Consider caring for terminally ill patients; use of emotional resources increase and, over time, become overwhelming. Stress, a sense of feeling overwhelmed, and burn-out can occur individually, within a care team, and among the interprofessional team (IPT). Imperative to providing care that maximizes patient outcomes requires the nurse, and others within the care team, to recognize and address stress, burn-out, and care fatigue within self and the greater care team.
This Assignment is intended to increase your comfort level with self-inspection, self-reflection, and self-awareness. Paramount to maintaining professionalism, the registered nurse must possess the ability to identify strengths and weaknesses within self and a demonstrated skill to maximize strengths, seek guidance when necessary, and serve as a change agent in a dynamically changing healthcare system.
In APA 6th edition format, prepare a 5 page, minimum, reflection paper including title and reference pages, discussing the content below and in accordance with the grading rubric associated with this Assignment. Support thoughts, ideas, and concepts with evidence.
Self-Care:
List and describe at least two methods you use to recognize when stress becomes a barrier to critical thinking.
List means by which you reduce work-induced stress.
Self-Care, Area(s) for Improvement:
Evaluate and describe a minimum of two interpersonal areas that require improvement. An example of room for improvement might be difficulty saying no.
For each area listed, explain an action to facilitate improvement.
Recognize burn-out within self, peers, and the IPT as a whole. (Example: Difficult cases with prolonged complications and issues can pose risk for IPT burn-out.)
Signs — what would you expect to see?
Evaluate potential for hidden burn-out in others.
Identify teammates — no names, initials only — who tend to take ownership of all problems. Discuss potential for burnout in this person.
What influence can this one person’s burn-out have on you? The team?
Describe actions you can take to:
Approach a peer who seems distressed.
Address — with the IPT — signs you have identified within the IPT when said signs compromise patient care.
World-Changer: Evaluate how the registered nurse who is astutely aware of self, environment, those around them, and their respective place in society, can facilitate — or catalyze — positive change in patient care settings.
Conclude your evaluative paper with a summary that demonstrates synthesis of knowledge, self-awareness, and a level of professionalism one would expect of the bachelor’s-prepared registered nurse.
