A nurse in a community health facility is interviewing a client who recently lost his job. The client states. "I was fired because my boss doesn't like me." Which of the following defense mechanisms is the client displaying?

A. Identify the goals that the client achieved during the relationship:
This activity typically occurs during the termination or closure phase of the nurse-client relationship. It involves reflecting on the progress made by the client toward their goals. During this phase, both the nurse and the client review the goals set at the beginning of the therapeutic relationship and identify which ones have been achieved. This helps in evaluating the effectiveness of the therapeutic interventions.

B. Assist the client to make changes in her behavior:
This action is a central aspect of the working phase. In this phase, the nurse and client collaboratively work on addressing the client's issues. The nurse provides support, guidance, and appropriate interventions to help the client modify their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. The goal is to facilitate positive changes and promote the client's mental and emotional well-being.

C. Inform the client about confidentiality issues:
Discussing confidentiality is essential at the beginning of the therapeutic relationship, during the orientation phase. The nurse informs the client about the limits of confidentiality, explaining what information will be kept confidential and under what circumstances confidentiality might need to be breached (such as when there is a risk of harm to the client or others). This discussion helps establish trust and clear boundaries within the relationship.

D. Discuss the client's responsibilities for the relationship:
Clarifying the client's responsibilities occurs primarily during the orientation phase. In this phase, the nurse outlines what the client can expect from the therapeutic relationship and what is expected from them. This includes discussing the client's active participation in the process, their commitment to attending sessions, being open and honest, and actively engaging in therapeutic activities and homework assignments.

A. "What have you done to change your situation?"
This response can come off as accusatory and might make the client feel judged. It's not the most therapeutic response in this situation.

B. "You should remove yourself from this situation now."
While removing oneself from a harmful situation is generally good advice, it might not be practical or safe in the heat of the moment. Moreover, this response doesn't address the underlying emotional distress the client is expressing.

C. “Are you thinking about harming yourself?"
This response directly assesses the client's suicidal ideation. It's essential to ask direct questions about self-harm when a person expresses feelings of hopelessness, as it provides an opportunity for the client to talk about their thoughts and feelings and for the nurse to assess the level of risk accurately.

D. “We will help get you through this. You'll be fine."
While offering support and reassurance is essential, it doesn't directly address the immediate concern of potential suicidal thoughts. The nurse should assess the client's safety first before providing reassurance.