healthcare provider and may lead the patient to feel misunderstood or that their own judgment is not valued.
  • Effective nursing practice involves guiding patients to solve their own problems, not solving problems for them.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

  • Option A: Restating is a classic therapeutic communication technique. It involves repeating the patient's main thought to show that the nurse is listening and to encourage the patient to continue.
  • Option C: Focusing is a therapeutic technique used to guide the conversation toward important topics. It helps the patient concentrate on key elements of their message, especially if the conversation is vague or rambling.
  • Option D: Paraphrasing is a therapeutic technique where the nurse restates the patient's message in their own words. This confirms understanding, shows active listening, and allows the patient to clarify any misinterpretations.

Related Visual

Visual explanation — Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
  • Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Therapeutic vs. Non-Therapeutic Communication Techniques as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
  • Using therapeutic communication is fundamental to building a trusting nurse-patient relationship, which is essential for effective care, patient compliance, and positive health outcomes.
  • Avoiding non-therapeutic techniques like giving advice empowers patients to be active participants in their own healthcare, fostering autonomy and self-efficacy.
  • What if? If a patient directly asks, 'What should I do?', a therapeutic response is not to give advice but to explore their feelings. The nurse should say, 'It sounds like you're facing a difficult choice. Let's talk more about the options you're considering and how you feel about each one.'.
How to Approach the Question
  • First, identify that the question is asking for a NON-therapeutic technique, which is a communication barrier.
  • Define 'non-therapeutic communication' in your mind: any action that hinders open dialogue, imposes the nurse's values, or prevents the patient from exploring their own feelings.
  • Evaluate each option against this definition.
  • Analyze 'Giving advice': Does it impose the nurse's view? Yes. Does it stop the patient from problem-solving? Yes. This fits the definition of non-therapeutic.
  • Analyze 'Restating', 'Focusing', and 'Paraphrasing': Do these techniques help the patient express themselves and feel understood? Yes. Therefore, they are therapeutic.
  • Conclude that 'Giving advice' is the only non-therapeutic option among the choices.
Concept Tested & Keywords
  • Concept Tested: Therapeutic vs. Non-Therapeutic Communication Techniques
  • Stem keywords: non-therapeutic communication, techniques
  • Lead-in keywords: examples of

Question ID

Q-0rT-jUh3QZOeQJ_6JauY

Reference Book

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 2 pp. 122-124, 123-125

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 84-86

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