CNO Competencies/Standards
The CNO entry-to-practice competency: "Recognizes, acts on, and reports actual and potential workplace and occupational safety risks" that Kat demonstrates can be found under which role of the RN?
Professional
"Nurses subjectively feeling physically and mentally tired - this exhaustion hinders one’s cognitive and physical ability to function compared to their normal capacity" is the definition of...
Nurse fatigue
Follow-up Question: What are signs of nurse fatigue?
Name two self-care strategies to combat burnout.
Participate in exercise and physical fitness. Use relaxation techniques to reduce stress.
This is a form of training that meets for weekly sessions, where participants explore cases in depth, that have impeded patient care, or interfered with comfort of the HCP, in order to facilitate an ongoing learning environment
Balint training
What is the first step we can take as (future RNs) to become involved in reforming policies made for the bedside?
Speak up & get involved in generating ideas for long-term solutions with nurse managers and administrators whenever possible
The following CNO ____ _____ are demonstrated by Kat in the scenario: Ethics, Knowledge Application, and Professional Relationships.
Professional Standards
Kat uses this way of knowing that focuses on moral knowledge, right and wrong, and what ought to be done. This way of knowing also focuses on confronting and resolving conflict and principles.
Ethical way of knowing
What is something you should perform to evaluate your personal wellness and suitability to perform?
A self-assessment
The prevalence of _____ among nursing students was found in 1 of every 3 nursing students worldwide in mild to extremely severe form.
Depression
What are the support services that workplaces should ideally have, available for nursing staff?
Health & wellness initiatives and Employee Assistance Programs (for help with work or home stressors), Occupational Health, counselling for mental health
Kat demonstrates these standards from the CNO Standard, **** ** *******:
“6.4 Nurses advocate for improving the quality of their practice setting to support safe patient care.”
“6.5 Nurses have a duty to report any error, behaviour, conduct or system issue that affects patient safety.”
Code of Conduct
This is a way of knowing that we use that is grounded in self-knowledge and self-reflection.
Personal way of knowing
Name at least two recommendations from the RNAO reading that prevent and mitigate nurse fatigue specifically before and during a shift.
- Ensure adequate recovery and rest time before starting a shift
- Take entitled breaks and support your colleagues to do the same
In a study discussed by one of the small groups, which specialties of nursing were found to be the most and least burnt out?
Most - ICU, CCU, and pediatric nurses
Least - Geriatric
A nurse finds that her work policy in LTC allows management to leave her in charge of 50 residents, and no calls for overtime help are made since she is on a night shift. What organization should be involved in changing this situation?
Government, legislative framework, health system reform.
A nurse tries to facilitate a more positive environment at her LTC by advising their DOC about programs such as a Reading Buddy program with a local school, an infection control talk for the healthcare workers annually, and a program seeking ideas on falls reduction. In the Clinician role, what CNO competency are they demonstrating?
Uses strategies to promote wellness, to prevent illness, and to minimize disease and injury in clients, self, and others.
(CNO Competency 1.25)
A healthy workplace is a product of these 3 levels and determinants (Hint: Model in RNAO reading)
Individual, organizational, and external
This strategy will result in heightened alertness, boosted mood, increased energy, better concentration, more stamina, greater motivation, better judgement, and improved learning
Investing in proper sleep
This plays a pivotal role in translating a nurse’s experience of poor worklife into action plans to withdraw/quit. Hint: C******M
Cynicism
After 3 months of work, a nurse notices that many nurses will not ask for help, or try to speak to other nurses/staff when they notice issues or problems in the workplace. What can they do to change this?
- Create a climate for adopting change without fear of retribution
- Increase and bring awareness to the situation in general with management
A charge nurse at a hospital notices their team working is quite tired with a total of 7 patients each. The unit is in dire need of another nurse to work on the floor. She immediately calls the Nursing Resource Team office and is able to secure another nurse. The charge nurse recognizes the impact of organizational culture and acted to enhance the quality of a professional and safe practice environment. Which of the following roles does this fall under in the entry-to-practice competencies: Clinician, Professional, Leader, or Advocate?
(Competency 6.5)
A nurse is feeling tired, and overworked from picking up overtime shifts at her LTC because there was recently an outbreak that infected ⅓ of the healthcare team. His manager is forcing him to continue picking up extra hours This nurse feels that this is unsafe, and starts doing research to find out what support systems are available to fix this situation. What learning aim does this involve?
Learn about specific supports available to nurses in these situations
Name at least three coping strategies from the RNAO reading recommended by The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (for nurses affected by fatigue).
■ Keep a regular eating schedule
■ Establish a routine that is appropriate for the shift you are on: in this way, you can control your body’s internal clock
■ Maintain a balanced and nutritious diet
■ Avoid a high-protein, high-fat meal before going to bed
■ Limit intake of stimulants, e.g. caffeine, sugar
■ Set aside at least one meal or activity per day with family or friends to avoid social isolation
■ Maintain the same sleep, work and leisure time sequence on days off, regardless of the shift worked
■ Sleep in a completely darkened room
■ Practice relaxation techniques to reduce stress
This study concluded that this factor showed similar trends, and no distinguishable statistical significant could be determined between Europe, Asia, and America. HINT: G********C L******N
Geographic Location
What organization will encourage/help nurses and workplaces to identify and collaboratively address unsafe staffing conditions?
Unions