A person previously employed as a corporate manager is laid off and tells the nurse that his wife wants him to take a lower-level job to maintain finances. Which nursing response would be therapeutic?

• A. Have you shared your feelings with your wife?
• B. You should work in a menial job to maintain finances.
• C. You should humiliate yourself to save money.
• D. This will be easy.

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is therapeutic communication that invites the patient to express emotions and engage in problem-solving with others rather than giving directions or judging. Asking, “Have you shared your feelings with your wife?” invites the patient to articulate his emotional response to unemployment and the pressure to take a lower-level job, and it encourages open dialogue with his wife. This approach validates his feelings, shows care, and supports autonomy while helping him consider how to address the situation with his spouse.

Telling him to take a menial job is a directive that dismisses his emotions and may damage self-esteem. Suggesting humiliation is disrespectful and harmful, and saying it will be easy minimizes the real stress and adjustment involved. The therapeutic option centers on fostering communication and coping, not on prescribing or belittling.