A nurse is caring for a client who is recovering from a femur fracture sustained in a motor-vehicle crash. Their partner died in the collision. Which of the following client statements would indicate that the client is experiencing avoidance symptoms?

Choice A reason: Expressing sadness about the partner’s death reflects grief, not avoidance. Avoidance involves actively suppressing thoughts or discussions about the trauma. This statement indicates emotional processing, not avoidance, making it incorrect for identifying avoidance symptoms in this context. Choice B reason: Inability to recall the accident may suggest dissociative amnesia, a potential trauma response, but it is not a clear avoidance symptom. Avoidance involves conscious efforts to avoid trauma-related stimuli, not memory loss, making this choice less precise than active refusal to discuss. Choice C reason: Refusing to think or talk about the accident is a hallmark of avoidance symptoms in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This behavior reflects deliberate efforts to suppress trauma-related thoughts or conversations to reduce distress, aligning with the scenario, making this the correct choice. Choice D reason: Blaming oneself for the accident reflects guilt or negative self-perception, common in PTSD, but is not an avoidance symptom. Avoidance involves dodging trauma-related stimuli, not internalizing blame, making this choice incorrect for identifying avoidance behaviors.