Practice Question
What should be the first step for a nurse when communicating with an angry patient?
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
Actively listen.
Rationale:
👂 Active listening is the first and most essential step when communicating with an angry patient because it conveys respect, empathy, and attentiveness—immediately helping to de-escalate emotions.
👂 By allowing the patient to speak without interruption, the nurse demonstrates a nonjudgmental and supportive presence, which can reduce the intensity of anger and prevent escalation.
👂 Active listening involves observing body language, paraphrasing the patient's words, and using verbal and non-verbal cues to show understanding—fostering trust and therapeutic rapport.
👂 It also helps the nurse gather key information about the root of the anger before making any assumptions or responses, leading to more appropriate follow-up steps.
👂 Skipping this step can make the patient feel ignored or invalidated, potentially worsening agitation or leading to aggressive behavior.
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This question is from LPN ATI Mental Health Psychosocial which contains 52 questions.
More Questions from This Exam
Which of the following actions is the best example of aggressive behavior?
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A patient inquires why they need to attend therapy and can’t just take their prescribed antidepressant medication. What would be the best explanation from the nurse?
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The patient is experiencing loss of multiple abilities such as short- and long-term memory, language, and the ability to understand. What condition does the patient have?
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The night nurse reports that the client, who is hospitalized with major depressive disorder, has been unable to sleep until late at night. The client gets up, paces the hallway, wrings their hands, and appears teary. Which interventions should the nurse advocate to add to the care plan? Select all that apply.
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A score of 1 to 10 on the Global Assessment Functioning (GAF) scale would indicate that a client was at risk for:
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Question Details
- Category: LPN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: LPN ATI Exams
- Domain: Mental Health
- Answer Choices: 4