A 35-year-old client says, 'I got divorced less than a year after getting married... I never seem to be on my own like other guys my age.' Which nurse response is most appropriate?

• A. Can you tell me more about your marriage and relationships? If you leave home, what do you fear will happen?
• B. Why did you leave the Navy SEALs and what happened in your marriage?
• C. You should settle down and find a stable routine soon.
• D. You should avoid relationships for a while to focus on yourself.

Answer: (A)

The main concept here is using therapeutic, open-ended questions to explore the patient’s feelings and experiences rather than directing or judging him. The most appropriate response invites the patient to share more about his marriage and relationships and asks what he fears might happen if he’s alone. This approach shows genuine curiosity, empathy, and a nonjudgmental stance, which helps build trust and provides essential information for understanding what the patient is actually experiencing. By asking to tell more and by specifically inquiring about fears around being alone, the nurse can uncover underlying issues such as loneliness, dependence, or distress during major life transitions, which then guides appropriate support or referral.

Other options are less fitting because they either pry into unrelated past details, come across as judgmental or prescriptive, or try to steer the patient away from exploring his feelings. Asking about military service and marriage details shifts the focus away from his current emotional state. Suggesting he settle down or avoid relationships imposes a judgment or a quick fix rather than allowing him to express his experience and coping needs.