A nurse is discharging a patient with a pulmonary disorder to return home with her family.She has had a difficult time while in the hospital and has experienced withdrawal from tobacco.When the nurse tells her that community resources are available to help her to stop smoking, she says, "That's OK.I can stop whenever I want to." What does this exemplify?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient's response exemplifies denial, as she is refusing to acknowledge any need for help in stopping her tobacco use. She may be minimizing the extent of her addiction and the difficulty of quitting, which is a common defense mechanism in the denial stage of addiction.

A Nurse Is Discharging a Patient with a Pulmonary Disorder