A nurse is caring for a client who reports work-related stress. The nurse should identify that the client is experiencing which of the following types of stressors?

A. Waiting silently without responding may seem polite but does not demonstrate engagement or understanding; active listening involves feedback and interaction.
B. Thinking about what to say next distracts the listener and prevents full attention to the speaker’s message, which undermines active listening.
C. Maintaining eye contact, nodding, and summarizing key points are core components of active listening. These behaviors show attentiveness, validate the speaker’s message, and ensure mutual understanding during communication.
D. Interrupting to offer advice before the speaker finishes is disrespectful and prevents the listener from fully understanding the message, which disrupts effective communication.

A. Allowing the assistants to plan patient care independently is inappropriate because nursing assistants do not have the education or licensure to make nursing judgments or develop care plans. Their role is to perform delegated tasks under supervision, not to determine patient priorities or care needs.

B. The PN’s primary responsibility in a supervisory role is to ensure that delegated tasks are carried out safely, correctly, and in accordance with established standards of care. This involves direct observation, offering constructive feedback, correcting errors, and providing support to promote safe, high-quality patient outcomes.

C. Assigning tasks and leaving the area to complete charting shows inadequate supervision and increases the risk of errors or harm, as the PN would not be available to monitor performance or intervene if a problem arises.

D. Completing all care tasks independently is ineffective use of team resources and prevents nursing assistants from contributing within their scope of practice. It also limits the PN’s ability to manage multiple patients and perform higher-level nursing responsibilities.