N212: Health Differences Across the Life Span 2

Health Differences Across the Lifespan 2 Study Guide

©2017 Achieve Test Prep Page 20 of 140 • Defense mechanisms: automatic, psychological processes, caused by internal or external perceived dangers or stressors, which threaten self-esteem and disrupt ego function; may be conscious, but usually takes place at the unconscious level • Projection: placing blame for difficulties on others; predominant in paranoia; paranoid patients project hate for others by saying that others are out to get the them • Displacement: discharging pent-up feelings from one object to a less dangerous object; fairly common; for example, your supervisor yells at you, so you yell at your husband, transferring your anger to a less threatening substitute • Reaction formation: prevention of dangerous feelings and desires from being expressed by exaggerating the opposite attitude (a kind of denial); an overly neat, polite individual may unconsciously desire to be untidy and carefree; behavior is pathological when it interferes with tasks or produces anxiety or frustration • Denial: refusal to face reality; the ego protects itself from unpleasant pain or conflict by rejecting reality; denial of illness is common • Sublimation: mechanism by which primitive or unacceptable tendencies are redirected into socially constructive channels; usually artistic and cultural achievements, such as painting and poetry The Resolution Phase • Termination of professional relationship • The patient’s needs have already been met by the collaborative effect of patient andnurse • Now they need to terminate their therapeutic relationship and dissolve the links between them • Sometimes it may be difficult for both as psychological dependence persists • Patient drifts away and breaks bond with the nurse and a healthier emotional balance is demonstrated as both become mature individuals Communication Blocks to verbal communication: giving advice, preaching, admonishing, patronizing, giving false reassurance, changing the subject, overanalyzing, over-interpretation, demanding, asking probing or “why” type questions, using unfamiliar language, stereotyped responses, inappropriate use of humor, or making statements that focus on oneself Blocks to nonverbal communication: lack of eye contact, distancing from the patient, facial expressions (sneer, frown, disapproval), signs of boredom, irritation, or distracting habits During communication, the patient may display the following: