Question 1: Identify two (2) sources or triggers for stress in this case.
Question 2: Suggest two (2) strategies that may have helped Elsa to effectively prevent, reduce and manage her stress.
Question 3: Suggest (2) internal and two (2) external resources that Elsa could have used for additional support to assist with her stress.
Question 4: Identify three (3) measures or steps that Elsa could have taken to cope with work stress and manage her workload.
Question 5: Describe how Elsa can assess if her stress management strategies have been effective.
Question 6: Suggest two (2) adjustments that Elsa could make if her stress strategies are not meeting the desired outcomes in her case.
Elsa is a nurse working in a busy general medical-surgical ward. In the last two weeks the ward has been extraordinarily busy. There were four unexpected deaths, more than normal patient admissions and constant staffing struggle to ensure safe nurse and patient ratios on the ward. A number of shifts were short-staffed. The unit's nurse manager requested Elsa on several occasions to work extra shifts and she agreed as her partner had just lost his job. During one of the shifts Elsa was assigned to a 32 years old male, Jason, who recently became a father. Jason presented to emergency with chest pain and he was admitted to the unit for observation. Jason had pressed his call button for assistance. When Elsa arrived to assist, she saw him clutching his chest in pain, pale, diaphoretic and very short of breath. She pressed the emergency buzzer for help and a MET team was called. Despite resuscitation, the MET team was unable to revive Jason, and he died. Elsa was very distressed after this event as it reminded her of a personal tragedy. Since the incident, she had been sleeping poorly and feeling unwell for most of her shifts. Elsa was abrupt at times with her patients. Some patients have complained about her 'attitude' to the Unit Manager. The staff who have been working with Elsa for more than 6 months have also noticed the change in her behaviour and know that this is not her normal behaviour. They tried approaching Elsa to check if she was alright, but she brushes their comments away, does not respond at all or walks away from the area. Elsa's Unit Manager has organized a meeting with her to discuss the complaints that she has received about Elsa.