Week 12 Flashcards
Stress
A natural physiological, psychological and spiritual response to the presence of a stressor.
- the feeling of stress sets into motion an immediate emergency physiological response to real or perceived threat.
When does a stress response occur:
- A person has limited control over the situation
- The situation is ambiguous
- The current situation resembles unresolved stressful events in the past
stressor:
- A demand, situation, internal stimulus, or circumstance that threatens a person’s personal security or self-integrity
- Stressors can be potential, actual or imagined
- stressors can be:
-catastrophic (war, hurricane, earthquake),
-related to a major life change (marriage, divorce, death, moving to a new area),
-minor hassles (traffic jam, child misbehaviour, computer crashes)
sources of physical stress:
Aging process
Chronic illness
Trauma or injury
Pain
Sleep deprivation
Mental health
sources of psychological stress:
Loss of job/job security
Loss of a significant person or pet
Significant change in residence, relationship, work
Personal finances
Work relationships
Loss of role
Caretaking (frail elderly, children)
High-stress work environment
Sources of spiritual stress:
loss of purpose
loss of hope
questioning of values or meaning
disenchantment w religious affiliation.
characteristics of stress:
Eustress: short-term,
mild level of stress, positive response with, protective & adaptive functions, has ability to cope
Distress: negative stress, causes a higher level of anxiety, perceived as exceeding the person’s coping abilities.
levels of stress:
mild stress: helps people stay focused & alert; motivator
moderate stress: inability to change a desired outcome through own efforts
high stress: interferes with ability to function because ↓objectivity; have trouble envisioning possibilities, making choices, and taking action; can exhibit anger, anxiety, and depressive symptoms
sources of stress in health care:
Disruptions in health status create stress, anxiety, and vulnerability
Hospitalization intensifies stress, admission and discharge
Include - fear of death, uncertainty about clinical outcomes, changes in roles, disruption of family life, financial concerns created by hospitalization
Older adult: multiple health challenges; loss of independence; loss of friends/partners; isolation and loneliness; safety worries living alone; financial concerns
Nursing assessment:
- assessment of coping skills
- assessment of immediate social support
- identify sources of strength and hope
- assessment impact on family relationships
Strategies to reduce HC related stress:
Provide information and anticipatory guidance
Processing strong feelings - allow client to process
Priority Setting and developing realistic goals
social support: A key factor in alleviating stress & promoting the self-efficacy people need for successful coping & mastery of stress
how to deal w stress:
Identify the problem – job, school, relationship?
Solve problems as they come up – ask for help
Talk about your problems – expressing can help a lot
Simplify your life – manageable to-do list
Learn helpful thinking strategies vs unhelpful thoughts
Learn about stress management – books, websites, counsellors
Start on the inside –yoga, meditation, mindfulness, breathing exercise (quite the mind & looks at problems from a calmer, more balance point of view)
Get active
Do something you enjoy, make time for hobbies/activities
crisis:
crisis occurs when a stressful life event overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope effectively in the face of a perceived challenge or threat.
