Therapeutic communication is best described as:

• A. A method to enforce policies.
• B. A one-way information delivery.
• C. A communication process that promotes personal growth and helps patients achieve health-related goals.
• D. A tactic to speed discharge.

Answer: (C)

Therapeutic communication is a two-way, patient-centered process that promotes personal growth and helps patients achieve health-related goals. It centers on active listening, empathy, respect, and collaboration, creating a trusting relationship where the patient can openly share concerns, fears, and preferences. Through open-ended questions, reflecting, and clarifying, the nurse supports the patient in understanding options and participating in decisions about care, which fosters autonomy, reduces anxiety, and improves adherence and outcomes.

This approach isn’t about enforcing policies or delivering information in a one-way manner, and it isn’t a tactic aimed at speeding discharge. Those elements reflect different aims and dynamics, whereas therapeutic communication focuses on empowering the patient and guiding care through a supportive, interactive dialogue.