Universal Experiences - W10 Flashcards
What is involved in the universal experiences in the PNUR CF ?
- Crisis; stress & anxiety
- Comfort; pain
- Hope; hopelessness
- Loss; grief
- Power; powerlessness
- Resiliency; coping & strengths
- Integrity; dying, death, acceptance
What is stress?
Stress is the response or reaction to stressors, which are the stimuli
- It can be caused by internal or external factors
- It occurs on a continuum with anxiety and crisis
What is apart of the stress response ?
- Physiological component
- Cognitive component
- Emotional component
Physiological Component:
Fight/flight response:
1. External event seen as a threat
2. The response is activated
3. Adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol are released
- Increasing HR and breathing
- Immune system suppressed
- Perspiration increased
4. Threat is removed
5. Acetylcholine is released
6. Adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol levels lower
7. Body returns to normal
What are the stages of general adaptation syndrome ?
Stage 1 = Alarm reaction
Stage 2 = Resistance stage
Stage 3 = Exhaustion stage
Cognitive Component:
It considers the appraisal of stressors and how they influence the stress response
What is the Cognitive Appraisal Theory ?
It was created by Lazarus and Folkman
The belief that the person is under stress only if they perceive themselves to be
It involves PRIMARY APPRAISAL; what does this situation mean to me?
and SECONDARY APPRAISAL; Can I cope with it?
Emotional Component:
The cognitive triangle, with emotions, thoughts, and behaviours*
What is anxiety ?
It is the apprehension or dread in response to internal/external stimuli that can be experienced in physical, emotional, cognitive, and/or behavioural ways.
- It ranges from mild to severe/panic level
- It is NORMAL and generally not dangerous
- It can be adaptive
What are the levels of anxiety ?
MILD; Slight arousal that enhances perception, learning, and productivity
MODERATE; Increased arousal with tension, nervousness, and perception is narrowed
SEVERE/PANIC; It is consuming, uncomfortable, there is poor focus, and requires intervention. It is overpowering and frightening
What is adaptive coping ?
These are strategies that minimize, reduce, or eliminate the stress response
- These help the problem
What is maladaptive coping ?
It may temporarily be “effective” but will cause longer term negative consequences and results in worsening distress
- These make the problem worse
Comfort & Pain:
The 5 variables influence the experience of pain
- It is not the same as PITY
Hope & Hopelessness:
“Hope is the anticipation of a continued good or of an improvement in, or lessening of something unpleasant”
Power:
It is the perception and process of gaining or maintaining control or influence over aspects on one’s environment
*We need to recognize and minimize the power differential in our practice as RPNs
THE GOAL IS TO EMPOWER PATIENTS
What are the types of crises?
Developmental:
- Retirement
- Puberty
- Empty nest
Situational:
- Illness
- Death in the family
- Separation/Divorce
- Traumatic experience
- Moving
What is grief?
It is the emotional response to the perception of loss
What is actual loss?
A loss of a person or object that can no longer be felt, heard, known, or experienced
What is perceived loss?
It is a loss that cannot be seen by others
What is bereavement?
It is the response to the loss or death of a loved one
What impacts grieving ?
THE GRIEVING PROCESS DOES NOT FOLLOW A LINEAR CONTINUUM*
The bereaved person feels responsible in some way for the loss.
- The nature of the loss (sudden, traumatic)
- The amount of support available
- The number of previous losses (grief is cumulative)
“Normal” functioning of grief includes:
- Shock & Denial
- Anger
- Depression & Detachment
What is involved in the return to meaningful life ?
- Acceptance (exploring new options, putting a new plan in place)
- Dialogue and Bargaining
(the desire to tell one’s story, reaching out)
What are key differences between grief and depression ?
Normal Grief
- Self esteem intact
- Maintains feelings of hope
- Accepts comfort from others
Depression
- Self esteem is disturbed
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Does not respond to support from others
