Contemporary challenges

Question 1

Burnout - contributing factors

Answer 1

1. Long hours/shift work
2. Increased workload
3. High-stress/dangerous environment
4. Lack of support
5. Emotional strain
6. Resource/staff shortages
7. Exposure to aggression/bullying
8. Illness

Question 2

Burnout - symtoms

Answer 2

1. Emotional - indifference/numbness, loss of motivation, irritability, low mood, concentration issues, anxiety.
2. Physical - fatigue, poor sleep, loss of appetite, recurrent illness.
3. Behavioural - isolation/withdrawn, absenteeism, increased errors.

Question 3

Burnout - strategies

Answer 3

1. Mindfulness - reflection, breathing exercises.
2. Lifestyle - diet, exercise and sleep habits.
3. Support - peer support, workplace resources, counselling.
4. Breaks from work

Question 4

Burnout (define)

Answer 4

Decrease in mental and/or physical energy as a result of the cumulative effects of chronic, unrelieved work-related stress. Contributes to decreased work performance, reduced job satisfaction and high staff turnover rates.

Question 5

Automaton technologies

Answer 5

Pros - support people with cognitive/motor/sensory impairments, caregivers and clinical workforce.
Cons - lack of nursing involvement in design, cost-benefit for planet resources, changes in nursing practice/workforce.

Question 6

Technology implications for nursing

Answer 6

1. Nursing education and up-skilling - informatics, digital health, data science.
2. Nursing leadership in digital health research and design
3. Re-envision nurse-patient relationships - virtual healthcare models,

Question 7

Electronic health records

Answer 7

Pros - easier/convenient, transferrable/accessible, structured, storage capacity, data completeness.
Cons - privacy/data protection, system interface/design problems,

Question 8

Social media

Answer 8

Pros - health awareness campaigns, promotion of nursing, connecting public/professionals.
Cons - unreliability of health information, privacy, workplace bullying.

Question 9

Telehealth

Answer 9

Pros - pandemics, rural/remote patients, global health.
Cons - requires technical skills, privacy/data control.

Question 10

Clinical decision support systems

Answer 10

Pros - detect infectious disease and trigger appropriate actions.
Cons - over-alerting clinicians, disrupt workflow/decision-making, limited utility in critical areas (e.g. ED).

Question 11

Artificial Intelligence

Answer 11

Pros - decision-support systems to identify infection, pandemic response- tracing and population health response.
Cons - biases in datasets become ingrained in AI algorithms, ethics/accountability of generated decisions (incl. privacy, transparency), lack of nursing involvement in development.

Question 12

COVID-19 (impacts)

Answer 12

1. Staff shortages - illness, burnout.
2. Multi-skilling - PPE/quarantine, infectious disease control, mental health.
3. Digital health - telehealth, video conferencing, DIY health apps.
4. Mental health
5. Interactions - communication, touch, visitors.
6. Professional image

Question 13

Healthcare shortages

Answer 13

1. Workforce - nurses/midwives.
2. Hospital beds
3. Ambulance ramping
4. Waitlists - elective surgeries, mental health, specialist services.

Question 14

Ageing population (impacts)

Answer 14

1. Increased complex chronic health issues - CVS disease, dementia, DM, obesity, CKD, COPD, cancer.
2. Ageing workforce and workforce shortage
3. Increased burden on healthcare - GPs, specialists, ED, hospitalisation, elective surgery, mental health.

Question 15

New Grad challenges

Answer 15

1. Reality shock
2. Shift work
3. Dynamic environment
4. Professional transition

Question 16

Factors contributing to burnout

Answer 16

1. Long hours and shift work
2. Sleep deprivation
3. High-stress environment
4. Lack of support
5. Emotional strain
6. Staff shortages
7. Personal illness