A nurse is caring for a client who smokes and has lung cancer. The client reports, “I'm coughing because I have that cold that everyone has been getting.”

The nurse should identify that the client is using which of the following defense mechanisms?

The ethical principle of autonomy refers to an individual's right to make decisions about their own healthcare, treatment, and life choices. As a registered nurse, it is important to respect and promote the autonomy of patients. Option b best exemplifies the implementation of the ethical principle of autonomy because it involves exploring alternative solutions with the patient and allowing them to make their own choice among those alternatives. This approach respects the patient's right to make decisions about their own care, while also ensuring that they have the information they need to make an informed decision.

Option a suggests that the nurse is imposing their own decision on the patients, which violates the principle of autonomy.

Option c may involve staying with the patient to provide support and reassurance, but it does not necessarily involve promoting the patient's autonomy.

Option d involves intervening to prevent harm to the patient, which may be necessary at times but is not necessarily an example of promoting the patient's autonomy.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by excessive and persistent worry about a variety of different things, including health, work, relationships, and everyday situations. People with GAD may experience physical symptoms, such as fatigue, muscle tension, and restlessness.

Option a is not a typical finding associated with GAD. Sudden unexplained loss of vision may be a symptom

of a neurological or ophthalmologic condition, but not specifically related to GAD.

Option c describes a condition called body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), which is a type of obsessive- compulsive disorder characterized by an excessive preoccupation with a perceived physical flaw. BDD is not typically associated with GAD.

Option d does not describe a typical finding associated with GAD. While physical health issues can contribute to anxiety, the need for surgeries within the last three months is not necessarily indicative of GAD.

Therefore, the correct option is b. Constant worry about the undiagnosed presence of an illness for more than 6 months. People with GAD often worry about their health and the possibility of having an undiagnosed illness, even when there is no evidence of a problem. This worry may persist for six months or more and can interfere with daily life.