A mental health nurse is caring for a client who smokes and has lung cancer.
The client reports, "I'm coughing because I have that cold everyone has been getting." The nurse should identify that the client is using which of the following defense mechanisms?

Reaction formation

Denial

Suppression

Regression.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

While the client's statement might seem like other defense mechanisms, here's why Denial is the most fitting choice: Denial:

Involves refusing to acknowledge a painful or threatening reality.

The client attributes their cough, a potential symptom of lung cancer, to a common cold, dismissing the possibility of their condition worsening.

This allows them to avoid the emotional distress associated with facing their illness. Other options and their rationales:

Reaction formation (Choice A): This involves expressing the opposite of what one truly feels or desires. The client doesn't show any outward signs of expressing emotions opposite to their actual feelings about their health.

Suppression (Choice C): This involves consciously pushing unpleasant thoughts or feelings out of awareness. While the client might downplay the cough, they haven't completely pushed the thought of their illness away.

Regression (Choice D): This involves reverting to an earlier stage of development in response to stress. There's no indication of the client displaying behaviors characteristic of an earlier developmental stage.

Addressing other potential mechanisms:

Displacement: Redirecting emotions towards a less threatening target is not evident in the scenario.

Rationalization: Justifying behavior in a way that avoids facing the true reasons is not seen in the client's explanation. Projection: Attributing one's own feelings or desires to others is not present in the client's statement.

Remember:

Denial is a common coping mechanism for dealing with difficult realities like illness.

It's crucial for the nurse to assess the extent of the client's denial and offer support without judgment.

The goal is to help the client acknowledge their illness while providing emotional support and resources for managing their condition.

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Correct Answer is ["A","C","E"]

Explanation

Choice A rationale: Potassium level A therapeutic response to the treatment plan for anorexia nervosa would be indicated by a normal potassium level. Anorexia nervosa often leads to electrolyte imbalances, including low potassium levels, due to inadequate food intake and, in some cases, purging behaviors. Therefore, a normal potassium level can indicate that the client is responding well to the treatment plan, as it suggests they are maintaining a more balanced diet and managing their symptoms effectively.

Choice B rationale: Temperature While body temperature can be affected by severe malnutrition, it is not a specific indicator of a therapeutic response to the treatment plan for anorexia nervosa. Therefore, while it’s important to monitor, it is not a definitive sign of improvement or recovery.

Choice C rationale: ECG report An ECG report can indicate a therapeutic response to the treatment plan for anorexia nervosa. This is because anorexia nervosa can lead to heart problems such as abnormal heart rhythms. Therefore, a normal ECG report can suggest that the client’s heart health is improving, which can be a sign that they are responding well to the treatment plan.

Choice D rationale: BUN level While the BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) level can provide information about hydration status and kidney function, it is not a specific indicator of a therapeutic response to the treatment plan for anorexia nervosa. Therefore, while it’s important to monitor, it is not a definitive sign of improvement or recovery.

Choice E rationale: BMI BMI (Body Mass Index) is a key indicator of a therapeutic response to the treatment plan for anorexia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by a significantly low body weight, and one of the main goals of treatment is weight restoration. Therefore, an increase in BMI can indicate that the client is gaining weight and responding well to the treatment plan.

A. "I check any room I enter because the enemy is still after me and could be hiding anywhere." B. "I killed four enemy soldiers with my bare hands and saved my entire battalion." C. "In my dreams, all I can see are the wounded reaching out and trying to grab me." D. "My child was born with a birth defect due to an exposure I had overseas.".

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

The correct answer is choice c. “In my dreams, all I can see are the wounded reaching out and trying to grab me.”

Choice A rationale:

This statement indicates hypervigilance and paranoia, which can be symptoms of PTSD, but it is more indicative of a delusional disorder or severe anxiety.

Choice B rationale:

This statement reflects a possible delusion of grandeur or a coping mechanism to deal with trauma, but it does not directly indicate PTSD.

Choice C rationale:

This statement describes a recurring nightmare, which is a common symptom of PTSD. Individuals with PTSD often relive traumatic events through nightmares or flashbacks.

Choice D rationale:

This statement suggests a belief in a cause-and-effect relationship that may not be accurate. It could indicate guilt or a misunderstanding of the situation, but it is not a direct symptom of PTSD.

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A mental health nurse is caring for a client who smokes and has lung cancer.The client reports, "I'm coughing because I have that cold everyone has been getting." The nurse should identify that the client is using which of the following defense mechanisms?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is caring for a client who has anorexia nervosa. The nurse is assessing the client during a follow-up visit.Which of the following findings indicate a therapeutic response to the treatment plan? (Select all that apply.)

Correct Answer is ["A","C","E"]

Explanation

A nurse is caring for a client who was involved in heavy combat and observed war casualties. The nurse should suspect that the client is suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) if the client makes which of the following statements?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

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A mental health nurse is caring for a client who smokes and has lung cancer.
The client reports, "I'm coughing because I have that cold everyone has been getting." The nurse should identify that the client is using which of the following defense mechanisms?