A nurse is caring for a client following a physical assault. The client states, "I don't remember what happened to me." Which of the following defense mechanisms should the nurse recognize the client is using?

Choice A reason: Conversion disorder involves neurological symptoms like paralysis or blindness that are not explainable by medical evaluation. While these symptoms may mimic sensory impairments, they are psychological in origin and not due to actual sensory deficits.

Choice B reason: Mild anxiety disorder typically does not involve sensory impairments. Anxiety may cause heightened awareness or sensitivity to stimuli but does not result in a loss of sensory function.

Choice C reason: Narcissistic personality disorder is characterized by patterns of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy. It does not include sensory impairments as a symptom.

Choice D reason: Clients with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may experience sensory overload due to heightened focus on certain stimuli, leading to stress and anxiety. Assessing for risks related to sensory impairments can help in managing their symptoms and improving their quality of life.

Choice A reason: Providing a client with a timeline for grieving is not recommended as grief is a highly individual experience and does not follow a set timeline. Each person's journey through grief is unique, and imposing a timeline may invalidate their feelings and hinder the natural process of grieving.

Choice B reason: Encouraging the client to express their feelings is considered a best practice in nursing care for patients with dementia experiencing anticipatory grief. It allows the patient to acknowledge and work through their emotions, which is an important aspect of coping with grief. Open communication can also help the nurse to assess the patient's emotional state and provide appropriate support.

Choice C reason: While showing sympathy can be comforting, it is more beneficial to show empathy. Empathy involves understanding and sharing the feelings of another, which helps in building a stronger connection and providing more personalized care. Sympathy might sometimes be perceived as pity, which can be counterproductive in the therapeutic relationship.

Choice D reason: Sharing personal stories of grief with the client is generally not advised as the focus should remain on the client's experiences. The nurse's role is to facilitate the client's expression of grief, not to shift the focus to their own experiences. Personal stories may also trigger additional stress for the client.