Deck 5: Managing Time and Stress

Question 1

Creating a safe, empowering, and satisfying work environment can be accomplished through implementation of:

A) Institute of Medicine Coalitions.
B) health care reform.
C) the Troubled Asset Relief Program.
D) Healthy Work Environment (HWE) standards.

Answer 1

Healthy Work Environment (HWE) standards.

Question 2

In setting boundaries it is important to do which of the following?

A) Set rigid boundaries.
B) Set boundaries based on individual needs.
C) Consider where one is in the lifespan when setting boundaries.
D) Set boundaries even if it produces more stress than not having boundaries at all.

Answer 2

Set boundaries based on individual needs.

Question 3

Nurses who are successful at time management:

A) display an ability to set measurable goals and objectives.
B) frequently volunteer for new and creative projects.
C) hesitate to delegate because of perfectionist characteristics.
D) tend to accomplish specific activities within a time frame.

Answer 3

tend to accomplish specific activities within a time frame.

Question 4

Which of the following statements are true regarding job stress? (Select all that apply.)

A) Job stress is related more to external demands that are brought into the workplace.
B) Job stress can lead to burnout.
C) Job stress is manifested as emotional and/or physical exhaustion.
D) Job stress increases productivity.
E) Levels of job stress that are too low or too high decrease individual productivity.

Question 5

There is evidence of a link between _____ employees with higher productivity and more satisfied customers.

A) stressed
B) empowered
C) financially focused
D) creative

Question 6

Which of the following responses may occur related to stress? (Select all that apply.)

A) Increased heart rate
B) Decreased blood glucose levels
C) Emotional exhaustion
D) Burnout
E) Chronic health conditions

Question 7

Nurses on the midnight shift are experiencing difficulty with receiving materials from the central supply department. Last night a patient was admitted to the unit from the emergency department with a heart dysrhythmia. The nurse requested that a temporary pacemaker kit be placed in the unit as a standby in case the patient required its use. The central supply unit did not comply until the patient required its emergent use. The nurse was stressed. This is an example of which type of stress?

A) Job stress
B) Overload of role
C) Moral distress
D) Role conflict

Question 8

A new nursing manager is falling behind on the staffing schedule, the monthly budget, and employee evaluations. She says to her director, "I'm working 60 hours per week and I still don't have enough time to do it all." The nursing director suggests which of the following to her?

A) Setting priorities
B) Obtaining additional preceptoring.
C) Scheduling blocks of time for each activity to be accomplished.
D) Giving up management and returning as a regular staff nurse.

Question 9

Definitions of stress are: (Select all that apply.)

A) a negative emotional experience that is associated with biological changes that trigger the body to make adaptations.
B) the accomplishment of specified activities during an available time period.
C) a physical, mental, psychological, or spiritual response to an experience.
D) a response that is evaluated by the individual as a threat to one's sense of well-being.

Question 10

_____ is defined as the accomplishment of specified activities during the time available.

A) Stress
B) Mismanagement of resources
C) Time management
D) Self-management

Question 11

When a nurse leader is able to fully embrace the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses' (AACN's) Healthy Work Environment and engage others in its achievement, what is the leader demonstrating?

A) Authentic leadership
B) Meaningful recognition
C) True collaboration
D) Skilled communication

Question 12

A staff nurse has a concern about a co-worker who may be diverting medications. The staff nurse would like to report the concern to a supervisor, but she is fearful of retaliation from her colleagues. The staff nurse knows that the ethical thing to do is report the concern for the sake of patient safety. This nurse is experiencing:

A) stress.
B) procrastination.
C) moral distress.
D) burnout.

Question 13

Nurses who must manage unplanned and regular responsibilities simultaneously may experience:

A) complexity compression.
B) resilience.
C) moral distress.
D) empowerment.

Question 14

Nurse managers are in a position of impacting the stress levels of employees through improving work environments and creating a culture of enhanced staff satisfaction. Having structures and processes in place to prevent work-related stress from happening in the first place requires:

A) genuine intention and corresponding action.
B) additional evidence about the human and financial costs of work-related stress.
C) more stability in the health care industry.
D) decreased demands from payers, consumers, and regulators.

Question 15

A nurse manager has several complaints from her staff that she is inaccessible during the day. What is the best strategy the nurse manager takes to improve her staff satisfaction?

A) Notify staff when she will be out of the office.
B) Block time for daily rounds with staff.
C) Set realistic follow-up deadlines for staff issues, questions, and concerns.
D) Ask the staff to communicate with her through their supervisors.

Question 16

Jay, a nurse in the intensive care unit, has been caring for a patient with end-stage renal disease, congestive heart failure, and a stroke. The client has had four cardiac arrests in 4 days. Despite the grave prognosis, the client's family continues to want resuscitation at all cost. Jay knows that further medical care is futile. Jay is at risk for:

A) confrontational conflict.
B) resilience.
C) burnout.
D) moral distress.

Question 17

What are some methods that nursing staff can use to manage personal stress levels? (Select all that apply.)

A) Take personal time each day.
B) Take on extra shifts to keep the mind occupied.
C) Get enough sleep.
D) Pay attention to diet and exercise.
E) Have a strong support network of friends and family.

Question 18

A new nurse manager is provided with a smartphone in order to efficiently manage her time. What is the most effective method of managing stress related to e-mail?

A) Create an auditory cue that alerts the manager to incoming messages so they can be processed immediately.
B) Set aside time during meetings to read and respond to messages.
C) Schedule blocks of time to tackle e-mail.
D) Delete e-mails that require a lengthier response.

Question 19

The first critical step in creating an environment to prevent and address work-related stress is:

A) delegation.
B) motivation.
C) innovation.
D) intention.

Question 20

An internal obstacle that may contribute to moral distress is:

A) lack of resources.
B) lack of confidence.
C) lack of structure.
D) lack of processes.

Question 21

Conflict and stress in the workplace can be managed through building relationships. Organizations can foster the building of relationships through: (Select all that apply.)

A) social media.
B) informal social gatherings.
C) mentoring.
D) confidential meetings.

Question 22

What are some potential reasons that nurses experience higher levels of stress? (Select all that apply.)

A) Nurses are skilled at setting boundaries.
B) Nurses often put others' needs ahead of their own.
C) Staff nurses are under pressure to do more with less.
D) There are support staff cuts.
E) There are fluctuations in staffing levels.

Question 23

A staff RN is writing an article for a prestigious nursing journal. The deadline is in 1 week, and she is feeling overwhelmed about completing her work. She is unable to keep up with home management, and she is beginning to procrastinate on the project. She also has other responsibilities, such as taking her elderly mother grocery shopping and to health care appointments. She is married to a busy executive and has three children, all of whom are active in high school sports. Which of the following stress management strategies would be helpful? (Select all that apply.)

A) Schedule "think time" appointments at least once a week for a block of time; get out of the office for these times.
B) Bring a water bottle to work and refill as needed to keep hydrated.
C) Cut extra activities out of her schedule, such as her morning walk.
D) Create a "getaway" place at work where she can spend a few minutes in silence and thought.

Question 24

Max is a nurse on the 7 PM to 7 AM shift on the orthopedic floor. He is the most experienced nurse on the unit during this shift, with 6 years of nursing experience. Max usually acts as charge nurse during his shift while caring for a group of patients. Recently there has been an influx of new graduates working on his shift. Some nights, he is expected to orient a new nurse, act as the charge nurse, and mentor other new nurses working on the floor. He is concerned that with all the new nurses, there are not enough mentors for all of them, resulting in less-than-optimal care delivery. Which factors have been shown to decrease stress for nurse leaders? (Select all that apply.)

A) Support from others
B) Autonomy
C) Predictability
D) Transparency

Question 25

Managers have a key role in mitigating stress in the workplace. Which strategies will assist the manager in creating a more healthy work environment? (Select all that apply.)

A) Recognize nurses for the value they bring to the organization.
B) Partner with the nursing staff to make policies and lead organizational operations.
C) Keep information confidential regarding safety concerns or initiatives.
D) Ensure staffing is an effective match between patient needs and nurse competencies.
E) Ensure that the manager maintains responsibility for all aspects of unit functioning.

Question 26

Job stress can accumulate into: (Select all that apply.)

A) better time management skills.
B) feelings of elation.
C) burnout.
D) physical exhaustion.