In mental health nursing, it is very important for the nurse to have therapeutic communication and develop rapport with your patient. It also decreases the patient’s anxiety and opens opportunities for optimal patient care. In the simulation experience there were many good examples of how the students demonstrated therapeutic communication. Watching the video over, enabled me to have a better understanding of the role of therapeutic communication in the mental health assessment process and as in intervention. They first started off by making him feel comfortable as he walked in, sitting facing him with arms open along with the appropriate body language. Right after that they all introduced themselves, beginning to form that patient-nurse relationship. Everything they said was with a caring tone, which also makes the patient feel comfortable and safe. They were very understanding with the struggles he was explaining to them and expressed that by saying things like “I understand how this can be difficult for you.” Letting the patient feel that you understand them will make them feel more comfortable in explaining what is going on. 

            The students were asking the patient open-ended questions and gave him time to think of a response and speak his mind. Open-ended questions allow the client to explore their thoughts and feelings and in turn helps the nurse have a better understanding what’s going on. There were specific moments when the students asked things like: “can you tell me what a normal day would look like,” “what do you mean by that,” “can you explain more about that guilt you were talking about,” and “tell me more about how that makes you feel?”  When the patient would answer their open-ended questions, they would reassure him that he is not alone and he is supported. For example, he kept talking about how he feels guilty that his marriage problems are his fault and the students would reassure him that guilt is a common side effect of depression and it is not uncommon for someone who is depressed to feel that way. They also gave him suggestions on different types of therapy he can go to and ways to improve his marriage and life in general, while assessing his willingness to do so. It was also effective to ask the patient to explain to them the medications he is on in order to get a better understanding of his current knowledge and what needs to be taught. Overall, communicating therapeutically with patients will benefit the nurse and the patient. I was able to see that when watching the simulations that my classmates did. I could see progression from the first scenario to the second to the third, and as they got better at interviewing and using that type of the communication, the patient was more willing to talk and express their struggles.