Chapter 01: Role Transitions
.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A graduate nurse has been hired as a nurse at a local hospital. The new nurse is in
the . honeymoon phase of role transition when making which of the following
statements? a. “I am so nervous about being on my own as a nurse.”
b. “This will be a great learning experience.” .
c. “I can’t wait to have a steady paycheck.”
d. “This job is perfect. I can finally do things my own way.”
,The honeymoon phase 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. Reality
shock occurs when one moves into the workforce after several years of educational
preparation. Recovery and resolution occur when the graduate nurse is able to laugh at .
encountered situations. During this time, tension decreases, perception increases, and the
nurse is able to grow as a person.
.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application/Applying
REF: Table 1.1 OBJ: Identify the characteristics of reality shock.
TOP: Reality shock MSC: NCLEX®: Safe and effective care environment
.
2. Which of the following actions by the graduate nurse is an inappropriate methodology
to recover from 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. Networking, obtaining a mentor, and
joining a support group would give the graduate nurse an opportunity to talk to others
experiencing the .
, stress associated with reality shock. The nurse would benefit from “talking through” issues
and learning how to cope.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application/Applying .
REF: p. 9 OBJ: Describe methods to promote a successful transition.
TOP: Reality shock
MSC: NCLEX®: Safe and effective care environment Not applicable
.
3. A nurse is trying to avoid burnout. Which of the following actions is a valid way to achieve
this?
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. Learning to say
“no” to extra shifts is a positive means of coping of avoiding burnout. “Going native” is
the term that . describes how recent graduates begin to copy and identify the reality of their
role-transition experience by rejecting the values from nursing school and functioning
more like a team member at their place of employment. Withdrawing from peer support
groups, “going native,” . and changing jobs every 6 to 12 months would increase the
chance of the nurse experiencing
burnout. The nurse should instead focus on his/her practice and seek out support from
other nurses.
.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application/Applying
REF: p. 7 OBJ: Describe methods to promote a successful transition.
TOP: Reality shock
MSC: NCLEX®: Safe and effective care environment Not applicable .
4. Which of the following statements by the graduate nurse shows an understanding of
reality shock as it applies to nursing? .
a. “Reality shock is the period when a person moves from school into the
b. workforce.”“Reality shock is the realization that practice and education are not the
same.”
c. “Reality shock is the period from graduation to becoming an experienced nurse.”.
d. “Reality shock is 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 workforce 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 workforce where the expectations are not clearly defined or may
not even be realistic. The realization that practice and nursing school are not the same is
often associated with “going native.” When nurses move from one position to another,
they have already experienced
reality shock. Becoming an experienced nurse takes time and is not part of the definition
of . reality shock.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application/Applying . REF: p. 5
OBJ: Identify the characteristics 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. Which statement by the student indicates
his/her understanding of how to achieve this goal?
a. “I should care for increased numbers of patients to enhance work organization
skills.” .
b. “I will observe staff nurses as they perform nursing procedures to refine
technique.”
c. “I should seek increasingly close guidance from the nursing instructor to reduce .
errors.”
d. “I will evaluate my progress every 7 weeks or more to allow time for growth.”
ANS: A
It is important for the student to start taking care of increased numbers of patients to help
with . time management and work organization. The student should also be able to function
without close guidance from the nursing instructor. Although it is good for students to
observe staff, a
student in the final semester should be able to perform tasks with minimal observation and .
should instead focus on implementing care and time management. Waiting 7 weeks to
evaluate progress would not be helpful to the student. Although regular self-evaluation is an
important process, it is the actual experience of taking realistic patient assignments and .
working typical shift hours that assists with successful role transition.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application/Applying
REF: p. 13 OBJ: Describe methods to promote a successful transition. .
TOP: Reality shock MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable
.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A graduate nurse has been hired as a nurse at a local hospital. The new nurse is in
the . honeymoon phase of role transition when making which of the following
statements? a. “I am so nervous about being on my own as a nurse.”
b. “This will be a great learning experience.” .
c. “I can’t wait to have a steady paycheck.”
d. “This job is perfect. I can finally do things my own way.”
,The honeymoon phase 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. Reality
shock occurs when one moves into the workforce after several years of educational
preparation. Recovery and resolution occur when the graduate nurse is able to laugh at .
encountered situations. During this time, tension decreases, perception increases, and the
nurse is able to grow as a person.
.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application/Applying
REF: Table 1.1 OBJ: Identify the characteristics of reality shock.
TOP: Reality shock MSC: NCLEX®: Safe and effective care environment
.
2. Which of the following actions by the graduate nurse is an inappropriate methodology
to recover from 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. Networking, obtaining a mentor, and
joining a support group would give the graduate nurse an opportunity to talk to others
experiencing the .
, stress associated with reality shock. The nurse would benefit from “talking through” issues
and learning how to cope.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application/Applying .
REF: p. 9 OBJ: Describe methods to promote a successful transition.
TOP: Reality shock
MSC: NCLEX®: Safe and effective care environment Not applicable
.
3. A nurse is trying to avoid burnout. Which of the following actions is a valid way to achieve
this?
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. Learning to say
“no” to extra shifts is a positive means of coping of avoiding burnout. “Going native” is
the term that . describes how recent graduates begin to copy and identify the reality of their
role-transition experience by rejecting the values from nursing school and functioning
more like a team member at their place of employment. Withdrawing from peer support
groups, “going native,” . and changing jobs every 6 to 12 months would increase the
chance of the nurse experiencing
burnout. The nurse should instead focus on his/her practice and seek out support from
other nurses.
.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application/Applying
REF: p. 7 OBJ: Describe methods to promote a successful transition.
TOP: Reality shock
MSC: NCLEX®: Safe and effective care environment Not applicable .
4. Which of the following statements by the graduate nurse shows an understanding of
reality shock as it applies to nursing? .
a. “Reality shock is the period when a person moves from school into the
b. workforce.”“Reality shock is the realization that practice and education are not the
same.”
c. “Reality shock is the period from graduation to becoming an experienced nurse.”.
d. “Reality shock is 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 workforce 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 workforce where the expectations are not clearly defined or may
not even be realistic. The realization that practice and nursing school are not the same is
often associated with “going native.” When nurses move from one position to another,
they have already experienced
reality shock. Becoming an experienced nurse takes time and is not part of the definition
of . reality shock.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application/Applying . REF: p. 5
OBJ: Identify the characteristics 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. Which statement by the student indicates
his/her understanding of how to achieve this goal?
a. “I should care for increased numbers of patients to enhance work organization
skills.” .
b. “I will observe staff nurses as they perform nursing procedures to refine
technique.”
c. “I should seek increasingly close guidance from the nursing instructor to reduce .
errors.”
d. “I will evaluate my progress every 7 weeks or more to allow time for growth.”
ANS: A
It is important for the student to start taking care of increased numbers of patients to help
with . time management and work organization. The student should also be able to function
without close guidance from the nursing instructor. Although it is good for students to
observe staff, a
student in the final semester should be able to perform tasks with minimal observation and .
should instead focus on implementing care and time management. Waiting 7 weeks to
evaluate progress would not be helpful to the student. Although regular self-evaluation is an
important process, it is the actual experience of taking realistic patient assignments and .
working typical shift hours that assists with successful role transition.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application/Applying
REF: p. 13 OBJ: Describe methods to promote a successful transition. .
TOP: Reality shock MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable
