A nurse is collecting data from an 8-month-old infant who has increased intracranial pressure (ICP) Which of the following manifestations should the nurse expect?

Choice A rationale:

Severe nausea and vomiting are not typically associated with an ectopic pregnancy at 8 weeks of gestation. Instead, nausea and vomiting are common symptoms of a normal intrauterine pregnancy due to hormonal changes. Ectopic pregnancies often present with different symptoms, such as pelvic pain and vaginal bleeding.

Choice B rationale:

Pelvic pain is a common and concerning symptom of an ectopic pregnancy. It occurs because the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube, which can lead to pain and discomfort as the pregnancy progresses.

Choice C rationale:

Uterine enlargement greater than expected for gestational age is not a typical finding in an ectopic pregnancy. In an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, so uterine enlargement is usually not evident or is less than expected for the gestational age.

Choice D rationale:

Copious vaginal bleeding is a possible but not specific finding in an ectopic pregnancy. While vaginal bleeding can occur, it is often not as heavy as the bleeding associated with a miscarriage or a normal intrauterine pregnancy. Pelvic pain is usually the more prominent symptom.

Choice A rationale:

Identification is a defense mechanism where an individual associates themselves with another person or group. It does not apply to the situation described in the question.

Choice B rationale:

Reaction formation involves expressing the opposite of one's true feelings or desires. It is not the most suitable defense mechanism for the situation where the adolescent blames the teacher for their failure.

Choice C rationale:

Regression refers to reverting to an earlier stage of development in response to stress or conflict. It does not align with the adolescent's statement about their teacher disliking athletes.

Choice D rationale:

Rationalization is the defense mechanism in which a person provides logical or socially acceptable reasons for their behavior, even if these reasons are not accurate. In this case, the adolescent is rationalizing their poor performance by blaming the teacher's bias against athletes. This choice best fits the situation described.