Author Question: Telltale signs of chemical dependency in nurses include which of the following behaviors? (Select ... (Read 73 times)

Arii_bell · **on:** Jul 17, 2018

Telltale signs of chemical dependency in nurses include which of the following behaviors? (Select all that apply.)

a. Complaints by staff, students, and patients
b. A greater number of injuries caused while moving patients
c. Arriving early or staying late to assist in the narcotic count
d. Frequent absenteeism after days off and for personal emergencies
e. Increased visits to the employee health department or emergency room
f. Work performance that consistently exceeds the expectations of the supervisor

Question 2

The nurse is to present a mini-class on burnout prevention strategies at a nursing team meeting. Which topics would be appropriate to include? (Select all that apply.)

a. Use sympathetic responses to patients.
b. Seek daily evaluation from other health care team members.
c. Practice time management.
d. Use humor to reduce tension.
e. Keep nursing skills current.
f. Maintain perspective about work.

jgranad15 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 17, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A, B, C, D, E
Telltale signs of chemical dependency in nurses include behaviors such as complaints by staff, students, and patients; accidents, errors in documentation, a greater number of injuries caused while moving patients or equipment, errors in practice, and poor judgment; increased visits to the employee health department or emergency room, increased volunteering to take calls for others (especially true for evening and night shifts if there are fewer staff members, because this makes stealing patients' drugs easier); arriving early or staying late to assist in the narcotic count; frequent absenteeism after days off and for personal emergencies, especially on a Monday; irritability and mood swings; performing only the minimum amount of work required; inability to perform psychomotor skills, owing to intoxication or tremors.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C, D, E, F
Time management, humor, keeping current, and maintaining perspective are all good strategies for preventing burnout. Sympathetic responses to patients leave the nurse vulnerable to burnout. Seeking daily evaluation from other health care team members puts the nurse at the mercy of others who may not give a balanced evaluation. It is also excessive to think that other team members can provide a peer with daily evaluative feedback. Nurses should use objective self-evaluation.