A nurse is caring for a client who is having an adverse medication reaction. The client states “The nurse told me not to drink when taking the medication, but she didn’t tell me having one drink could cause a problem.” The nurse should recognize that the client is exhibiting which of the following defense mechanisms?

Sigmund Freud was an Austrian neurologist who developed psychoanalytic theory and therapy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He believed that unconscious thoughts, feelings, and experiences from childhood could influence behavior and mental health in adulthood. Psychoanalytic therapy is a type of talk therapy that aims to bring these unconscious thoughts and experiences to the surface, in order to help patients gain insight into their behavior and mental health.

Defence mechanisms are psychological strategies that individuals use unconsciously to protect themselves from anxiety and emotional pain. Freud identified several defense mechanisms, including repression, denial, projection, and displacement. Psychoanalytic therapy is designed to help patients identify and understand these defense mechanisms, in order to develop healthier coping strategies.

Dorothea Dix was a social reformer who advocated for the humane treatment of the mentally ill. Erick Erickson was a developmental psychologist who developed a theory of psychosocial development.

Hildegard Peplau was a nurse theorist who developed a theory of interpersonal relationships in nursing. None of these individuals were associated with the development of psychoanalytic therapy.

This response is open-ended and non-judgmental, allowing the client to reflect on their behavior and share their thoughts and feelings. It also avoids blaming the client or making assumptions about their intentions, which could escalate the situation and damage the therapeutic relationship.

Option A, “I feel angry when I hear that tone of voice,” focuses on the nurse's own feelings and could be perceived as confrontational or defensive.

Option B, “You make me so angry when you talk to me that way,” places blame on the client and may trigger a defensive response.

Option C, “Are you trying to make me angry?” is also confrontational and may be interpreted as accusing the client of intentionally provoking the nurse.