A Patient Who Is 30 Years of Age Has Been

A patient who is 30 years of age has been experiencing joint pain for several months and is diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. The patient tells the nurse, "This can't be happening to me. I don't understand this." Which statement best describes the nurse's primary understanding of the patient comments?

A) The patient is too young to possess the ability to cope with this diagnosis.
B) The patient exhibiting the stage of denial related to the illness diagnosis.
C) The patient's developmental stage affects the ability to cope with stressors.
D) The patient's statements indicate an inability to accept an ongoing illness.