Zerwekh: Nursing Today, 7th Edition
Chapter 01: Role Transitions
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. According to Marlene Kramer, what is the first phase in the process of role transition?
a. Recovery
b. Reality shock
c. Resolution
d. Honeymoon
ANS: D
The honeymoon is when the student nurse sees the world of nursing as quite rosy. Often,
the new graduate is fascinated with the thrill of arriving in the profession.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 5
OBJ: Identify the characteristics of reality shock. TOP: Reality shock
MSC: NCLEX®: Safe, effective care environment—management of care
2. What is an inappropriate methodology that new graduates sometimes use to recover from
the crisis of reality shock?
a. Networking
b. Obtaining a mentor
, c. Returning to school
d. Joining a support group
ANS: C
The transition period is successfully managed when the graduate is able to evaluate the
work situation objectively and predict effectively the actions and reactions of other staff.
Nurturing the ability to see humor in a situation may be a first step. Returning to school is a
positive step after the graduate has worked through role transition, has some clinical
experience, and is ready to focus on a new career objective.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 8
OBJ: Describe four possible resolutions for reality shock. TOP: Reality shock
MSC: NCLEX®: Safe, effective care environment—management of care
3. Which of the following actions is a valid way to avoid “burnout?”
a. Refusing to constantly work extra shifts
b. Withdrawing from peer support group
c. “Going native”
d. Changing jobs every 6 to 12 months
ANS: A
One of the quickest ways to experience burnout is to “overwork the overtime.” Set priorities
with your mental and physical health being the highest priority.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 8
OBJ: Describe four possible resolutions for reality shock. TOP: Reality shock
MSC: NCLEX®: Safe, effective care environment—management of care
,4. Which of the following statements best describes reality shock as it applies to nursing?
a. The period when a person moves from school into the work force
b. A realization that practice and education are not the same
c. The period from graduation to becoming an experienced nurse
d. A transition phase that new graduates go through before changing jobs
ANS: A
Reality shock is a term often used to describe the reaction experienced when one moves
into the work force after several years of educational preparation. The new graduate is
caught in the situation of moving from a familiar, comfortable educational environment into
a new role in the work force where the expectations are not clearly defined or may not even
be realistic.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 4
OBJ: Compare and contrast the phases of reality shock. TOP: Reality shock
MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable
5. A student in the last semester of nursing school has established a goal of making a
successful role transition to graduate nurse. What activity will most effectively promote
attainment of this goal?
a. Caring for increased numbers of patients to enhance work organization skills
b. Observing staff nurses as they perform nursing procedures to refine technique
c. Seeking increasingly close guidance from the nursing instructor to reduce errors
d. Evaluating his progress every 7 weeks or more to allow time for growth
ANS: A
It is important for the new graduate to start taking care of increased numbers of patients to
help with time management and work organization. Observing is nice, but the new graduate
needs to focus on implementing and time management.
, DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 13
OBJ: Describe four possible resolutions for reality shock. TOP: Reality shock
MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable
6. A new graduate of less than a year describes her perception of her staff nurse position: “It
feels great to be a nurse! In fact, it’s a snap! I can hardly believe there’s no instructor looking
over my shoulder.” What phase of reality shock is the graduate experiencing?
a. Recovery
b. Shock and rejection
c. Honeymoon
d. Transition
ANS: C
In the first phase of the role-transition process (the honeymoon phase), the graduate nurse
is thrilled with completing school and accepting the first job. Life is a bed of roses, because
everyone knows nursing school is much harder than nursing practice.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: pp. 5-6
OBJ: Compare and contrast the phases of reality shock. TOP: Reality shock
MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable
7. A new graduate has worked on a busy unit for 6 months since graduating from nursing
school. She tells a friend, “I’ve never been so upset in all my life! The care that some of the
staff give our patients is outrageously bad. There’s practically no attention to the principles
of asepsis the way I learned them! The staff tells me that we have to cut corners if we’re
going to get all the work done. I can’t stand it!” What phase of reality shock is this graduate
experiencing?
a. Honeymoon
b. Shock and rejection
Chapter 01: Role Transitions
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. According to Marlene Kramer, what is the first phase in the process of role transition?
a. Recovery
b. Reality shock
c. Resolution
d. Honeymoon
ANS: D
The honeymoon is when the student nurse sees the world of nursing as quite rosy. Often,
the new graduate is fascinated with the thrill of arriving in the profession.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 5
OBJ: Identify the characteristics of reality shock. TOP: Reality shock
MSC: NCLEX®: Safe, effective care environment—management of care
2. What is an inappropriate methodology that new graduates sometimes use to recover from
the crisis of reality shock?
a. Networking
b. Obtaining a mentor
, c. Returning to school
d. Joining a support group
ANS: C
The transition period is successfully managed when the graduate is able to evaluate the
work situation objectively and predict effectively the actions and reactions of other staff.
Nurturing the ability to see humor in a situation may be a first step. Returning to school is a
positive step after the graduate has worked through role transition, has some clinical
experience, and is ready to focus on a new career objective.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 8
OBJ: Describe four possible resolutions for reality shock. TOP: Reality shock
MSC: NCLEX®: Safe, effective care environment—management of care
3. Which of the following actions is a valid way to avoid “burnout?”
a. Refusing to constantly work extra shifts
b. Withdrawing from peer support group
c. “Going native”
d. Changing jobs every 6 to 12 months
ANS: A
One of the quickest ways to experience burnout is to “overwork the overtime.” Set priorities
with your mental and physical health being the highest priority.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 8
OBJ: Describe four possible resolutions for reality shock. TOP: Reality shock
MSC: NCLEX®: Safe, effective care environment—management of care
,4. Which of the following statements best describes reality shock as it applies to nursing?
a. The period when a person moves from school into the work force
b. A realization that practice and education are not the same
c. The period from graduation to becoming an experienced nurse
d. A transition phase that new graduates go through before changing jobs
ANS: A
Reality shock is a term often used to describe the reaction experienced when one moves
into the work force after several years of educational preparation. The new graduate is
caught in the situation of moving from a familiar, comfortable educational environment into
a new role in the work force where the expectations are not clearly defined or may not even
be realistic.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 4
OBJ: Compare and contrast the phases of reality shock. TOP: Reality shock
MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable
5. A student in the last semester of nursing school has established a goal of making a
successful role transition to graduate nurse. What activity will most effectively promote
attainment of this goal?
a. Caring for increased numbers of patients to enhance work organization skills
b. Observing staff nurses as they perform nursing procedures to refine technique
c. Seeking increasingly close guidance from the nursing instructor to reduce errors
d. Evaluating his progress every 7 weeks or more to allow time for growth
ANS: A
It is important for the new graduate to start taking care of increased numbers of patients to
help with time management and work organization. Observing is nice, but the new graduate
needs to focus on implementing and time management.
, DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 13
OBJ: Describe four possible resolutions for reality shock. TOP: Reality shock
MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable
6. A new graduate of less than a year describes her perception of her staff nurse position: “It
feels great to be a nurse! In fact, it’s a snap! I can hardly believe there’s no instructor looking
over my shoulder.” What phase of reality shock is the graduate experiencing?
a. Recovery
b. Shock and rejection
c. Honeymoon
d. Transition
ANS: C
In the first phase of the role-transition process (the honeymoon phase), the graduate nurse
is thrilled with completing school and accepting the first job. Life is a bed of roses, because
everyone knows nursing school is much harder than nursing practice.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: pp. 5-6
OBJ: Compare and contrast the phases of reality shock. TOP: Reality shock
MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable
7. A new graduate has worked on a busy unit for 6 months since graduating from nursing
school. She tells a friend, “I’ve never been so upset in all my life! The care that some of the
staff give our patients is outrageously bad. There’s practically no attention to the principles
of asepsis the way I learned them! The staff tells me that we have to cut corners if we’re
going to get all the work done. I can’t stand it!” What phase of reality shock is this graduate
experiencing?
a. Honeymoon
b. Shock and rejection
