Stress, Anxiety, Coping, and Healthcare Communication

Vocabulary flashcards covering acute and chronic stress symptoms, psychological defense mechanisms, therapeutic and nontherapeutic communication techniques, and healthcare team communication frameworks from the lecture notes.

Stress

A response resulting from external events or demands, such as deadlines or specific situational events.

Anxiety

An emotional state characterized by persistent worry, apprehension, or fear that can occur without an obvious external trigger.

General Adaptation Syndrome - Alarm Stage

The first stage of the body's systemic response to stress, initiating fight-or-flight physiological mechanisms.

Acute Symptoms of Stress

Physiological responses occurring immediately during stress, including increased heart rate/palpitations, increased respirations, peripheral arterial vasodilation, elevated serum glucose levels, increased blood coagulation, increased muscular strength, decreased gastric movement, antidiuresis, increased perspiration, and rashes/hives.

Chronic Symptoms of Stress

Long-term health consequences of prolonged stress, including sleep pattern changes, fatigue, digestion changes, loss of sexual drive, headaches, aches and pains, recurrent infections, indigestion, rashes/hives, autoimmune diseases, hypertension, depression, and anxiety/hypochondria.

Compensation

An ego-defense mechanism where a person makes up for a deficiency in one aspect of self-image by strongly emphasizing a feature considered an asset.

Conversion

An ego-defense mechanism involving unconsciously repressing an anxiety-producing emotional conflict and transforming it into nonorganic physical symptoms.

Denial

An ego-defense mechanism where a person avoids emotional conflicts by refusing to consciously acknowledge anything that causes intolerable emotional pain.

Displacement

An ego-defense mechanism where emotions, ideas, or wishes are transferred from a stressful situation to a less anxiety-producing substitute.

Dissociation

An ego-defense mechanism involving a subjective sense of numbing, reduced awareness of surroundings, and disconnection from reality.

Regression

Coping with a stressor through actions and behaviors associated with an earlier developmental period.

Repression

Pushing or burying unwanted thoughts, feelings, or memories into the subconscious mind.

Active Listening (SURETY)

Being attentive to what a patient is saying both verbally and nonverbally, guided by S (Sit at an angle), U (Uncross legs and arms), R (Relax), E (Eye contact), T (Touch), and Y (Your intuition).

Sharing Observations

Gently telling the patient what you notice about their behavior, appearance, or mood to help them feel seen and supported.

Sharing Empathy

The ability to understand and accept another person's reality, accurately perceive their feelings, and communicate a neutral, nonjudgmental recognition of those feelings to establish trust.

Sharing Humor

Using light, appropriate jokes or laughter to help build connection, ease tension, and bring comfort while ensuring humor is respectful and never directed at sensitive topics.

Sharing Feelings

Helping patients express emotions by making observations, acknowledging feelings, encouraging communication, giving permission to express negative feelings, and modeling healthy self-expression.

Using Silence

Allowing patients quiet time to think, feel, and respond, showing respect and patience while allowing the patient to break the silence.

Providing Information

Providing clear, honest information so patients are able to make decisions, experience less anxiety, and feel safe and secure.

Clarifying

Asking questions or repeating what the patient said in a different way to make sure you understand them correctly.

Paraphrasing

Repeating what the patient said in your own words to show understanding and check for accuracy.

Focusing

Centering a conversation on key elements or concepts, often redirecting back to a primary concern when a patient jumps between multiple topics.

Confrontation (Developing Discrepancy)

Gently helping the patient become aware of inconsistencies in their feelings, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.

Summarizing

Concisely repeating the main points of what the patient said to show active listening and help organize the information.

Sharing Opinions (Nontherapeutic)

A nontherapeutic communication technique where the nurse judges the patient's situation based on the nurse's personal set of beliefs.

Generalization (Nontherapeutic)

A nontherapeutic communication technique using stereotyped remarks that apply broadly to all people.

False Reassurance (Nontherapeutic)

A nontherapeutic communication technique providing reassurance when the ultimate outcome is unknown.

Sympathy (Nontherapeutic)

A nontherapeutic response where the nurse overindulges in emotion, making themselves the center of worry and leaving the patient feeling pitied or dismissed.

Use of Medical Jargon (Nontherapeutic)

Using complex medical terms rather than 5th-grade level communication, regardless of the patient's educational background.

ISBAR

A structured healthcare team communication framework consisting of Introduction, Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation.

Closed-Loop Communication

A healthcare team communication method where the recipient repeats back what they heard and requests confirmation from the sender before taking action.

Handoff Communication

Communication occurring at the time of patient location change or transfer of care responsibility from one healthcare provider to another.

Debrief

A quick team meeting after a shift or event to discuss high and low points of the procedure, shift, or event.

CUS

A mnemonic standing for Concerned, Uncomfortable, and Safety, used for communicating professional concern about a patient.

Root Cause Analysis (RCA)

A detailed review of patient adverse or near-miss events to determine system-based causes, with the goal of decreasing similar events in the future.