Question 1

A nurse manager notes that staff members are struggling with caring for an increased client load while a new management system is being implemented. What managerial action would help reduce this stress?

Accepted Answer

1. Helping to manage and supervise students is stressful for many nurses.
2. Helping to orient newly licensed nurses is stressful for many nurses.
3. Involving staff in decision making is one way to identify and reduce stress.
4. Working rotating shifts is very stressful to many nurses.

Question 2

What are the warning signs of too much stress?

Accepted Answer

1. The warning signs of too much stress includes physical illnesses, prolonged anxiety, feelings of helplessness, abrupt changes in mood, and perfectionism.
2. The warning signs of too much stress includes physical illnesses, prolonged anxiety, feelings of helplessness, abrupt changes in mood, and perfectionism.
3. The warning signs of too much stress includes physical illnesses, prolonged anxiety, feelings of helplessness, abrupt changes in mood, and perfectionism.
4. The warning signs of too much stress includes physical illnesses, prolonged anxiety, feelings of helplessness, abrupt changes in mood, and perfectionism.
5. The warning signs of too much stress includes physical illnesses, prolonged anxiety, feelings of helplessness, abrupt changes in mood, and perfectionism.

Question 3

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?

Accepted Answer

1. Although nursing involvement is encouraged, this is not the good rationale for this manager's statement.
2. This may be the case, but it is not the primary rationale for this statement.
3. When staff members are informed and find that managerial information is reliable, the amount of suspicion and rumor decreases.
4. The purpose of sharing information is not to reduce the manager's stress.

Question 4

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?

Accepted Answer

1. The nurse manager would look to the nurse's professional life for areas to decrease stress and should only make global statements regarding personal life.
2. Asking the nurse to be more flexible with work hours, when there are the family's demands on time, would only increase stress.
3. It is not reasonable to think that the nurse's personal life can be completely disregarded while the nurse is at work. Even if the nurse is not focusing or thinking about personal issues, the stress is still there.
4. To manage the demands of a job, family, and society effectively and keep stress at levels that enhance performance, the key is to develop resiliency.

Question 5

________ is the result of incompatibility between the individual's perception of the role and its actual ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ________ is the result of incompatibility between...

Question 6

A charge nurse has been trying to please all the nurses, physicians, clients, and staff of the unit. This has caused considerable stress for this nurse. After a few days off, the nurse decides to manage the role differently. What has occurred to the nurse over these days off?

Accepted Answer

1. Role conflict may be what caused the nurse to experience the stress.
2. The role has already been defined upon promotion to charge nurse.
3. Role redefinition involves clarifying roles and attempting to integrate or tie together the various roles individuals play. This nurse had to redefine the role and role expectations.
4. Interrelated conflict does not apply to this situation.

Question 7

A hospital has been acquired by a new management company. As part of this acquisition, several different types of equipment have been introduced into the client care area. How can the manager best plan to reduce the stress of using this equipment?

Accepted Answer

1. Having all the equipment at once would complicate learning and increase stress.
2. The nurses with the most seniority will already be stressed by all the new equipment. Asking them to be responsible for teaching the remainder of the nursing staff is not a good plan.
3. The best way to decrease stress of using this equipment is to be certain training is adequate.
4. There is no assurance that all of the nurses will read these instructions. Many nurses do better when shown how to use equipment and allowed to practice.

Question 8

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? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

1. A role conflict is present. Is this nurse to provide care or complete managerial tasks?
2. The supervisor must be confronted and must understand that the two roles being asked of this nurse are in conflict.
3. Often nurses who are overloaded believe they can continue to carry the current load "if only I could get more organized."
4. The real problem here is conflicting role expectations, not the nurse's inability to work hard.
5. Calling in sick is not going to change the expectations when the manager returns to work.

Question 9

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?

Accepted Answer

1. Reducing the nurse's work load is not addressing the nurse's concerns or requests.
2. Transferring the nurse to the medical-surgical unit may add to the stress and is not a win-win situation for both parties.
3. Written instructions will not address the nurse's concerns or requests.
4. If staff members appear to be under a great deal of stress, the manager must help identify the source and decide how these can be reduced or eliminated. In some cases, additional training or education is necessary.

Question 10

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? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

1. Compassion fatigue is more likely to occur when the nurse is providing care to people who are traumatized. Emergency department nurses fall in this category.
2. Outpatient nurses may be somewhat sheltered from caring for trauma patients, which is a major cause of compassion fatigue.
3. Compassion fatigue is more likely to occur when the nurse is providing care to people who are traumatized. Trauma surgery nurses fall into this category.
4. Nurses working in geriatrics are not at as great a risk for compassion fatigue as other nurses.
5. Generally, the risk for compassion fatigue is not as high in nurses working in obstetrics.

Question 11

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?

Accepted Answer

1. This nurse manager is in a stressful situation. Assessing whether his or her management or leadership style is helpful or appropriate allows the manager to enhance his or her performance. It is likely that this nurse is questioning his or her effectiveness in the role and is asking for the opinion of an experienced nursing colleague.
2. The evaluation process may require this input, but the rest of this scenario points to another answer.
3. The manager is not likely to be just trying to show concern.
4. The manager has asked the nurse to critique the manager's style, not about other styles.

Question 12

A nurse manager is considering referring a nurse who is very stressed to the employee assistance program (EAP) offered by the institution. What does this consideration indicate?

Accepted Answer

1. EAPs are designed to help the nurse cope with a variety of issues and to support health and well-being.
2. EAPs are used for many issues other than alcohol abuse.
3. There is nothing in this question that indicates sanctions are pending.
4. EAPs are used for many issues other than substance abuse.

Quiz 26: Managing Stress