Exam 25: Managing Stress

An assistant nurse manager has relieved a staff nurse for lunch. After the nurse leaves, the assistant manager realizes there is a nursing administration meeting at noon. Which stress-producing event does this exemplify?

A nurse supervisor is aware that nurses in the facility have been under a great deal of stress while working through a major change in the ownership of the hospital. Which nurses would the supervisor be most concerned might develop compassion fatigue?

A newly hired registered nurse is having difficulty focusing and performing nursing tasks. The nurse manager has noted a decrease in the nurse's performance. When meeting with the nurse, the manager learns the nurse has recently gotten married and moved into a new home. The client load in the unit has returned to normal levels from very high levels and another newly hired nurse was terminated for disruptive behavior. The nurse reports that "everyone has been so nice and they try to help me." Which situations are most likely causing this nurse's stress?

Which factors increase the stress associated with interpersonal relationships in health care?

During an annual performance review, the staff nurse admits to being very stressed by the demands of the job, marriage, and four teenage children. Which comment by the nurse manager is indicated?

The nursing unit has experienced high stress and a higher than normal turnover rate. The manager asks a longtime member of the nursing staff to analyze the manager's job performance. What is most likely the reason for this request?

The chief nursing officer (CNO) recognizes a large increase in turnover on a given unit. The nurse manager of the unit says that this is just a coincidence and that the unit is "fine." What action by the CNO is appropriate?

The unit nurses take turns filling the charge nurse role. Which statement reveals risk for development of role conflict in these nurses?

A nurse who had advanced to assistant nurse manager was demoted back to staff nurse last month. The manager gives the nurse low-acuity client assignments. The nurse is efficient, unhappy, and bored. The nurse's response is most likely related to which phenomena?

The nurse manager holds a staff meeting and announces, "I want to aggressively manage the stress on this unit." Why would the manager have this goal?

A nurse manager praises a staff nurse by saying, "You are such a perfectionist and it clearly shows in your work." The supervisor who hears this praise is concerned for which reason?

The nurse manager asks a nurse to become a charge nurse, but then frequently questions the nurse's daily decisions. This situation reflects which problem that will increase the nurse's stress?

A nurse who has just returned from two weeks of time off following minor surgery says, "I'm so glad to be back to work. I'm sick of watching television. I can't believe I missed the stress here." What are possible explanations for this statement?

The supervisor of critical care services tells the unit manager, "We must cut costs, so I am asking you to arrange your day so that you provide care to two or three clients and cover for lunch and rest breaks. Also don't forget that your budget estimates are due next week, as are your preliminary schedules for the winter holidays." Two days later, the nurse manager is stressed and exhausted. What should the manager do?

An ICU nurse manager noticed a competent nurse has become forgetful and has made medication errors in the past few months. This type of behavior is unusual for this nurse. What action should the manager take?

A staff nurse tells the nurse manager, "I don't know how you do it. You manage the unit, work extra shifts, and have so many people depending on you and yet you seem so calm and in control." What explains this nurse's perception?

A rural hospital has been at capacity for the past 3 months. The chief nursing officer (CNO) has heard numerous complaints from the nursing staff. Most of the complaints are issues related to other nursing departments and are minor. How should the CNO interpret these complaints?

A nurse who transferred from the medical-surgical unit completed orientation to the ICU 6 weeks ago, but is stressed and unsure of personal skill competency. The nurse manager learns of this lack of confidence. Which action by the manager would best benefit this nurse and the unit?

A staff nurse finds a newly licensed, newly hired staff nurse crying in the break room halfway through a shift. The new nurse says, "I am just not getting this. I had no idea nursing would be this hard." The experienced nurse says, "Reality shock is terrible, but you will get through it." What does the nurse mean by reality shock?

An experienced nurse manager is serving as mentor to a newly appointed manager. The experienced manager says, "Always try to keep your staff as well informed as possible about what is going on at the administrative level." What rationale should the manager offer for this advice?