A nurse is assessing a young adult client who has a new diagnosis of Idiopathic Juvenile arthritis. The client states. "The pain in my joints is just a temporary thing. If I keep eating right and exercising, it'll go away." The nurse should identify that the client is using which of the following defense mechanisms?
Displacement
Reaction formation
Denial
Rationalization
The Correct Answer is C
Answer: C
Rationale:
A) Displacement:
Displacement involves redirecting emotions or feelings from the original source to a safer or more acceptable substitute. In this scenario, the client is not redirecting their feelings about their condition onto another person or object, so displacement does not apply.
B) Reaction formation:
Reaction formation is when a person behaves in a way that is opposite to their actual feelings or thoughts to conceal them. The client is not expressing the opposite of their true feelings about their condition; instead, they are downplaying the seriousness of their diagnosis.
C) Denial:
Denial involves refusing to accept reality or facts, thus blocking external events from awareness. By believing that proper diet and exercise alone will make the joint pain go away, the client is refusing to accept the chronic nature of their condition and its long-term implications.
D) Rationalization:
Rationalization involves creating logical reasons or excuses for behaviors or feelings to avoid facing the true reasons. The client is not making excuses or trying to justify their feelings; instead, they are denying the chronic nature of their arthritis, which makes denial the correct defense mechanism in this context.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Determining if the client has thoughts of self-harm: This is the priority action for the nurse in this situation. Assessing the client's risk of self-harm or suicide is crucial to determine the level of immediate intervention required. It helps identify the severity of the crisis and enables the nurse to implement appropriate measures to ensure the client's safety.
In the context of a client with generalized anxiety disorder who is exhibiting signs of distress and seeking to be taken care of, it is essential to assess for suicidal ideation or intent. Clients with mental health disorders, especially when experiencing high levels of stress, may be at an increased risk of self-harm or suicide. Therefore, it is vital for the nurse to prioritize the assessment of the client's safety and risk of self-harm in order to provide appropriate care and interventions.
Incorrect:
A- Asking the client to identify the cause of the crisis: While it is important to gather information about the cause of the crisis to understand the client's situation, it is not the nurse's priority at this moment. Assessing the client's safety and immediate risk of self-harm takes precedence.
C- Identifying if friends or family are available to help: While social support from friends and family can be valuable in managing a crisis, it is not the nurse's priority in this situation. The immediate concern is to assess the client's safety and risk of self-harm.
D-Identifying the client's coping skills: Assessing the client's coping skills is an important aspect of the overall assessment process, but it is not the priority at this moment. The nurse needs to first ensure the client's safety and address any immediate risks.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Answer: (D) Suppression
Rationale:
A) Dissociation: Dissociation involves a disconnection from reality or the separation of thoughts, memories, or identity from conscious awareness. In this scenario, the client is not displaying any signs of disconnecting from reality or avoiding awareness of the situation through dissociation, making this defense mechanism unlikely.
B) Projection: Projection occurs when an individual attributes their own unacceptable thoughts or feelings to others. The client in this situation is not blaming others or attributing their actions to someone else, so projection is not the defense mechanism being demonstrated here.
C) Intellectualization: Intellectualization involves using reasoning or logic to avoid emotional stress or anxiety. While the client does mention logical-sounding plans about things working out next week, their overall response does not primarily reflect an avoidance of emotion through reasoning, so intellectualization is not the correct choice.
D) Suppression: Suppression is the conscious decision to delay paying attention to an emotion or need in order to cope with the present situation. The client acknowledges the stress of being fired but chooses to push aside their distress by stating that "everything will work out somehow next week," indicating they are consciously choosing to set aside their anxiety for the time being. This aligns with the concept of suppression.
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