A nurse is caring for a client who states, "No wonder we can't get control of my pain! You don't even believe me when I tell you how much I hurt!" Which of the following defense mechanisms should the nurse identify the client using?

Rationale: A. Conversion: Conversion involves the expression of psychological stress through physical symptoms without an underlying medical cause. The client is describing real pain rather than expressing a psychological conflict as a physical symptom, so this does not match conversion. B. Displacement: Displacement occurs when a person redirects emotions or feelings from the original source to a safer target. The client is addressing the nurse directly about pain management, not redirecting feelings onto another target, so this is not displacement. C. Introjection: Introjection involves internalizing the beliefs or values of another person. The client is expressing frustration about pain management rather than adopting someone else’s values or attitudes, so introjection does not apply here. D. Projection: Projection occurs when a person attributes their own feelings, motives, or thoughts onto someone else. In this case, the client is suggesting that the nurse does not believe them, which reflects the client projecting their feelings of frustration and mistrust onto the nurse.