The nurse is teaching a client with cancer about skincare for the portal site receiving external beam radiation. Which client action regarding skin care indicates a need for further teaching?

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.

Choice A rationale:
Restricting visitors to family members only may not necessarily be a beneficial intervention and could potentially isolate the client further, which may not be in their best interest.

Choice B rationale:
Discussing the client's suicide plan is essential to assess the level of risk and develop strategies to keep the client safe. It allows the healthcare team to understand the severity of the client's depressive symptoms and potential suicidal ideation.

Choice C rationale:
Limiting the time allowed to play video games may be a consideration in a broader plan of care, but it is not a primary intervention for addressing depression in adolescents. The focus should be on safety, communication, and building a therapeutic relationship.

Choice D rationale:
Encouraging the client to discuss thoughts and feelings about wanting to die is crucial for therapeutic communication and assessment. It provides an opportunity for the client to express their emotions and allows for intervention and support.

Choice E rationale:
Reinforcing statements regarding a will to live and realistic plans for the future is important for building hope and motivation in the client. It can be part of a positive, strengths-based approach to treatment.