A 68-year-old man with osteomyelitis of the left foot is on day four of intravenous antibiotic therapy on the medical-surgical unit and uses a walker due to weight-bearing restrictions. The LPN observes him sitting quietly, staring out the window with a flat affect; he is oriented to person, place, and time but gives brief, one-word answers. When asked how he is coping, he shares that his wife passed away six months ago and that his daughter has been calling nightly to remind him to do his exercises, though he worries about relying on her too much. He denies suicidal ideation and his vital signs are stable. Which nursing action best reflects the use of therapeutic communication in this situation?
- Steering the conversation back to his wound care instead of his loss.
- Advising the client to stop calling his daughter so often for support.
- Asking open-ended questions and acknowledging the client's feelings without judgment.
- Reassuring the client that everything will work out fine and changing the subject.