,Chapter 01: Role Transitions
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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 follo
wing 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 steadyiipaycheck`‖
d. ―This job is perfect` I can finally do things myiiown way`‖
ANS: D `
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` Reali
tyiishock occurs when one moves into the workforce after several years of educational p
reparation` 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
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2. Which of the following actions byiithe graduate nurse is an inappropriate methodol
ogy to recoveriifrom realityiishock?
a. Networking `
b. Obtaining a mentor
c. Returning to school
d. Joining a support group
`
ANS: C
The transition period is successfullyiimanaged when the graduate is able to evaluate the
work situation objectively and predict effectively the actions and reactions of other st
aff`
Nurturing
the ability to see humoriiin a situation mayiibe a first step` Returning to school is a positi
ve step ` after the graduate has worked through role transition, has some clinical experi
ence, 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 ot
hers experiencing the `
, stress associated with reality shock` The nurse would benefit from ―talking through‖ issu
es and learning how to cope`
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application/Applying `
REF: p` 9
OBJ: Describe methods to promote a successful transitio
n` TOP: Reality shock
MSC: NCLEX®: Safe and effective care environment Not applicable
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3. A nurse is trying to avoid burnout` Which of the following actions is a valid way to ach
ieve 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 pri
orities with your mental and physical health being the highest priority` Learning to sa
y ―no‖ to extra shifts is a positive means of coping of avoiding burnout` ―Going nati
ve‖ is the term that ` describes how recent graduates begin to copy and identify the real
ity of their role-
transition experience by rejecting the values from nursing school and functioning mo
re 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 transitio
n` 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 chang
ing jobs`‖
ANS: A `
, ―Reality shock‖ is a term often used to describe the reaction experienced when one mo
ves into the workforce after several years of educational preparation` The new gradu
ate is caught in the situation of moving from a familiar, comfortable educational envi
ronment into a new role in ` the workforce where the expectations are not clearly def
ined 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 defini
tion 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 makin
g a successful ` role transition to graduate nurse` Which statement by the student i
ndicates his/her understanding of how to achieve this goal?
a. ―I should care foriiincreased numbers of patients to enhance work organizati
on skills`‖ `
b. ―Iiiwill observe staff nurses as they perform nursing procedures to ref
ine technique`‖
c. ―Iiishould seek increasingly close guidance from the nursing instructor to reduce `
errors`‖
d. ―Iiiwill evaluate myiiprogress every 7 weeks or more to allow time for growth`‖
ANS: A
It is important foriithe student to start taking care of increased numbers of patients to hel
p with ` time management and work organization` The student should also be able to fun
ction without close guidance from the nursing instructor` Although it is good for student
s to observe staff, a
student in the final semesteriishould be able to perform tasks with minimal observation an
d ` 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 as
signments 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