A nurse is reinforcing teaching with the parents of an infant who has a Pavlik harness.
Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?

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.

Choice A rationale:

Evaluating the client for signs of infection is an important nursing action in post-procedure care, but it is not the priority immediately following an amniotomy. The primary concern after an amniotomy is fetal well-being, so monitoring the fetal heart rate is the priority.

Choice B rationale:

Checking the fetal heart rate pattern is the priority nursing action following an amniotomy. Amniotomy involves breaking the amniotic sac, which can potentially lead to changes in the fetal heart rate. Monitoring the fetal heart rate helps assess the baby's well-being and detects any signs of fetal distress.

Choice C rationale:

Observing the color and consistency of amniotic fluid is important for assessing the fluid for signs of meconium staining or infection, but it is not the immediate priority after an amniotomy. Checking the fetal heart rate takes precedence.

Choice D rationale:

Taking the client's temperature is an important part of assessing for infection or fever, but it is not the immediate priority following an amniotomy. Fetal well-being and monitoring are the primary concerns in the immediate post-amniotomy period.