Ch 37 Stress and Coping

Question 1

stress

Answer 1

actual or alleged hazard to the balance of homeostasis

Question 2

homeostasis

Answer 2

state of steady internal, physical, chemical, and social conditions maintained by living systems

Question 3

stressors

Answer 3

physical, psychological, or social stimuli that can produce stress and endanger homeostasis (force causing stress)

Question 4

appraisal

Answer 4

how a person interprets the impact of the stressor (eustress- good, distress- bad)

Question 5

trauma

Answer 5

when symptoms of stress persist beyond the duration of the stressor

Question 6

acute stress

Answer 6

experienced on a daily basis from minor situations

Question 7

chronic stress

Answer 7

experienced on an ongoing basis (typically > 6 months)

Question 8

PTSD

Answer 8

traumatic events can include motor vehicle crashes, natural disasters, violence (common in military, veterans, first responders, and health care providers)

Question 9

secondary traumatic stress

Answer 9

trauma a person experiences from witnessing suffering of others; component of compassion fatigue (common in health care providers and first responders)

Question 10

crisis

Answer 10

occurs when coping mechanisms are ineffective and a change must be made (turning point)

Question 11

developmental crisis

Answer 11

also called a maturational crisis, occurs as a person moves through life

Question 12

situational crisis

Answer 12

external crisis, typically unexpected trauma (ex: car crash, medical diagnosis)

Question 13

adventitious crisis

Answer 13

also called events of disaster, occurs during a major national disaster, man-made disaster, crimes of violence (ex: covid, wildfires, 9/11)

Question 14

primary appraisal

Answer 14

appraising event in terms of its personal meaning; stress results when a person identifies an event or circumstance as a harm, loss, threat, or challenge

Question 15

secondary appraisal

Answer 15

concurrently happens with primary appraisal; a person considers available resources and coping strategies; stress occurs if the demons placed on the person by the event exceed the ability to cope

Question 16

coping

Answer 16

cognitive and behavioral efforts to manage a stressor (unique to person and can be impacted by goals, beliefs, personal resources, cultural background, age, and types of stress experienced)

good coping mechanisms: exercise, therapy, healthy eating, time with family/friends, hobbies
bad coping: substance abuse, overworking

Question 17

factors influencing stress and coping:
-situational factors
-maturational factors
-sociocultural factors

Answer 17

-situational factors: stressors in the workplace, adjusting to a new diagnosis
-maturational factors: stressors based on life stages, Erickson’s developmental theory, milestones like beginning a family and career, losing parents, seeing children leave home, accepting physical aging
-sociocultural factors: environmental, social, and cultural stressors (ex: poverty, physical disability, social isolation)

Question 18

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) is initiated by the pituitary gland, three stages are:

Answer 18

1. alarm stage
2. resistance stage
3. exhaustion stage

Question 19

alarm stage

Answer 19

fight or flight, central nervous system is aroused, body defenses are mobilized

Question 20

resistance stage

Answer 20

body stabilizes and responds, body is compensating for the changes that occurred during the alarm stage

Question 21

exhaustion stage

Answer 21

continuous stress causes a breakdown of compensatory mechanisms, can no longer adapt to stressor, this state is associated with physical problems

Question 22

compassion fatigue

Answer 22

state of burnout and secondary traumatic stress resulting from physical and mental fatigue and exhaustion; occurs when perceived demands outweigh perceived resources; feelings of irritability, restlessness, and inability to focus/engage with others (often affects health care providers and caregivers)

Question 23

second victim syndrome

Answer 23

when a medical error occurs that inflicts significant harm on a patient and the patient’s family; can sustain complex psychological harm that can lead to detrimental outcomes such as suicide; can lead to similar symptoms of PTSD; need to support nurses/health care staff when event occurs