A nurse is caring for a client following a physical assault. The client states, I don’t remember what happened to me. The nurse should recognize that the client is using which of the following defense mechanisms?

Choice A reason: Rationalization justifies behavior with excuses, not forgetting events, unlike the client’s memory loss post-assault. It explains actions consciously, not unconscious blocking of trauma. This mechanism doesn’t fit the scenario of amnesia, so it’s not the defense used here. Choice B reason: Repression unconsciously blocks traumatic memories, like an assault, to protect the psyche, matching the client’s statement of not remembering. It’s common in PTSD, pushing distress out of awareness. This fits the psychological response, making it the correct defense mechanism. Choice C reason: Displacement redirects emotions to a safer target, not erasing memory, unlike the client’s amnesia. It involves shifting feelings, not recall loss, post-assault. This mechanism doesn’t explain forgetting, so it’s unrelated to the client’s experience here. Choice D reason: Denial rejects reality outright, like claiming the assault didn’t happen, not forgetting it. The client’s I don’t remember suggests memory suppression, not disbelief. Denial alters perception, not recall, making it an incorrect fit for this situation.