Question

a nurse in an emergency department is caring for a school - age child who has physical injuries due to maltreatment. the parent states, my partner was fired today and was really angry. i dont think this will ever happen again. which of the following responses should the nurse make?

• your partner should not be allowed to take out their stress on your child.
• why do you think this will not happen again?
• its up to you as the parent to report this incident to the authorities.
• your child will be privately interviewed about the incident.

Explanation:

In a medical/emergency context with child maltreatment, the nurse should use therapeutic communication. Asking "Why do you think this will not happen again?" explores the parent's reasoning, promotes reflection, and is non - judgmental, unlike confrontational or directive responses. The other options are either accusatory, shift responsibility inappropriately, or focus on procedural info without addressing the parent's statement.

Answer:

The correct response is "Why do you think this will not happen again?"