Chapter 24: Making the Transition from Student to Professional Nurse

Chapter 24: Making the Transition from Student to Professional Nurse

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. During orientation a novice nurse sits and “virtually spends” the first few paychecks, envisioning the money going into a personal bank account. In the dream state, the nurse smiles and knows that the pain of nursing school was worth it. Which phase of reality shock is the nurse experiencing?

ANS:  A

Correct: During the honeymoon phase, the novice nurse has a positive image of nursing that coincides with the reason for becoming a nurse; this feeling is experienced immediately after the nurse begins work and often while still in orientation.

Incorrect:

1. During the shock or rejection phase, the novice nurse is overwhelmed by fear and a sense of incompetence.
2. During the recovery phase, the novice nurse regains some confidence and begins to heal.
3. At the resolution phase, the novice nurse has adjusted to the work environment and can work through change.

DIF:    Application    REF:   p. 426

2. A novice nurse is assigned a patient who has an order to draw blood for culture and sensitivity from a central line before antibiotic therapy is started. The novice reads and rereads the procedure manual. An hour later he stands at the bedside of the patient and stares at the central line, without knowing how to proceed. This phase of reality shock is termed:

ANS:  B

Correct: During the shock or rejection phase, there is inconsistency with what was learned in school and the work environment, and the novice nurse lacks many of the skills needed to be independent in this new role.

Incorrect:

1. During the honeymoon phase, the novice nurse has not yet been faced with complicated tasks that he or she feels uncomfortable or incompetent to perform.
2. The novice nurse lacks confidence in himself or herself, and no healing is evident. The novice nurse has not reached the recovery phase, which precedes the resolution phase.
3. The novice nurse lacks confidence in himself or herself, and no healing is evident. The novice nurse has not reached the recovery phase, which precedes the resolution phase.

DIF:    Application    REF:   p. 426

3. According to Kramer, nurses in the shock phase should ask themselves:

ANS:  C

Correct: During the shock or rejection phase, novice nurses must ask themselves what they must do to become the type of nurse envisioned and to make a contribution.

Incorrect:

1. “Fitting in” comes with gaining confidence, which is the issue faced by the graduate.
2. Although becoming more organized and improving communication is part of resolving the shock phase, the novice should focus on positive accomplishments and should remember that a nurse cannot learn everything in school—many skills are learned after graduation. Expectations of new graduates are often unrealistic.
3. Although being a change agent is beneficial, blaming others is not the best choice.

DIF:    Comprehension                               REF:   p. 426

4. The novice nurse arrives on the nursing unit, is introduced to the staff, is assigned a preceptor, and is asked to participate in the next staff meeting. This introduction into nursing is appropriately termed:

ANS:  B

Correct: Socialization involves the acceptance and integration of the novice nurse into the profession of nursing, as well as the identification of the novice nurse with the profession of nursing.

Incorrect:

1. Biculturalism is the blending of school values with those of the workplace.
2. Transition involves competency when moving from the school to the work environment, and this situation does not require competency on the part of the novice nurse.
3. “Going native” describes an inappropriate attempt to move from the shock phase to the recovery phase in which the novice nurse mimics the unsafe practices of experienced nurses.

DIF:     Application      REF:    p. 435 | p. 437