In caring for a client with a new breast cancer diagnosis, which nurse response is most therapeutic?

• A. Let's identify your family and friends who will be your support system through your treatment.
• B. Tell me what's worrying you right now regarding your recent diagnosis.
• C. There are many support groups for women with breast cancer. I can provide you with contact information.
• D. Don't worry, treatment options have come so far, and the cure rates get higher every year.

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is therapeutic communication that invites the patient to express her current thoughts and feelings. Asking an open, patient-centered question like “Tell me what’s worrying you right now regarding your recent diagnosis” gives the patient control over the conversation, validates her emotions, and signals that her fears are legitimate and important to address. This approach helps the nurse assess psychosocial needs, tailor information, and establish trust, laying the groundwork for supportive, individualized care.

Other responses, while well-intentioned, shift the focus away from the patient’s immediate emotional state. Proposing to identify a support network moves toward logistics before the patient has voiced her concerns. Offering contact information for support groups provides resources but doesn’t address the patient’s current worries. Providing reassurance about cures can feel dismissive and may minimize genuine fear or uncertainty, which can undermine trust and fail to validate the patient’s experience.