A client is experiencing job-related stress. The nurse is working with

A client is experiencing job-related stress. The nurse is working with the client in an outpatient health care setting. The nurse believes this client is dissociated as a result of observing the client:

1. Avoid discussion of job problems
2. Act like another colleague on the job
3. Experience chronic headaches and stomach aches
4. Sit quietly and not interacting with any of the staff

ANSWER

ANS: 4
Dissociation is experiencing a subjective sense of numbing and a reduced awareness of one’s surroundings. The client who is sitting quietly and not interacting with any of the staff may be displaying dissociation. The client who avoids discussion of the problem may be using denial as an ego-defense mechanism. The client who acts like another colleague on the job is using identi-fication as an ego-defense mechanism. The client who experiences headaches and stomach aches is using the ego-defense mechanism of conversion.