A nurse is caring for an adolescent who states, "I failed my math exam because the teacher doesn't like athletes." The nurse should identify that the adolescent is using which of the following defense mechanisms?

Choice A rationale:

The nurse should encourage the client to be assertive. Dependent Personality Disorder is characterized by a pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of, leading to submissive and clinging behavior. One of the treatment goals is to help the client develop assertiveness skills to reduce their dependence on others. Encouraging assertiveness allows the client to express their needs and make decisions for themselves, which is an essential aspect of their therapeutic journey toward independence.

Choice B rationale:

Assuming responsibility for making the client's decisions would not be appropriate. It would further reinforce the client's dependent behavior and hinder their progress towards independence. The goal of therapy is to promote autonomy and self-reliance, not to perpetuate dependency.

Choice C rationale:

Maintaining a verbal no-harm contract with the client may be necessary in some cases, especially if the client exhibits self-harming behaviors. However, it is not a primary teaching point when educating the caregiver about managing a client with Dependent Personality Disorder. The focus should primarily be on helping the client develop assertiveness and self-reliance.

Choice D rationale:

Limiting the client's social interactions is not an appropriate intervention. Social support can be beneficial for individuals with Dependent Personality Disorder, as it can help them build self-confidence and reduce their excessive reliance on one individual. Isolating the client would not be in their best interest.

Choice A rationale:

Decreased skin turgor. Decreased skin turgor is a sign of dehydration rather than fluid overload. In fluid overload, the body retains excess fluid, leading to symptoms like crackles in the lungs, edema, and increased blood pressure. Decreased skin turgor is more characteristic of dehydration, where the body loses fluid.

Choice B rationale:

Decreased blood pressure. Decreased blood pressure is not typically a manifestation of fluid overload. Fluid overload often leads to increased blood pressure as the heart has to work harder to pump excess fluid throughout the body.

Choice C rationale:

Weight loss. Weight loss is not a manifestation of fluid overload. In fact, fluid overload may lead to weight gain due to the retention of excess fluid in the body.

Choice D rationale:

Crackles heard in the lungs. Crackles heard in the lungs are a common manifestation of fluid overload. When there is an excessive accumulation of fluid in the lungs, it can interfere with the exchange of gases and cause crackling sounds during breathing. This is a significant clinical finding that indicates the need for intervention and assessment of fluid balance.