A nurse who was previously known to be a role model has become ...

[daltonest1984]

A nurse who was previously known to be a role model has become distant and cool toward patients. The manager suspects the nurse is experiencing moral distress. Which action by the nurse's manager would be best in this situation?
 
  a. Ask the nurse about perceived barriers to caregiving.
  b. Remind the nurse that patient relations are important.
  c. Ask whether the nurse needs to take a vacation or time off.
  d. Tell the nurse that others have noticed a behavior change.

Question 2

A nurse is complaining about the pharmacy being too slow in delivering medications.
 
  The nurse describes an example in which a patient could have been harmed from the delay and is angry because the nurse knows it is critical that certain medications be given on time. This nurse is most likely experiencing a. caregiver fatigue.
  b. job burnout.
  c. moral distress.
  d. personal fatigue.

[lorealeza]

Answer to Question 1

A
Moral distress is caused when a person knows the right thing to do but is unable to do it. The manager should ask the nurse about any barriers encountered that have prevented effective caregiving.
Patient relations are important but not as important as a nurse who is engaged and meeting the individualized needs of the patients. Telling the nurse anything, rather that inquiring about the difficulty, does not allow for exploration of the problem.
The nurse may indeed be fatigued and in need of time off, but this option is so narrow that it does not allow exploring the real problem.
Telling the nurse that others have noticed a behavior change should certainly be part of a discussion with the nurse, but this should be used as a lead-in to finding out the nature of the problem. This option does not go far enough.

Answer to Question 2

C
Moral distress occurs when a person feels uneasy about a situation in which he or she knows the right course of action but is unable to perform it. This nurse is suffering from moral distress.
Caregiver fatigue occurs when the burden of giving care is too great for an individual. It is often used to describe a situation involving a lay person giving care to a significant other. Although this might be the case, it is not the most likely answer.
Job burnout occurs when the demands of the job are too great and often leads to nurses leaving the profession or to change jobs. This could be a component of the problem, but it is not the best answer because it is too narrow in focus.
Personal fatigue is certainly a barrier to providing excellent patient care, but it does not appear to be involved in this situation.