The nurse who demonstrates empathy a. feels sorry for the ...

[Chloeellawright]

The nurse who demonstrates empathy
 
  a. feels sorry for the patient's situation.
  b. understands the patient's thoughts but is unaware of his or her feelings and emotions.
  c. understands and appreciates the patient's feelings while remaining objective.
  d. attempts to remove physical and emotional pain and fix all of the patient's problems.

Question 2

A patient is crying. The nurse can correctly conclude from this type of nonverbal communication that the
 
  a. patient is sad.
  b. tears reflect happiness.
  c. patient is in pain.
  d. situation needs clarification.

[aadams68]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
Empathy is the ability to understand and appreciate what someone else is feeling without actually experiencing the emotion itself. This permits the nurse to remain objective. Feeling sorry for the patient's situation suggests sympathy rather than empathy. Understanding the patient's thoughts but being unaware of his or her feelings and emotions speaks of a nurse who lacks awareness of others' emotions. Attempts to remove physical and emotional pain and fix all of the patient's problems suggests overinvolvement.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: D
The reason for the patient's crying cannot be determined on the basis of the data supplied. The patient could be sad, happy, or in pain. The situation needs clarification.