The mother of an 8-month-old infant with profound mental and physical disabilities tells the nurse how depressed she is because she realizes that her child will never achieve normal growth and development milestones. How should the nurse respond to this mother?

Choice A rationale:
Spending time sitting in silence with the client can be a therapeutic intervention for someone who is depressed and experiencing delayed responses. It allows the client to feel a sense of presence and support without the pressure to speak or respond immediately.
This approach can help create a safe and non-judgmental environment for the client to express themselves when they are ready.

Choice B rationale:
Involving the client in a daily exercise program may be a beneficial part of the overall care plan for managing depression, but it does not directly address the client's delayed responses during interactions.

Choice C rationale:
Asking the client to describe her depression may be a useful therapeutic intervention to explore the client's feelings and experiences, but it should be done in a way that respects the client's pace and readiness to discuss her emotions.

Choice D rationale:
Observing for signs of possible psychosis is important for assessing the client's mental health, but delayed responses alone may not necessarily indicate psychosis. It's essential to consider the broader clinical picture and conduct a comprehensive assessment.

A. The client discusses moving to Hawaii instead of returning to rebuild her house.

Defense Mechanism: Fantasy

• Explanation: The client may be using fantasy as a way to escape from the painful reality of her situation. Discussing moving to a place like Hawaii, which may represent an idealized and stress-free environment, suggests a desire to avoid confronting the challenges and emotions associated with her current circumstances.

B. The client seems unemotional when talking about needing to rebuild her house.

Defense Mechanism: Isolation

• Explanation: Isolation, or emotional isolation, occurs when an individual separates emotions from the events or thoughts associated with them. The client's lack of emotional response when discussing rebuilding her house suggests that she may be isolating her feelings to avoid distress.

C. The client states that she sometimes forgets why she is in the hospital.

Defense Mechanism: Suppression

• Explanation: Suppression involves the conscious effort to avoid thinking about distressing thoughts or memories. The client's statement that she sometimes forgets why she is in the hospital may indicate an attempt to suppress or avoid focusing on the traumatic event that led to her hospitalization.

D. The client is frightened that the hospital will burn down.

Defense Mechanism: Denial

• Explanation: Denial involves refusing to accept the reality of a situation, which can manifest as irrational fears or beliefs. The client's fear that the hospital will burn down may reflect a form of denial, as she might be projecting her fear of the collapse (a traumatic event) onto another catastrophic event, thereby avoiding dealing with her actual trauma.

Summary of Answers:

• A. Fantasy - The client discusses moving to Hawaii instead of returning to rebuild her house.
• B. Isolation - The client seems unemotional when talking about needing to rebuild her house.
• C. Suppression - The client states that she sometimes forgets why she is in the hospital.
• D. Denial - The client is frightened that the hospital will burn down.