Free NCLEX RN Practice Test Practice Question

A nurse reviewed a client's progress in smoking cessation, praising the client for being successful but suggesting the client might stop having coffee in the morning since that caused an urge to smoke. Following this session, the client appeared upset and complained that the nurse believed she was doing poorly because she wanted a cigarette with her morning coffee. Which type of cognitive distortion is the client exhibiting?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The client demonstrates a mental filter by focusing solely on the negative aspect of the nurse's suggestion, interpreting it as a sign of failure rather than a constructive recommendation. This distortion leads to an emotional response based on selective perception.

Overgeneralization involves making broad conclusions from a single event, which doesn’t apply here since the client fixates on a specific instance. All-or-nothing thinking entails seeing situations in black-and-white terms; the client’s reaction does not reflect this binary viewpoint. Magnification involves exaggerating the significance of an issue, but the client's concern centers on a misinterpretation rather than an exaggeration.

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