What is therapeutic communication?

• A. Techniques that promote trust and understanding, such as open-ended questions, reflective listening, and empathy.
• B. Medical diagnosis and treatment planning.
• C. Administrative record-keeping.
• D. Independent decision making without patient input.

Answer: (A)

Therapeutic communication is about building trust and understanding between the nurse and the patient to support open sharing, emotional support, and collaboration in care. It uses techniques that encourage the patient to express thoughts and feelings, such as open-ended questions that invite more than a yes-or-no answer, reflective listening to restate and clarify what the patient has said, and empathy to acknowledge and validate the patient’s experiences. Through these methods, the nurse helps the patient feel heard, reduces anxiety, and fosters a collaborative relationship that supports accurate assessment, honest dialogue, and adherence to care plans.

This approach is distinct from clinical tasks like diagnosing and planning medical treatment, which involve medical reasoning rather than communication skills. It’s also different from administrative record-keeping, which focuses on documenting information, and from making decisions independently without patient input, which undermines patient-centered care and can reduce engagement and trust. Therapeutic communication centers on guiding interactions so patients feel supported and involved in their own care.