Role Strain and Burnout in Nursing

Topic 

Role Strain and Burnout in Nursing

Instructions 

Role Strain and Burnout in Nursing

Write a 1500 word essay addressing each of the following points/questions. Be sure to completely answer all the questions for each bullet point. There should be three main sections, one for each bullet below. Separate each section in your paper with a clear heading that allows your professor to know which bullet you are addressing in that section of your paper. Support your ideas with at least three (3) sources using citations in your essay. Make sure to cite using the APA writing style for the essay. The cover page and reference page in correct APA do not count towards the minimum word amount. Review the rubric criteria for this assignment.

  • What happens to the nurse when role stress or strain becomes too overwhelming? What happens to patient care? How is this related to possible ethic and legal issues? Discuss how nurses can manage or reduce role stress and role strain.
  • Explain two issues that lead to nurse burnout and discuss a solution for each issue.
  • Think of an experience in your nursing profession where you either felt strain or burnout and how you overcame this event. (Since this is personal experience, you can use first person narration for this portion of your essay.)

Answer Preview 

Bullet 1: What happens to the nurse when role stress or strain becomes too overwhelming?

In the hospital settings, there are specific stressful situations that cause stresses related only to that particular hospital unit. Occupational stress especially for nurses has a huge impact on the ability of the nurse to provide care as expected of them. There is bound to be changes on the psychology and physiological condition on the person. These changes will lead to an unexpected negative outcome where the said nurse will deviate from normal functioning. Overwhelming stress for nurses also can damage their physical and mental health (Jennings, 2008). This inevitably leads to low levels of productivity and high staff truancy. Research reveals that almost 80 percent of all work-related injuries are caused by an overwhelming role strain that leads to role stress. In addition to these injuries, role strain is accredited to cause almost 40 percent of all the workplace turnovers (Jennings, 2008).

Word Count: 1700