A nurse is caring for a client who reports that he is angry with his partner because she thinks he is just trying to gain attention. When the nurse attempts to talk to the client, he becomes angry and tells her to leave. Which of the following defense mechanisms is the client demonstrating?

The correct answer is C: Displacement. Displacement is a defense mechanism where one redirects their negative emotions or impulses from the original source to a less threatening target. In this scenario, the client is displacing his anger from his partner onto the nurse by becoming angry and telling her to leave. This behavior helps him avoid facing the real issue with his partner. Denial (A) involves refusing to acknowledge reality, Compensation (B) is overemphasizing a trait to offset a perceived weakness, and Rationalization (D) is providing logical reasoning to justify unacceptable behavior.