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 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.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Cognitive reframing involves changing negative or unhelpful thought patterns into more positive and constructive ones. By learning to change negative thoughts into positive statements, the client is actively engaging in cognitive reframing. This process helps the client challenge and reframe negative thoughts, replacing them with more positive and adaptive thoughts. By doing so, the client can reduce stress, improve their mood, and approach challenging situations with a more positive mindset. This technique is an effective way to cope with stress and promote emotional well-being.
Incorrect:
A. The client trains his mind to relax by using deep inner resources. This choice refers to relaxation techniques, which can be helpful for stress reduction but are not specifically related to cognitive reframing. Cognitive reframing focuses on changing thought patterns rather than relaxation techniques.
B. The client learns the source of his stress by writing down daily events. While identifying the source of stress can be an important step in stress management, it is not specific to cognitive reframing. Cognitive reframing involves challenging and changing negative thoughts, rather than solely focusing on identifying stressors.
C. The client imagines being in a quiet, relaxing environment. This choice refers to visualization or guided imagery techniques, which can also be helpful for relaxation but are not specifically related to cognitive reframing. Cognitive reframing involves changing thoughts, beliefs, and interpretations, rather than focusing on imagining specific environments.
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