A client tells the nurse, 'I feel bad because my mother does not want me to return home after I leave the hospital.' Which nursing response is most therapeutic?

The correct answer is D because it reflects active listening and empathy. By restating the client's feelings, the nurse validates their emotions and shows understanding. This response encourages further exploration of the client's feelings and fosters a therapeutic nurse-client relationship.

Choice A is incorrect because it assumes the mother is understanding without acknowledging the client's feelings. Choice B minimizes the client's emotions by generalizing them. Choice C suggests assumptions about the mother's feelings and does not address the client's emotions directly.