Which response is most appropriate for a nurse when a client voices a deluded statement like being a messianic figure?

The most appropriate response when a client voices a deluded statement, such as claiming to be a messianic figure, is to redirect the client while setting boundaries. This approach is beneficial because it helps maintain a therapeutic environment by acknowledging the client's feelings and thoughts without validating the delusion. Redirecting allows the nurse to steer the conversation towards more reality-based topics, which can help ground the client in the present and foster a safer therapeutic relationship.

Setting boundaries is crucial in this context as it ensures that the nurse provides a clear framework for interactions. This helps the client understand the limits of acceptable behavior and provides guidance that can prevent escalation. It preserves the dignity of the client while also maintaining the nurse's professional responsibility for effective communication and care.

In contrast, encouraging communal discourse around the client's beliefs could inadvertently reinforce the delusion rather than address it. Challenging the client's delusions directly may provoke defensiveness or agitation, which could disrupt the therapeutic alliance. Asking how their belief affects others might also lead to confrontational discussions that do not provide the support the client needs in that moment.