Auburn University

NURS 4230 Mental Health Nursing

Student Name: Megan McGahan

Nurse Communication Client Communication Nurse’s Thoughts & Analysis of the Interaction Alternate or Revised Response
(Verbal & Non Verbal) (Verbal & Non Verbal) Feelings Related to the (Effectiveness, Technique,
Interaction Name & Rationale)
1. (We are sitting and talking as a “I tried to cut my Nervous with the Therapeutic since it is an “Can I talk to you about
group, I have been talking to the throat” response. I was not open-ended question. I why you’re at the Bradley
client previously and there is a pause (client does not make expecting was trying to give a Center”
in the conversation.) direct eye-contact, something like this general lead for the
and points to his at all. client to talk about.
“So what brought you to the Bradley neck)
Center?”

2. “Did something happen that made “It’s a long story.” I am interested in Therapeutic and “What happened to make
you want to do that?” (Patient notices I am the story, I want to effective. I allow for you want to do this?”
still listening) know what silence, and the client is
I’ll tell you if you happened. I am glad willing to share his
want to hear it.” the client is willing story.
(makes eye contact to share his story.
for the first time)
3. “I’ve got nothing else to do really.” (client chuckles since I’m trying to make Non- therapeutic “I would like to hear your
there no activities the patient feel response, but it is still story if you are willing to
(I look around and shrug my going on at this time) comfortable at first,effective through share.”
shoulders jokingly, I am also trying trying to keep it offering of myself to the
to build trust with the client, so he Client tells a story light. conversation. I
doesn’t just see me as a “nurse, but about how he had an demonstrated active
rather someone who wants to listen) altercation with his Client is very listening throughout his
neighbor in which distressed about the story and this made him
the police came. The drug comment made give more details since
police told the by the police. he knew I was engaged.
client’s girlfriend’s
 Nurse Communication Client Communication Nurse’s Thoughts & Analysis of the Interaction Alternate or Revised Response
(Verbal & Non Verbal) (Verbal & Non Verbal) Feelings Related to the (Effectiveness, Technique,
Interaction Name & Rationale)
mother that the client
had a drug charge
and the mother said
he could not see the
girlfriend anymore.
“The drug charge
was over a year ago,
I don’t even know
why he even said
that. I don’t do drugs
anymore since I’m in
drug court and I
don’t feel the need
to. So then I came
home and cut my
neck”
(tells the story in
great detail and uses
hands for
expression.)

4. “Were you trying to kill yourself?” “Yes. I wanted to.” I want to know if Non-therapeutic because What were you intending
(I lean in closer to the patient) (looks saddened. the patient was it is a closed-ended to do with the knife?
Client touches his trying to kill question and I could be
neck) himself or just hurt making assumptions
himself. I am about the patient.
somewhat
uncomfortable
asking this question.
 Nurse Communication Client Communication Nurse’s Thoughts & Analysis of the Interaction Alternate or Revised Response
(Verbal & Non Verbal) (Verbal & Non Verbal) Feelings Related to the (Effectiveness, Technique,
Interaction Name & Rationale)
5. “Did you want to do this because “Yea. I was having I want to know Effective, but “What made you want to
you couldn’t see your girlfriend very strong feelings more about his nontherapeutic since it cut yourself with the
anymore?” for her and she was brother to see if he is a close-ended knife?”
like my best friend. has anything to do question. But the patient
And my brother is in with the situation. does open up about his
jail now and we just brother, someone who
became close again has not been in this
and he isn’t here to conversation before. I
talk to, so there’s analyze that there is
nobody now” something more relating
to the brother.
6. “When did your brother go to jail?” “The day before all This makes me Nontherapeutic, I am “Tell me more about your
this happened.” think that not only asking a closed ended brother.”
was he feeling upset question, but I am trying
about not being able to get more information
to see his girlfriend, from the patient. I used
but also his brother. the focusing approach,
focusing on the aspect of
his brother.
7. “Oh, so this was very recent?” Patient nods his This makes me Nontherapeutic, asking “This seems like a lot to
head. realize there is more another closed-ended handle at one time.”
(looks at the floor) going on then the question that does not
patient just not get me a lot of
being able to see his information from the
girlfriend. His patient.
brother just went to
jail before the event,
and this probably
added to his
feelings.
8. “Do you feel like this added to the “Yea, definitely. My I realize I need to Therapeutic; although it “These events seemed to
situation, like you were loosing your brother and me used encourage the client was a close-ended have happened very close
girlfriend and your brother? to not like each other, to open up by question, it got to the together. How did that
and we had just asking a more direct root of the issue and make you feel?”
started get good question. what he was feeling.
again. He was a Here I was trying to
 Nurse Communication Client Communication Nurse’s Thoughts & Analysis of the Interaction Alternate or Revised Response
(Verbal & Non Verbal) (Verbal & Non Verbal) Feelings Related to the (Effectiveness, Technique,
Interaction Name & Rationale)
really good friend. verbalize the implied by
So after everything I the client.
just didn’t want to
live anymore. I mean
if the knife had been
sharper I probably
wouldn’t be here
right now.”
9. “Are you glad that is wasn’t a sharp “I’m still not sure. I I wanted to know Non-therapeutic. I was “Are you still having
knife?” guess we’ll just see how the client felt trying to encourage the thoughts about killing
how it goes, you about not killing patient to reflect on this yourself?”
know?” himself. aspect, hoping that he
would be happy the
knife wasn’t sharp. I
should have made sure
he still wasn’t having
suicidal feelings.
10. “Do you feel like being at the “I mean, I guess. I’ve I wanted to get his Therapeutic. I was “How has the Bradley
Bradley Center has helped since felt happy since I’ve opinion on the exploring the patients Center helped you since
you’ve been here?” been here. And we Bradley Center and thoughts on his being in you’ve been here?”
all get along (points if it was helping. the facility.
to the other boys) so
it’s been good so
far.”