The nurse who is caring for a neuropsychiatric patient with auditory hallucinations must not deny what the patient is experiencing. This creates isolation and engenders distrust. Therefore, the most appropriate response by the nurse is, “I can’t hear anyone, but I understand you are scared.” This is truthful and also validates the patient and reflects their feelings. The nurse also must not pretend the voices are real (“I will tell the voices to go away”), which can cause confusion and reinforce unhealthy delusional thoughts. Telling the patient there’s no one talking and that the voices aren’t real are not therapeutic responses.