In a patient care scenario, a visitor touches the patient while the patient is resting. What term best describes this practice?

• A. Therapeutic touch
• B. Massage therapy
• C. Reiki
• D. Biofeedback

Answer: (A)

This item tests the idea of healing touch in patient care and the professional context in which it occurs. Therapeutic touch is a deliberate, purposeful form of touch used by healthcare providers to promote relaxation, reduce pain, and support healing, typically performed with the patient’s consent and within a clinical setting.

When a visitor touches a resting patient, the act isn’t a structured nursing intervention and may violate boundaries or consent expectations. That’s why the term that best describes touch aimed at healing within care settings is therapeutic touch — it captures the intentional, caregiver-directed aspect of touch intended to help the patient.

Massage therapy involves manual manipulation of soft tissues by a licensed professional, Reiki is an energy-based healing practice often performed by trained practitioners, and biofeedback uses devices to help control physiological processes rather than relying on touch.