The nurse is caring for an adult patient with a recent below-the-knee amputation. During shift report, the nurse reports that the patient has urinated in the bed multiple times since the surgery. Which defense mechanism best describes this behavior?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Regression is the return to an earlier developmental stage as a means of avoiding unpleasant or unacceptable thoughts. The adult patient recently lost a limb and reverted to bedwetting as a coping mechanism. Compensation refers to a strategy that uses a personal strength to counterbalance a weakness or a feeling of inadequacy. Refusing to accept a fact or reality as truth is termed denial. Rationalization is the act of suggesting a different explanation for one that is painful, negative, or unacceptable.

The Nurse Is Caring for an Adult Patient with a Recent