A nurse is planning overall strategies to address problems for a client who has borderline personality disorder. Which of the following strategies is the priority for the nurse to incorporate in the plan of care?

A. Denial:
Denial is a defense mechanism in which a person refuses to accept reality or acknowledge the existence of something that is evident to others. For example, a person diagnosed with a serious illness might deny that they are ill or refuse to believe the diagnosis. In this scenario, the client is not denying a reality; he is expressing anger and directing it toward the nurse.

B. Compensation:
Compensation is a defense mechanism where an individual overachieves in one area to compensate for real or imagined deficiencies in another area. For instance, someone who feels intellectually inferior might excel in sports to compensate for their perceived inadequacy. This is not applicable to the client's situation in the scenario provided.

C. Rationalization:
Rationalization involves providing logical or reasonable explanations to justify behaviors or feelings that might otherwise be unacceptable. For instance, a person might rationalize a failure by blaming external factors rather than accepting personal responsibility. In the scenario, the client is not offering rationalizations but is expressing direct anger.

D. Displacement:
Displacement occurs when emotions, especially anger or frustration, are redirected from the original source to a less threatening target. For example, a person who is angry with their boss might come home and take out their frustration on their family members. In the given situation, the client is displacing his anger from his partner onto the nurse, asking her to leave, making displacement the most appropriate choice.

A. "Don't worry about it. Your anxiety will lessen once the massage begins."
This response dismisses the client's concerns and may not be respectful of their boundaries. It does not acknowledge the client's discomfort and does not offer a solution to address their preference.

B. "Why don't you like to be touched by others?"
While the nurse is attempting to understand the client's feelings, this question might come across as invasive or judgmental. The client may not feel comfortable discussing their reasons for not liking to be touched, and this response does not offer an immediate solution to the issue at hand.

C. "I will request that the massage therapist wear gloves during your treatment."
This response shows an attempt to accommodate the client's preference by suggesting a practical solution, such as wearing gloves to create a physical barrier. However, it's important to note that some individuals may still find this uncomfortable, and it might not be a universally effective solution for everyone.

D. "I will tell your provider that you would like a treatment other than massage."
This response acknowledges the client's discomfort and demonstrates respect for their boundaries. It indicates the nurse's intention to advocate for the client's preferences and well-being. By informing the provider about the client's aversion to touch, the nurse opens the door to exploring alternative treatment options that are more suitable for the client's comfort level.