Which scenario demonstrates a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship?

• A. The Nurse Builds Trust By Caring For The Same Child Across Visits
• B. The Nurse Avoids Communication With The Family
• C. The Nurse Denies The Child'S Preferences
• D. The Nurse Changes Primary Nurse Every Day

Answer: (A)

A therapeutic nurse-patient relationship in pediatrics centers on continuity, trust, and collaborative communication. When the same nurse cares for a child across visits, familiarity grows: the nurse learns the child’s preferences, routines, and cues, which makes interactions smoother and more reassuring for both the child and family. This steady presence helps reduce anxiety before procedures, improves adherence to care plans, and strengthens the family’s sense of safety and support—all of which are fundamental to an effective therapeutic relationship.

In contrast, avoiding communication with the family breaks the trust and partnership essential to care; denying the child’s preferences ignores the child’s autonomy and comfort; and changing the primary nurse every day disrupts continuity, making it harder to build rapport and accurately assess changes in the child’s condition.