Which statement best demonstrates that a nurse has empathy for a patient who made a suicide attempt?

• A. Let’s talk about what you could have done differently to avoid this situation.
• B. You know that suicide is not the answer to your problems.
• C. I can only imagine how much pain you must have been feeling to make that decision.
• D. You should try to focus on the positive things in your life instead of what went wrong.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of empathy in psychology, which involves recognizing and sharing the feelings of another person, showing genuine understanding and compassion.
2. Step 2: Review each statement to identify which one reflects empathy by expressing understanding of the patient's emotional experience rather than judgment or advice.
3. Step 3: Eliminate statements that are judgmental or directive, such as telling the patient what they should have done differently or what they should focus on, as these do not demonstrate empathy.
4. Step 4: Identify the statement that acknowledges the patient's feelings and pain without judgment, which shows the nurse is trying to understand the patient's emotional state.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the statement "I can only imagine how much pain you must have been feeling to make that decision" best demonstrates empathy because it validates the patient's feelings and expresses compassionate understanding.