A nurse is caring for an adolescent who states, "I failed my math exam because the teacher doesn't like athletes." The nurse should identify that the adolescent is using which of the following defense mechanisms?

The correct answer is a. Plan to remove the restraints as soon as the client is calm.

Choice A reason: The primary goal after applying restraints is to ensure the safety of the client and others. Once the client is calm, planning for the removal of restraints is essential to maintain the client’s dignity and to adhere to ethical standards of minimizing restraint use.

Choice B reason: While offering snacks is part of general care, it is not specifically related to the immediate action required following the application of restraints. Nutritional needs should be addressed, but they do not take precedence over the assessment and potential removal of restraints.

Choice C reason: Ensuring that a prescription for restraints is signed within 48 hours is a legal requirement, but it is not the immediate action to be taken following the application of restraints. The focus should be on the client’s current state and reassessing the need for continued restraint.

Choice D reason: Monitoring the client’s range of motion every 60 minutes is important to prevent complications from restraint, such as contractures or muscle atrophy. However, this is secondary to the immediate reassessment of the need for restraint and planning for its removal as soon as the client is calm.

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.