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?

The correct answer is choiceAandE.

Choice A rationale:

Monitoring the client’s weight daily is crucial in managing anorexia nervosa.It helps track the client’s progress and ensures that any significant weight changes are promptly addressed.

Choice B rationale:

Allowing the client to choose their meals can be counterproductive.Clients with anorexia nervosa may make choices that do not support their nutritional needs, potentially exacerbating their condition.

Choice C rationale:

Allowing the client to practice strenuous exercises is not advisable.Strenuous exercise can further deplete the client’s already low energy reserves and exacerbate malnutrition.

Choice D rationale:

Staying with the client during meals and for 2 hours after meals is incorrect.The recommended practice is to stay with the client for 30 minutes after meals to monitor for any purging behaviors.

Choice E rationale:

Providing the client with small meals frequently is beneficial. It helps in managing their nutritional intake without overwhelming them, which can be more acceptable and manageable for clients with anorexia nervosa.

Choice A rationale:

Protecting the client from injury is the highest priority nursing action in this scenario. Here's a detailed rationale explaining the importance of this action:

1. Imminent Risk of Harm:

Acute anxiety can significantly impair judgment and impulse control, escalating the risk of self-harm or harm to others. It's crucial to prevent any actions that could result in physical injury, even if unintended.

2. Physiological Manifestations:

Anxiety can trigger physiological responses that heighten the potential for harm, such as: Increased heart rate and blood pressure

Hyperventilation Diaphoresis

Agitation and restlessness Dissociation

These physiological changes can contribute to accidents, falls, or other injuries.

3. Impaired Decision-Making:

Acute anxiety often clouds rational thinking and decision-making abilities.

Individuals may engage in behaviors they wouldn't consider in a calmer state, such as running away, lashing out, or attempting self-harm.

The nurse's role is to safeguard the client from potential consequences of these impulsive actions.

4. Establishing Safety as a Foundation for Care:

Ensuring physical safety creates a necessary foundation for subsequent interventions.

Once safety is established, the nurse can proceed with assessing coping skills, identifying anxiety triggers, and implementing therapeutic strategies.

5. Protecting Others:

In rare cases, acute anxiety can manifest in aggression towards others.

The nurse must protect not only the client but also other individuals who may be at risk.

6. Ethical and Legal Obligations:

Nurses have a professional duty to protect clients from harm, upholding ethical principles and legal standards of care.

7. Preventing Trauma:

Physical injuries sustained during a crisis can exacerbate anxiety and complicate recovery. Proactive safety measures aim to prevent further trauma and promote healing.

I'll provide detailed rationales for the other choices in separate messages to ensure clarity and comprehensiveness.