Ch 24: Making the Transition from Student
to Professional Nurse
1. During orientation, a novice nurse sits and "virtually spends" the first few paychecks,
envisioning the money going into a personal bank account. In the dream state, the nurse smiles
and knows that the pain of nursing school was worth it. Which phase of reality shock is the
nurse experiencing?
a. Honeymoon
b. Shock or rejection
c. Recovery
d. Resolution - ANS A
During the honeymoon phase, the novice nurse has a positive image of nursing that coincides
with the reason for becoming a nurse; this feeling is experienced immediately after the nurse
begins work and often while still in orientation.
DIF: Comprehension REF: pp. 416-417
2. A novice nurse is assigned a patient who has an order to draw blood for culture and
sensitivity from a central line before antibiotic therapy is started. The novice reads and rereads
the procedure manual. An hour later he stands at the bedside of the patient and stares at the
central line, without knowing how to proceed. This phase of reality shock is termed:
a. honeymoon.
b. shock or rejection.
c. recovery.
d. resolution. - ANS B
During the shock or rejection phase, there is inconsistency with what was learned in school and
the work environment, and the novice nurse lacks many of the skills needed to be independent
in this new role.
DIF: Comprehension REF: pp. 416-417
3. According to Kramer, nurses in the shock phase should ask themselves:
a. "How can I fit in with other staff?"
b. "Why can't I perform as everyone expects?"
c. "What changes can I make to make me feel good about the choice to become a nurse?"
d. "How can I get the rest of the staff to change?" - ANS C
, During the shock or rejection phase, novice nurses must ask themselves what they must do to
become the type of nurse envisioned and to make a contribution.
DIF: Application REF: pp. 416-417
4. The novice nurse arrives on the nursing unit, is introduced to the staff, is assigned a
preceptor, and is asked to participate in the next staff meeting. This introduction into nursing is
appropriately termed:
a. biculturalism.
b. socialization.
c. transition.
d. "going native." - ANS B
Socialization involves the acceptance and integration of the novice nurse into the profession of
nursing, as well as the identification of the novice nurse with the profession of nursing.
DIF: Comprehension REF: p. 414
5. Several novice nurses share lunch breaks and have comments such as, "I have insomnia
from worrying about what I forgot to do for my patient," and "I have no energy," and "I can't
believe I can't do my job correctly." These novice nurses are each experiencing different
symptoms of:
a. burnout.
b. low self-esteem.
c. lack of confidence.
d. resilience. - ANS A
Symptoms of burnout include extreme fatigue, headaches, difficulty sleeping, mood swings,
anxiety, poor work quality, depression, and anger.
DIF: Comprehension REF: pp. 417-418
6. Which nurse is more prone to burnout? The nurse who:
a. graduated last in the class.
b. is industrious and conscientious.
c. refuses to work an extra shift even though he or she needs the money.
d. volunteers to serve on only one committee and keeps in touch with schoolmates. - ANS B
Burnout is more common among nurses with type A personalities and those who are
overachievers.
DIF: Application REF: pp. 417-418
to Professional Nurse
1. During orientation, a novice nurse sits and "virtually spends" the first few paychecks,
envisioning the money going into a personal bank account. In the dream state, the nurse smiles
and knows that the pain of nursing school was worth it. Which phase of reality shock is the
nurse experiencing?
a. Honeymoon
b. Shock or rejection
c. Recovery
d. Resolution - ANS A
During the honeymoon phase, the novice nurse has a positive image of nursing that coincides
with the reason for becoming a nurse; this feeling is experienced immediately after the nurse
begins work and often while still in orientation.
DIF: Comprehension REF: pp. 416-417
2. A novice nurse is assigned a patient who has an order to draw blood for culture and
sensitivity from a central line before antibiotic therapy is started. The novice reads and rereads
the procedure manual. An hour later he stands at the bedside of the patient and stares at the
central line, without knowing how to proceed. This phase of reality shock is termed:
a. honeymoon.
b. shock or rejection.
c. recovery.
d. resolution. - ANS B
During the shock or rejection phase, there is inconsistency with what was learned in school and
the work environment, and the novice nurse lacks many of the skills needed to be independent
in this new role.
DIF: Comprehension REF: pp. 416-417
3. According to Kramer, nurses in the shock phase should ask themselves:
a. "How can I fit in with other staff?"
b. "Why can't I perform as everyone expects?"
c. "What changes can I make to make me feel good about the choice to become a nurse?"
d. "How can I get the rest of the staff to change?" - ANS C
, During the shock or rejection phase, novice nurses must ask themselves what they must do to
become the type of nurse envisioned and to make a contribution.
DIF: Application REF: pp. 416-417
4. The novice nurse arrives on the nursing unit, is introduced to the staff, is assigned a
preceptor, and is asked to participate in the next staff meeting. This introduction into nursing is
appropriately termed:
a. biculturalism.
b. socialization.
c. transition.
d. "going native." - ANS B
Socialization involves the acceptance and integration of the novice nurse into the profession of
nursing, as well as the identification of the novice nurse with the profession of nursing.
DIF: Comprehension REF: p. 414
5. Several novice nurses share lunch breaks and have comments such as, "I have insomnia
from worrying about what I forgot to do for my patient," and "I have no energy," and "I can't
believe I can't do my job correctly." These novice nurses are each experiencing different
symptoms of:
a. burnout.
b. low self-esteem.
c. lack of confidence.
d. resilience. - ANS A
Symptoms of burnout include extreme fatigue, headaches, difficulty sleeping, mood swings,
anxiety, poor work quality, depression, and anger.
DIF: Comprehension REF: pp. 417-418
6. Which nurse is more prone to burnout? The nurse who:
a. graduated last in the class.
b. is industrious and conscientious.
c. refuses to work an extra shift even though he or she needs the money.
d. volunteers to serve on only one committee and keeps in touch with schoolmates. - ANS B
Burnout is more common among nurses with type A personalities and those who are
overachievers.
DIF: Application REF: pp. 417-418
