The client states, “I don’t know what all this fuss is about religion.

The client states, “I don’t know what all this fuss is about religion. God died years ago.” The nurse does believe in God and has a strong inclination to share reasons for that belief with the client.

What is the best question for the nurse to consider before responding to the client’s remark?
1. “Will I get into trouble if I say anything?”
2. “How much longer will I be caring for this client?”
3. “Am I meeting my needs or the client’s?”
4. “How can I best make this client understand?”

ANSWER

Correct Answer: 3
Rationale: The nurse should first determine if it is the nurse’s needs or the client’s needs that would be met by a response. Only after that determination is made would the nurse move on to the other questions in formulating the response.