A nurse is talking with a client who has schizophrenia. Suddenly the client states, "I'm frightened. Do you hear that? The voices are telling me to do terrible things." Which of the following responses by the nurse is appropriate?

A. "Why do you think you are hearing the voices?" This response could be seen as confrontational or invalidating. Asking "why" can imply judgment or a lack of understanding of the client’s experience. It is better to listen and explore the content of the voices in a non-judgmental way, as in option C. B. "You need to understand that there are no voices." While it is true that the voices are not real in the external world, denying the client’s experience can invalidate their feelings and make them feel unheard. The goal is not to argue but to acknowledge their experience and help them manage it, which makes this response inappropriate. C. "What are the voices telling you to do?" This response is the most appropriate. It acknowledges the client’s experience and opens the door for further discussion about the content of the voices. This approach allows the nurse to assess the severity of the voices and intervene appropriately. It shows empathy and helps the nurse understand the situation better in order to offer support. D. "You need to tell the voices to leave you alone." While it may seem like a helpful suggestion, this response is not grounded in reality and might be difficult for the client to implement, especially if they are hearing commanding voices. It does not engage the client in a way that explores or addresses the underlying issue.