A female client hospitalized for an unrelated problem has a large pearly-white lesion on her lip,to which she continues to apply lipstick that she will not remove for inspection.The client refuses to discuss the lesion with the nurse or health care provider.What action by the nurse is best?

Question

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Clients with oral cancers often have body image difficulties due to the location of the tumor or the results of surgical treatment.This client appears to be using denial to cope with this problem.The nurse should work to establish a helping-trusting relationship in hopes that the client will be amenable to future discussions about the lesion.Asking "why" questions often puts people on the defensive and should be avoided.Ignoring the lesion is not being an advocate for the client.Education is important,but right now the client is in denial,so this information will not seem relevant to her.

A Female Client Hospitalized for an Unrelated Problem Has a Large