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chapter 13 | Work-Related Stress and Burnout 203 CikguOnline
Instead of focusing on the bad stress, new nurses who provides career development support, such
can meet the transition to professional nursing by as coaching, sponsoring advancement, providing
adapting to good stress: challenging assignments, protecting protégés
from adversity, and promoting positive visibility.
■ Develop a professional identity. Opportunities Mentors provide guidance to new graduates
to challenge one’s competence and develop an as they change from student to professional
identity as a professional can begin in school. nurse. Mentors can also assume psychosocial
Success in meeting these challenges can immu- functions, such as personal support, friendship,
nize the new graduate against the loss of confi- acceptance, role modeling, and counseling. Many
dence that accompanies reality shock. organizations have preceptors for the new
■ Learn about the organization. The new gradu- employee. In many instances, the preceptor will
ate who understands how organizations operate become your mentor. However, the mentor role
will not be as shocked as the naïve individual. is much more encompassing than the preceptor
When you begin a new job, it is important to role. The mentor relationship is a voluntary
learn as much as you can about the organization one and is built on mutual respect and
and how it really operates. This not only saves development of the mentee. Table 13-4 identi-
you some surprises but also gives you some ideas fies responsibilities of the mentor and mentee
about how to work within the system and how in this relationship (Scheetz, 2000; Simonetti &
to make the system work for you. Ariss, 1999).
■ Use your energy wisely. Keep in mind that
You have made it through the first 6 months of
much energy goes into learning a new job. You
employment, and you are finally starting to feel like
may see many things that you think need to be
a “real” nurse. You are beginning to realize that a
changed, but you need to recognize that to
stress-free work environment is probably impossi-
implement change requires your time and energy.
ble to achieve. Shift work, overtime, distraught
It is a good idea to make a list of these things so
families, staff shortages, and pressure to do more
that you do not forget them later when you have
with less continue to contribute to the stresses
become socialized into the system and have
placed on nurses. An inability to deal with this con-
some time and energy to invest in change.
tinued stress will eventually lead to burnout.
■ Communicate effectively. Deal with the prob-
lems that can arise with coworkers. The same
interpersonal skills you use in communicating
with patients can be effective in dealing with table 13-4
your coworkers. Mentor and Mentee Responsibilities
■ Seek feedback often and persistently. Seeking
Mentor Responsibilities Mentee Responsibilities
feedback not only provides you with needed
Has excellent Demonstrates eagerness to
information but also pushes the people you work communication and learn
with to be more specific about their expectations listening skills
of you. Shows sensitivity to needs Participates actively in the
■ Develop a support network. Identify colleagues of nurses, patients, relationship by keeping
who have held onto their professional ideals and workplace all appointments and
commitments
with whom you can share your problems and the
Able to encourage Seeks feedback and uses it
work of improving the organization. Their
excellence in others to modify behaviors
recognition of your work can keep you going
Able to share and provide Demonstrates flexibility and
when rewards from the organization are meager. counsel an ability to change
A support network is a source of strength when Exhibits good Is open in the relationship
resisting pressure to give up professional ideals decision-making skills with mentor
and a source of power when attempting to bring Shows an understanding Demonstrates an ability to
about change. Developing your skills can help to of power and politics move toward
prevent the problems of reality shock. independence
■ Find a mentor. A mentor is someone more Demonstrates Able to evaluate choices
trustworthiness and outcomes
experienced within or outside the organization