A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client about smoking cessation.

Which of the following client statements indicates an understanding of the teaching?

The nurse should allow the family as much time as they want with the client who has just died. This promotes comfort for the family and allows them to say goodbye to their loved one.

a) Using paper tape to hold the client's eyelids open is not appropriate and can be distressing for the family.

b) Placing the client in a supine position is not necessary and may not be comfortable for the client.

c) Avoiding repeating information about the client's death is not helpful. The nurse should provide clear and honest information to the family and answer any questions they may have.

b. Rationalization

Explanation:

The correct answer is b. Rationalization.

Rationalization is a defense mechanism characterized by the individual's atempt to justify or explain their behavior or actions in a way that makes it more acceptable to themselves or others. It involves providing logical-sounding reasons or excuses to mask or minimize the real underlying reasons for their behavior.

In this scenario, the client is atributing their recent behavior to the loss of their job, using it as a justification or explanation for their actions. By blaming the job loss, they are rationalizing their behavior as a direct result of the circumstances they faced.

Option a, Projection, involves atributing one's own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or behaviors to others.

This defense mechanism does not apply to the client's statement about their job loss.

Option c, Repression, involves the unconscious blocking of unwanted thoughts or feelings. It does not relate to the client's behavior or their explanation for it.

Option d, Sublimation, is a defense mechanism where an individual channels or redirects unacceptable impulses or emotions into socially acceptable behaviors or activities. It is not applicable in this context since the client is not expressing their emotions or impulses through alternative constructive means.

By identifying the client's explanation as rationalization, the nurse recognizes the defense mechanism being used and gains insight into how the client is coping with their emotions and justifying their behavior in response to the job loss. This understanding can guide the nurse in providing appropriate support and interventions to help the client manage their anger more effectively.