During pre-surgical preparation, the client says, 'OK' in a quivering voice. Which statement shows the nurse's understanding?

During pre-surgical preparation, the client says, 'OK' in a quivering voice. Which statement shows the nurse's understanding?

• A. You seem nervous today.
• B. I'm not sure I understood what you said?
• C. Tell me about your concern.
• D. Let me know when you feel overwhelmed.

Answer: (A)

Recognizing and naming the patient’s emotion is the key idea here. When someone says “OK” in a quivering voice, it often signals anxiety or fear. Responding with a statement like “You seem nervous today” validates that feeling without judgment and invites the patient to share more about what’s upsetting them. This kind of empathic reflection helps the patient feel understood, reduces tension, and opens the door for them to discuss specific fears about surgery, anesthesia, or the upcoming process. The other responses don’t acknowledge the emotional cue as directly. Saying you’re not sure you understood focuses on message clarity rather than emotion. Asking to tell you about the concern is open-ended, which is useful, but it doesn’t validate the visible anxiety. Telling the patient to let you know when overwhelmed puts the responsibility on them and doesn’t provide support or encouragement to express feelings.

Recognizing and naming the patient’s emotion is the key idea here. When someone says “OK” in a quivering voice, it often signals anxiety or fear. Responding with a statement like “You seem nervous today” validates that feeling without judgment and invites the patient to share more about what’s upsetting them. This kind of empathic reflection helps the patient feel understood, reduces tension, and opens the door for them to discuss specific fears about surgery, anesthesia, or the upcoming process.

The other responses don’t acknowledge the emotional cue as directly. Saying you’re not sure you understood focuses on message clarity rather than emotion. Asking to tell you about the concern is open-ended, which is useful, but it doesn’t validate the visible anxiety. Telling the patient to let you know when overwhelmed puts the responsibility on them and doesn’t provide support or encouragement to express feelings.