Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 80%
Simulated
A client who is in labor has human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and states to the nurse, 'I know I will have a sick-looking baby.' Which appropriate therapeutic response should the nurse make?
Correct answer
C
Rationale
Option 3 is the most therapeutic response, and it will elicit the best information. It addresses the therapeutic communication technique of paraphrasing. Option 3 also is an open-ended response that will provide an opportunity for the client to verbalize her concerns. Parents need to know that their baby will not look sick from HIV at birth and that there may be a period of uncertainty before it is known whether the baby has acquired the infection. Options 1 and 2 provide false reassurances. The client should not be told that there is no reason to worry.