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DOCSCHOLAR
, Chapter 01: Reality Shock
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 J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J
role transition when making which of the following statements?
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a. ―I am so nervous about being on my own as a nurse.‖
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b. ―This will be a great learning experience.‖ J J J J J J
c. ―I can‘t wait to have a steadypaycheck.‖
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d. ―This job is perfect. I can finally do things my own way.‖
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ANS: D J
The honeymoon phase is when the student nurse sees the world of nursing as quite rosy. Often, the new
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graduate is fascinated with the thrill of arriving in the profession. Reality shock occurs when one moves into
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the workforce after several years of educational preparation. Recoveryand resolution occur when the graduate
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nurse is able to laugh at encountered situations. During this time, tension decreases, perception increases, and
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the nurse is able to grow as a person.
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PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 7
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OBJ: Identify the characteristics of reality sho Nc kU. RTSOI PN:GRTeBa .l Cit yO M
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MSC: NCLEX®: Safe and effective care environment—management of care
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2. Which of the following actions by the graduate nurse is an inappropriate methodology to recover from
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reality shock? J
a. Networking c. Returning to school J J
b. Obtaining a mentor J J d. Joining a support group J J J
ANS: C J
The transition period is successfully managed when the graduate is able to evaluate the work situation
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objectively and predict effectively the actions and reactions of other staff. Nurturing the ability to see humor in a
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situation may be a first step. Returning to school is a positive step after the graduate has worked through role
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transition, has some clinical experience, and is ready to focus on a new career objective. Networking, obtaining a
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mentor, and joining a support group would give the graduate nurse an opportunity to talk to others
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experiencing the stress associated with reality shock. The nurse would benefit from ‗talking through‘ issues
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and learning how to cope.
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PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 8
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OBJ: Describe four possible resolutions for reality shock. TOP: Reality shock MSC:
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NCLEX®: Safe and effective care environment—management of care
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DOCSCHOLAR
, 3. A nurse is trying to avoid burnout. Which of the following actions is a valid way to achieve this?
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a. Refusing to constantly work extra shifts J J J J J
b. Withdrawing from peer support group J J J J
c. ―Going native‖ J
d. Changing jobs every 6 to 12 months J J J J J J
ANS: A J
One of the quickest ways to experience burnout is to ―overwork the overtime.‖ Set priorities with your mental
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and physical health being the highest priority. Learning to say―no‖ to extra shifts is a positive means of coping of
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avoiding burnout. ―Going native‖ is the term that describes how recent graduates begin to copy and identify the
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reality of their role transition experience by rejecting the values from nursing school and functioning more like
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a team member at their place of employment. Withdrawing from peer support groups, ―going native,‖ and
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changing jobs every 6 to 12 months would increase the chance of the nurse experiencing burnout. The nurse
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should instead focus on his/her practice and seek out support from other nurses.
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PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 9
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OBJ: Describe four possible resolutions for reality shock. TOP: Reality shock MSC:
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NCLEX®: Safe and effective care environment—management of care J J J J J J J
4. Which of the following statements by an undergraduate nurse describes understanding of reality shock as it applies to
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nursing?
a. ― Reality shock is the period when a person moves from school into the workforce.
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b. ―Reality shock is the realization that practice and education are not the same.‖
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c. ―Reality shock is the period from graduation to becoming an experienced nurse.‖
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d. ―Reality shock is a transition phase that new graduates go through before changing jobs.‖
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―Reality shock‖ is a term often used to describe the reaction experienced when one moves into the workforce
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after several years of educational preparation. The new graduate is caught in the situation of moving from a
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familiar, comfortable educational environment into a new role in the workforce where the expectations are not
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clearly defined or may not even be realistic. The realization that practice and nursing school are not the same is
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often associated with ―going native.‖ When nurses move from one position to another, they have already
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experienced reality shock. Becoming an experienced nurse takes time and is not part of the definition of reality
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shock.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 6
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OBJ: Compare and contrast the phases of reality shock. TOP: Realityshock
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MSC: NCLEX®: Not applicable J J J
DOCSCHOLAR 4