A nurse is providing care to a client who is immunocompromised.
Which of the following should the nurse identify as a possible source of infection?

Choice A rationale:

Facial erythema (redness of the face) is not a typical manifestation of pertussis (whooping cough) Pertussis primarily presents with a severe cough, often followed by a "whooping" sound during inhalation, and can cause complications like pneumonia and apnea. Facial erythema is not a characteristic sign of the disease.

Choice B rationale:

A beefy, red tongue is not a common manifestation of pertussis. This description is more suggestive of other conditions, such as vitamin deficiencies or certain infections. Pertussis primarily involves respiratory symptoms, and a red tongue is not a typical finding associated with the disease.

Choice C rationale:

Fever is a common manifestation of pertussis, and it is often one of the early symptoms. However, it is not the most specific sign of the disease, as many other infections can also cause fever. While fever can occur in pertussis, it is not the most distinctive feature of the condition.

Choice D rationale:

Koplik spots are not associated with pertussis but rather with measles (rubeola) Koplik spots are small white or grayish-blue spots with a red halo that appear on the mucous membranes inside the cheeks and are characteristic of measles. Pertussis is primarily known for its characteristic cough and paroxysms of coughing, not for Koplik spots.

The correct answer is: a. Displacement.

Choice A Reason: Displacement is a defense mechanism where a person redirects a negative emotion from its original source to a less threatening recipient. In the context of bipolar disorder, a client may displace anger or frustration about their condition or treatment onto the nurse, who is not the source of these feelings. This redirection can occur because the client might feel powerless or uncomfortable expressing these emotions towards their healthcare provider, who is the authority figure prescribing medication changes.

Choice B Reason: Splitting is often associated with borderline personality disorder rather than bipolar disorder. It involves viewing things in extremes—either all good or all bad—with no middle ground. While individuals with bipolar disorder can exhibit black-and-white thinking, especially during mood episodes, the behavior described does not indicate splitting, as it does not involve idealizing or devaluing the nurse or provider.

Choice C Reason: Sublimation is a mature defense mechanism where socially unacceptable impulses or idealizations are unconsciously transformed into socially acceptable actions or behavior, often resulting in a long-term conversion of the initial impulse. For example, a person with aggressive tendencies might take up a sport that channels aggression in a socially acceptable way. The scenario provided does not suggest that the client is channeling their frustrations into a constructive activity.

Choice D Reason: Conversion involves the transfer of mental stress into physical symptoms. This defense mechanism is characteristic of conversion disorder, where psychological stress manifests as neurological symptoms like blindness, paralysis, or other sensory or motor symptoms without a medical cause. The client yelling at the nurse does not reflect a conversion of emotional distress into physical symptoms.