The nurse is caring for a patient scheduled for a partial mastectomy resulting from advanced cancer. The patient tells the nurse, "I'm sure when the surgeon operates on me, he will not find any cancer in my breast. It looks just fine." The nurse recognizes that the patient is using which defense mechanism to cope with the medical diagnosis?
A) Suppression
B) Sublimation
C) Displacement
D) Denial

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient is refusing to admit that the breast has to be removed because of cancer. This inability to accept the truth is termed denial. Displacement is an unconscious defense mechanism used to avoid conflict and anxiety by transferring emotions from one object to another object that is less anxiety producing. Suppression is the conscious decision to conceal unacceptable or painful thoughts. Sublimation is the rechanneling of unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable activities.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Patient Scheduled for a Partial